• Login
    View Item 
    •   TAMU-CC Repository Home
    • Research Centers
    • Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
    • Coastal Conservation and Restoration
    • Publications
    • View Item
    •   TAMU-CC Repository Home
    • Research Centers
    • Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
    • Coastal Conservation and Restoration
    • Publications
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Long-term changes in contamination and macrobenthic communities adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    1-s2.0-S0048969720363270-main.pdf (2.075Mb)
    Date Issued
    2020-10-08
    Author
    Palmer, Terence A.
    Klein, Andrew G.
    Sweet, Stephen T.
    Montagna, Paul A.
    Hyde, Larry J.
    Sericano, Jose
    Wade, Terry L.
    Kennicutt II, Mahlon C.
    Pollack, Jennifer Beseres
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142798
    URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/89088
    Abstract
    Improved waste management at McMurdo Station, Antarctica beginning in the 1980s has been followed by decreases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal contamination in the adjacent marine sediments. However, determining the effect of the decreased contamination on marine ecological indicators (macrobenthic fauna) is confounded by concurrent changes in climate cycles and other physical forces. Between 2000 and 2013, there was a decrease in concentrations of some contaminants including mercury, copper, organochlorines, and PAHs in marine sediments adjacent to McMurdo Station. PAH concentrations in Winter Quarters Bay decreased an order of magnitude from 2000/2003 to 2012/2013 and were within an order of magnitude of reference area concentrations by 2013. Macrobenthic communities did not indicate any sign of recovery and have not become more similar to reference communities over this same period of time. Temporal changes in macrobenthic community composition during the study period had higher correlations with climatic and sea ice dynamics than with changes in contaminant concentrations. The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation climatic index had the highest correlation with macrobenthic community composition. The Antarctic Oscillation climatic index, maximum ice extent and other natural environmental factors also appear to influence macrobenthic community composition. Despite large improvements in environmental management at McMurdo Station, continuing environmental vigilance is necessary before any noticeable improvement in ecological systems is likely to occur. The effects of climate must be considered when determining temporal changes in anthropogenic effects in Antarctica. Maintaining long-term monitoring of both contaminants and ecological indicators is important for determining the localized and global influences of humans on Antarctica, which will have implications for the whole planet.
    Citation
    T.A. Palmer, A.G. Klein, S.T. Sweet, et al., Long-term changes in contamination and macrobenthic communities adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Science of the Total Environment,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142798
    Collections
    • Publications

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    TDL
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of TAMU-CC RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartmentsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartments

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    TDL
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV