Spatial and temporal impacts of a diesel fuel spill on stream invertebrates

Abstract

1. We assessed the effects of a 26 500 L diesel fuel spill on the macroinvertebrate fauna of a small trout stream in central New York, U.S.A. To determine the spatial extent of the spill we sampled three locations (0.7, 5.0 and 11.8 km downstream of the spill), each containing a reference site (unaffected tributary) and an impact site (downstream of spill). Sampling was repeated four times over a 15‐month period to assess temporal recovery. 2. Immediately after the spill, invertebrate density at all three locations below the spill was significantly lower than reference density. Three months after the spill, density up to 5 km below the spill was still far lower (<100 individuals per sample) than reference density (800–1200 individuals per sample). A year after the spill, density was similar between reference and impact sites, suggesting that invertebrates had recovered numerically. 3. Taxonomic richness up to 5.0 km below the spill was less than half the reference taxonomic richness and this difference persisted for at least 3 months. Some significant differences between reference and impact sites were observed after 15 months, but these differences could not be attributed to the oil spill. 4. For at least 3 months following the spill, the site immediately downstream of the spill was dominated by Optioservus, a petrochemical‐tolerant riffle beetle. Twelve to 15 months after the spill, both the reference and impact sites near the spill were dominated numerically by the mayfly Ephemerella, but the degree of dominance was twice as large at the impact site. 5. We concluded that the diesel fuel spill significantly reduced the density of invertebrates (by 90%) and taxonomic richness (by 50%) at least 5.0 km downstream, but density recovered within a year. Throughout the study, however, the fauna immediately below the spill was species poor and significantly over‐represented by a single dominant taxon, suggesting that 15 months was not sufficient for full community recovery from the oil spill.

A Comparison of Acute Toxicity of Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blends, and Diesel on Aquatic Organisms

“…6 However, studies have suggested that some cold-flow starting problems persist in temperate conditions, because biodiesel has low volumetric heating values, a high cetane number, and a high flash point. 6,7 Nevertheless, biodiesel is rated as a strong candidate as an alternative to diesel.…”

Effects of an oil spill and discharge of domestic sewage on the insect fauna of Cururu stream, Manaus, AM, Brazil

“…Changes in community structures caused by environmental perturbation can be manifested by extinction, reduction or increment of populations, depending on the tolerance of each species (Spies & DesMarais, 1983). The chemical and organic modifications caused by pollutants in stream waters affect not only the aquatic biota (Branco, 1972;Lytle & Perckarsky, 2001) but also the local human population that uses these streams for recreational activities, especially for swimming and fishing.…”

Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Water Quality in Running Waters: 10 Years of Research in Rivers with Different Degrees of Anthropogenic Impacts

“…Increasing urbanization and industrialization generates different non-point sources of contamination, causing impairment of water quality of rivers (Beasley & Kneale, 2003). Many studies have dealt with the negative effect of different pollutants on aquatic biota, which results in biodiversity loss and poor water quality (Beasley & Kneale, 2003, 2004Benetti & Garrido, 2010;Fernández-Díaz et al, 2008;Garrido et al, 1998;Harper & Peckarsky, 2005;Hirst et al, 2002;Lytle & Peckarsky, 2001;Smolders et al, 2003;Song et al, 2009). …”