Marine PollutionMarine Pollution

Human Effects on the Marine Human Effects on the Marine EnvironmentEnvironment

Alteration of bottom by dredging; Alteration of bottom by dredging; shoreline alteration and fillingshoreline alteration and filling

Introduction of toxic substancesIntroduction of toxic substances Eutrophication through nutrient Eutrophication through nutrient

enrichmentenrichment Thermal pollution from power plantsThermal pollution from power plants Invasive or nonindigenous speciesInvasive or nonindigenous species Important Marine Legislative ActsImportant Marine Legislative Acts

Characteristics of PollutionCharacteristics of Pollution

Acute vs. Chronic PollutionAcute vs. Chronic Pollution

Acute (short term) – ex. is an oil spill, Acute (short term) – ex. is an oil spill, the effects of which diminish with the effects of which diminish with timetime

Chronic (long term) – ex. is nutrient Chronic (long term) – ex. is nutrient inputinput

Pollution – Point and Non-PointPollution – Point and Non-Point

Point source – from a single sewer Point source – from a single sewer pipe or factory waste-water outfallpipe or factory waste-water outfall

Non-point source – effects cannot be Non-point source – effects cannot be attributed to any single spot and thus attributed to any single spot and thus harder to control; exs. Runoff of toxic harder to control; exs. Runoff of toxic substances or fertilizer after a rain; substances or fertilizer after a rain;

Using Organisms to Monitor Using Organisms to Monitor PollutionPollution

Determining species diversity – Determining species diversity – diversity usually declines in strongly diversity usually declines in strongly polluted habitatspolluted habitats

Bioassay species; exposure of certain Bioassay species; exposure of certain species to varying concentrations of species to varying concentrations of toxic materials; crabs and mussels toxic materials; crabs and mussels often usedoften used

Degree of evolved resistanceDegree of evolved resistance

Biodegradeable vs. Inert Toxic Biodegradeable vs. Inert Toxic SubstancesSubstances

Inert toxic substances biomagnify up Inert toxic substances biomagnify up the food chain whereas the food chain whereas biodegradeable materials do not;biodegradeable materials do not;

Substances that biomagnifySubstances that biomagnify– heavy metals - cadmium, mercury and heavy metals - cadmium, mercury and

leadlead– Pesticides made of chlorinated Pesticides made of chlorinated

hydrocarbons – kepone, DDT, dieldrin, hydrocarbons – kepone, DDT, dieldrin, chlordane, dioxinchlordane, dioxin

– PCB’s - used as lubricantsPCB’s - used as lubricants

Biomagnification of Inert Materials

Important Toxic SubstancesImportant Toxic Substances

Sources- mines, sewage, insecticides, fungicides Sources- mines, sewage, insecticides, fungicides and industry and industry

OilOil Mercury (methylmercury) – see the story in the Mercury (methylmercury) – see the story in the

text on “Minamata disease”text on “Minamata disease” Cadmium – from electroplating and battery Cadmium – from electroplating and battery

manufacturing plantsmanufacturing plants LeadLead Chlorinated hydrocarbonsChlorinated hydrocarbons PCB’sPCB’s

Oil PollutionOil Pollution - - SourcesSources

Leaks from marine terminals and in Leaks from marine terminals and in harbors harbors

Leaks from offshore drillingLeaks from offshore drilling Leaks from breakup of oil tankers Leaks from breakup of oil tankers

and bargesand barges Washout of oil into storm drainsWashout of oil into storm drains

Sources of Oil PollutionSources of Oil Pollution

Some Major Oil Spill Catastrophies

The Components and Effects of Oil

Minamata Disease – see lecture Minamata Disease – see lecture texttext

Potential Results of PollutionPotential Results of Pollution

A reduction in biodiversityA reduction in biodiversity Stress on populations that are Stress on populations that are

already threatened or endangeredalready threatened or endangered

Endangered or Threatened Marine Species

Radioactive Wastes

Waste Radionucleotides - Deep-Sea Disposal Sites

Nutrient Input and Eutrophication

Eutrophication Leads to Dead Zones

Human Activity and Dead Zones

Nutrient Enrichment Leads To Nutrient Enrichment Leads To ……

Algal blooms which can lead to …Algal blooms which can lead to …– High antiherbivory toxin production such High antiherbivory toxin production such

as as red tides (Dinoflagllates) which effect red tides (Dinoflagllates) which effect

shellfish and vertebratesshellfish and vertebrates Populations of Pfisteria Populations of Pfisteria

GreenBrownYellowToo!

Dinoflagellatescause

24 recognizable life stages!Did these protists evolve in 1997?

OpportunisticHighly adaptableCystsFree-swimmingParasitic to fishToxins

Dinoflagellates

“Toxic Tides”

Are these “new” species of protists?Are they opportunistic protists?

What is common among algal blooms?

Dinoflagellates

“Toxic Tides”

What environmental stimuli promote their growth?

