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Sea turtle is swabbed down that has had direct contact with oil from Deepwater Horizon oil spill July 19, 2010. Specialized volunteers from numerous organizations help the plight of the sea turtles U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Polly Bennett.

Ecological Issues

The number of ecological issues surfacing that relate to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are mind boggling, and range from the effects of oil and oil dispersants on the charismatic species of the sea (e.g., whales, manatees, and sea turtles) to their impact on microbial communities and entire ecosystems. Here, we provide key website links of interest in the following categories:

Distribution Maps

Below are links to distribution maps of ecologically sensitive areas, sensitive habitats, and threatened species

• Biodiversity Distribution in the Gulf of Mexico (from the Harte Institute, Texas A&M)
• Coral: USGS Cold-water Coral Ecosystem Studies - U.S. Gulf of Mexico
• Gulf Sturgeon Critical Habitat
• Sea Turtles - Florida Panhandle Distribution Maps
• MPAs Near the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
• Sensitive Areas: Geographic Response Plan Maps
• Shorebird Boom Zones in Franklin County
• Sperm whale distribution in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Oil Spill Dispersants

• Oil Spill Dispersants: Efficacy and Effects, National Academy Press - This report reviews the adequacy of existing information and ongoing research regarding the effectiveness of dispersants as an oil spill response technique, as well as the effect of dispersed oil on marine and coastal ecosystems. It includes recommended steps to be taken to better support policymakers faced with making hard choices regarding the use of dispersants as part of spill contingency planning efforts or during actual spills.

Wildlife Issues

• Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research
• Baseline Monitoring of Gulf Coast Ecosystems (FAU)
• Consolidated Fish and Wildlife Collection Report
• Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Testifies on Fisheries
  to Senate committee on the Environment
• Effects of Oil Spills on Wildlife (UF)
• Oil and Sea Turtles (NOAA)
• Oil Pollution and Penguins
• Oil Spill Effects on Birds of Gulf of Mexico
• Response and Rescue Plans for Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles
  Impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
• Salt Marsh - Consequences of oil inundation

Lessons from the Exxon-Valdez

• Assessing Natural Resource Damages from the BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Lessons Learned from the Exxon Valdez Experience (Ocean Conservancy)
• Emergy Analysis Perspectives of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (Report to The Cousteau Society, 1993)
• Lessons of the Exxon Valdez Steiner 1990
• Un-Natural Resource Damage Assessment & Restoration
• Detecting Population Impacts of Oil Spills (Hilborn 1993)

Literature Review on Oil Spills

• Seaweb's Marine Science Review presents literature reviews (gleaned from monitoring over 600 science journals on a regular basis) on coastal and marine issues (including science, human health, security, policy, and governance) that relate to global change. The most recent bibliography is on oil and oil spills.