Author(s): Qianxin Lin; Ing Mendelssohn; Aixin Hou; John Fleeger; Sean Graham; Donald Deis
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Abstract: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, released an estimated 3.19 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico and exposed the nation’s largest and most productive wetland-estuarine environment to an unprecedented potential for environmental damage. A 3-year field restoration/remediation study was conducted in northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We established 20 field plots along shoreline marshes that were heavily oiled by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and in which no vegetation recovery had occurred. We investigated two important approaches to promote marsh recovery in a factorial design: (1) planting Spartina alterniflora or without planting and (2) applying controlled release fertilizer or without applying. The planting significantly increased live aboveground biomass of S. alterniflora, total live plant aboveground biomass and live plant belowground biomass. Natural recruitment of Distichlis spicata and S. alterniflora occurred during the 3-year study period. Fertilization significantly increased total live plant aboveground biomass, which was primarily due to the increase in live aboveground biomass of Spartina. Interestingly, effect of fertilization was species-specific. Fertilization significantly promoted live aboveground biomass of S. alterniflora; however, it did not significantly affect D. spicata. In addition, fertilization significantly increased the total live belowground biomass compared to the no-fertilization treatments. Moreover, the planting and fertilization significantly increased soil shear strength, thus strengthening marsh soil. Our study indicates that the planting and fertilization accelerated marsh recovery and enhanced marsh stability and sustainability.
Year: 2018