Thermal Pollution

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Sources of invasive speciesSources of invasive species– Ship ballastShip ballast– Aquaculture Aquaculture – Academia and public aquariaAcademia and public aquaria– Pet and aquarium storesPet and aquarium stores– Recreational boating and fishingRecreational boating and fishing– Special activities – transporting dry Special activities – transporting dry

docks, oil rigs and bargesdocks, oil rigs and barges

Invasive Species in Coastal Invasive Species in Coastal Regions – Questions AskedRegions – Questions Asked

Questions related to Species RichnessQuestions related to Species Richness– What species are in our estuaries?What species are in our estuaries?– How many are non-native in each estuary?How many are non-native in each estuary?– How is species composition changing over How is species composition changing over

time?time?– Which regions have the highest rate of new Which regions have the highest rate of new

invasions?invasions?– Which taxa have the highest proportion of non-Which taxa have the highest proportion of non-

native to native species?native to native species?

Questions Cont’d.Questions Cont’d.

Questions on ImpactQuestions on Impact– Impacts on ecosystem productivity, Impacts on ecosystem productivity,

biodiversity, community structure, and biodiversity, community structure, and ecologically sensitive habitats?ecologically sensitive habitats?

– Which non-native species are a Which non-native species are a particular threat to native communities?particular threat to native communities?

– How does human-mediated habitat How does human-mediated habitat disturbance and hydrological alteration disturbance and hydrological alteration modify the impact of non-native modify the impact of non-native species?species?

Factors That Mediate Invasion Factors That Mediate Invasion SuccessSuccess

How is propagule pressure related to How is propagule pressure related to invasion success?invasion success?

Which vectors are responsible for the Which vectors are responsible for the most invasions, or those of the most most invasions, or those of the most high-impact invaders?high-impact invaders?

Are different taxa more likely to be Are different taxa more likely to be introduced by different vectors?introduced by different vectors?

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Invaders – Intrinsic TraitsInvaders – Intrinsic Traits

How does the live history stage or How does the live history stage or genetics of a species affect its genetics of a species affect its invasive abilities?invasive abilities?

How does the ecological role of a How does the ecological role of a species affect the rate and pattern of species affect the rate and pattern of its spread?its spread?

Are populations of selected Are populations of selected introductions genetically isolated introductions genetically isolated from other populations?from other populations?

Marine LegislationMarine Legislation

Six Important Acts

Important LegislationImportant Legislation

National Marine Sanctuaries Act - (1972) National Marine Sanctuaries Act - (1972) (NMSA)(NMSA)

Fisheries Management and Conservation Fisheries Management and Conservation Act (1976) Act (1976)

Clean Water Act – (1977) Clean Water Act – (1977) Endangered Species Act Endangered Species Act Estuaries and Clean Water Act (2000)Estuaries and Clean Water Act (2000) The Oceans Act (2000)The Oceans Act (2000)

National Marine Sanctuaries Act National Marine Sanctuaries Act of 1972of 1972

Authorizes the Sec. of Commerce to Authorizes the Sec. of Commerce to designate and manage areas of the designate and manage areas of the marine environment with nationally marine environment with nationally significant aesthetic, ecological, historical significant aesthetic, ecological, historical or recreational values as or recreational values as National National Marine Sanctuaries .Marine Sanctuaries .

The primary objective is to protect marine The primary objective is to protect marine resources while facilitating “compatible” resources while facilitating “compatible” public and private uses of those resources.public and private uses of those resources.

Fisheries Management and Fisheries Management and Conservation Act - 1976Conservation Act - 1976

The primary law dealing with fisheries The primary law dealing with fisheries resources and fishing activities in federal resources and fishing activities in federal waters (extends from edge of State waters waters (extends from edge of State waters out to the 200 mile limit).out to the 200 mile limit).

Primary goals include conservation and Primary goals include conservation and management of fisheries resources, management of fisheries resources, development of U./S. domestic fisheries development of U./S. domestic fisheries and phasing out foreign fishing activities and phasing out foreign fishing activities within the 200 mile conservation zone within the 200 mile conservation zone adjacent to the U.S. coastline.adjacent to the U.S. coastline.

Clean Water Act of 1977Clean Water Act of 1977

Unlawful to discharge any pollutant Unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable from a point source into navigable waters unless a permit (NPDES) is waters unless a permit (NPDES) is obtained obtained

EPA has authority to set effluent EPA has authority to set effluent standardsstandards

Also unlawful to discharge dredged or Also unlawful to discharge dredged or fill materials into wetlands without a fill materials into wetlands without a permitpermit

Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act

Provides for the conservation of Provides for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in and animals and the habitats in which they are found.which they are found.

The law prohibits any action, The law prohibits any action, administrative or real, that results in administrative or real, that results in a “taking” of a listed species, or a “taking” of a listed species, or adversely affects habitat.adversely affects habitat.

Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 20002000

Encourages the restoration of Encourages the restoration of estuary habitat through more estuary habitat through more efficient project financing and efficient project financing and enhanced coordination of Fed. And enhanced coordination of Fed. And non-Fed. restoration programsnon-Fed. restoration programs

Establishes a Estuary Habitat Establishes a Estuary Habitat Restoration Council to develop a Restoration Council to develop a comprehensive approach comprehensive approach

Oceans Act of 2000Oceans Act of 2000

Establishes a commission to make recs. for Establishes a commission to make recs. for coordinated and comprehensive national coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy.ocean policy.

Issues will include coastal hazards, Issues will include coastal hazards, stewardship, marine pollution prevention, stewardship, marine pollution prevention, enhancing marine-related commerce and enhancing marine-related commerce and transportation, research and education transportation, research and education and the use of technology to address and the use of technology to address coastal issues.coastal issues.

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