Overlap between Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning grounds and observed Deepwater Horizon surface oil in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) during the spring spawning season of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Overlap between BFT spawning habitat and surface oil in the northern GOM was examined using satellite-derived estimates of oil coverage, and spawning habitat models. Results suggested that although eggs and larvae were likely impacted by oil-contaminated waters in the eastern GOM, high abundances of larvae were located elsewhere, especially in the western GOM. Overall, less than 10% of BFT spawning habitat was predicted to have been covered by surface oil, and less than 12% of larval BFT were predicted to have been located within contaminated waters in the northern GOM, on a weekly basis. Our results provide preliminary but important initial estimates of the effects of the spill on larval BFT mortality, as concern continues over the appropriate management responses to impacts of the spill.
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Recent experiments using a gear more comparable to the technique used in the Balearic Islands show the validity of considering a station positive if either gear caught bluefin tuna larvae.
“Recent experiments using a gear more comparable to the technique used in the BI show the validity of this methodology (Muhling et al. 2012).”
From Comparison between environmental characteristics of larval bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and western Mediterranean Sea (2013) · cites this paper as Muhling et al. 2012
Larval bluefin tuna are usually most abundant in the upper 10 to 20 m of the water column, so the Gulf of Mexico surveys probably underestimated the presence of bluefin tuna larvae substantially.
“Larval BFT are usually most abundant in the upper 10 to 20 m of the water column (Muhling et al. 2012), so the GOM surveys probably underestimated the presence of BFT larvae substantially.”
From Comparison between environmental characteristics of larval bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and western Mediterranean Sea (2013) · cites this paper as Muhling et al. 2012
Very small BFT larvae were found across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
“results showed that they were found across the northern GOM (Muhling et al. 2012).”
From Comparison between environmental characteristics of larval bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and western Mediterranean Sea (2013) · cites this paper as Muhling et al. 2012
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“This new gear was added to target the upper mixed layer, where larvae of BFT and other scombrids are thought to be most abundant (Davis et al., 1990; Leis et al., 1991).”
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“…relevant concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters (Diercks et al. 2010; Spier et al. 2013; BenKinney et al. 2011) which coincided with a number of marine fish species spawning seasons including Bluefin tuna and Gulf menhaden (Muhling et al. 2012; Rooker et al. 2013).”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Muhling, B. A., Roffer, M. A., Lamkin, J. T., Ingram, G. W., Upton, M. A., Gawlikowski, G., Muller-Karger, F., Habtes, S., & Richards, W. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service (US)
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center (US)
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US)
- University of South Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Muhling, B.A.
- Venue
- Marine Pollution Bulletin
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-04
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 679-687
- ISSN
- 0025-326X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2078071865
- Cited by
- 59
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7
- FWCI
- 5.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Marine Pollution Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- NASA (NNX08AL06G)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine and fisheries research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Keywords
- Thunnus thynnus, spawning grounds, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, fish larvae, larval mortality, northern Gulf of Mexico, spawning season
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Chlorophyll, Environmental Monitoring, Population Dynamics, Reproduction, Seawater, Tuna, Water Movements, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Satellite Communications, Ecosystem, Petroleum Pollution, Gulf of America
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