Carbon isotopic evidence revealed Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil entering coastal planktonic and lower terrestrial food webs. The integration of spilled oil into higher terrestrial trophic levels, however, remains uncertain. We measured radiocarbon (14C) and stable carbon (13C) in seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) feathers and crop contents. Lower 14C and 13C values in feathers and crop contents of birds from contaminated areas indicated incorporation of carbon from oil. Our results, although based on a small sample of birds, thus reveal a food-web link between oil exposure and a terrestrial ecosystem. They also suggest that the reduction in reproductive success previously documented in the same population might be due to the (direct) toxic effect of oil exposure, rather than to (indirect) ecological effects. We recommend future studies test our results by using larger samples of birds from a wider area in order to assess the extent and implications of DWH oil incorporation into the terrestrial food web.
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and LSU AgCenter, USA;School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and LSU AgCenter, USA;Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, USA;Department of Biology and Center of Excellence for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, USA;School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and LSU AgCenter, USA
Recommended Citation:
A Bonisoli-Alquati,P C Stouffer,R E Turner,et al. Incorporation of Deepwater Horizon oil in a terrestrial bird[J]. Environmental Research Letters,2016-01-01,11(11)