Long-Term Studies Long-Term Studies in Port Valdez, Alaskain Port Valdez, Alaska

  A. L. Blanchard, A. L. Blanchard, Howard. M. Feder, Howard. M. Feder,

Carrie Parris and Hilary NicholsCarrie Parris and Hilary Nichols

Institute of Marine Science,Institute of Marine Science,

School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska FairbanksUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska Marine Science Symposium,Alaska Marine Science Symposium,

January 19-23, 2009January 19-23, 2009

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

The environmental studies in Port Valdez were funded by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.

We thank the many technicians and students who have assisted on the project, Max Hoberg for his contributions to field efforts, David Connor of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. for his support, and the captains and crews of the M/V Valdez Star for their gracious assistance in sampling.

IMSPort Valdez

Investigations

OceanographicStudies

Geological Physical

Biological

Chemical

Fisheries

EnvironmentalMonitoring

MarineBiology

MarineMammals

Intertidal SubtidalBenthos

SedimentBacterial

SedimentHydrocarbons

SubtidalBenthos

Stressors

Oil Terminal

Wastes Transport

Growth

Oil Spills

1964Earthquake Vessel

Traffic

Fish Hatchery

WatershedUrbanization

Industrialization

Sea OtterRecovery

Recreational

Commercial

Tourism

Large Returns

CommercialFishing

RecreationalFishing

WastesProcessing

Runoff

WastesHabitat

Loss

ChemicalSpills

GlacialSediments

Port Valdez Port Valdez Deep-Basin StationsDeep-Basin Stations

Transect Locations 1971-2008

Full fjord sampling locations 1971, 1976, 2002

Trends in the Deep Basin:Trends in the Deep Basin:Spatio-Temporal Model of the # TaxaSpatio-Temporal Model of the # Taxa

The The number of number of taxa present taxa present in the fjord in the fjord increased increased through through 1990.1990.

Higher Higher number of number of taxa found taxa found towards the towards the mouth.mouth.

Head of Fjord: strong glacial influences

Mouth of Fjord

Blanchard, Feder, and Hoberg, in prep.

Trends in the Deep Basin:Trends in the Deep Basin:GGalathowenia oculataalathowenia oculata

6,430 ind. m-2

564 ind. m-2

60 ind. m-2

3 ind. m-2

2002

1982

1976

1971

Limited sampling - G. oculata at almost all stations sampled.

Extensive sampling - G. oculata at only one location.

Extensive sampling - G. oculata at eight locations. Extensive sampling .

540 ind. m-2

Trends in the Deep Basin:Trends in the Deep Basin:Correlative StudiesCorrelative Studies

Hypothesis Hypothesis from study:from study:

Hatchery salmon Hatchery salmon releases and releases and returns have returns have substantially substantially altered the Port altered the Port Valdez ecosystem Valdez ecosystem enhancing benthic enhancing benthic fauna to the deep fauna to the deep basin.basin.

Infaunal Biomass vs. Adult Salmon Returns

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Returns (Millions)

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

Bio

mass (G

m-2

)

r = 0.40

Port Valdez Environmental Port Valdez Environmental Monitoring SitesMonitoring Sites

Treated Ballast-Water DischargesTreated Ballast-Water DischargesPAH (ng g-1)

Percent Sensitive Species (Galathowenia oculata and Melinna cristata)

Spatio-temporal Spatio-temporal modeling modeling indicates indicates decreasing PAH decreasing PAH concentrations concentrations over time.over time.

Strongest Strongest association is association is between PAH and between PAH and the percent the percent abundance of two abundance of two tube-dwelling tube-dwelling polychaetes.polychaetes.

Blanchard et al., 2002, 2003; Blanchard, 2008; Blanchard and Feder, in prep.

Port Valdez Sediment Disposal Port Valdez Sediment Disposal Study 1994-1996Study 1994-1996

Multiple Stressor Interactions: Multiple Stressor Interactions: Sediment Disposal StudySediment Disposal Study

Dredging and Dredging and dock dock construction construction had large had large effects.effects.

Recovery was Recovery was delayed by delayed by interactions of interactions of dredging, vessel dredging, vessel traffic, and traffic, and discharges of discharges of fish wastesfish wastes

Dredging andConstruction

Recovery in Progress

Vessel traffic, spread of fish wastes delayed recovery

Blanchard and Feder, 2003.

What We’ve LearnedWhat We’ve Learned Faunal responses to and recovery from stress Faunal responses to and recovery from stress

mediated by fjord characteristics:mediated by fjord characteristics:– Environmental gradients and stresses strong.Environmental gradients and stresses strong.– Seasonal stratification, deep basin, and strong sediment Seasonal stratification, deep basin, and strong sediment

gradient important factors for infauna.gradient important factors for infauna.

Interactions between multiple stressors are Interactions between multiple stressors are limited due to spatial scales of stressors.limited due to spatial scales of stressors.– Present only at shallow subtidal site. Present only at shallow subtidal site.

Earthquake had long-lasting effects.Earthquake had long-lasting effects.– Appears re-adjusted 1989/1990, 26 years later.Appears re-adjusted 1989/1990, 26 years later.

What We’ve LearnedWhat We’ve Learned Hatchery salmon releases and returns have Hatchery salmon releases and returns have

increased over time.increased over time.– Magnitude of effects not known.Magnitude of effects not known.

Effects from disposal of treated ballast Effects from disposal of treated ballast water at the oil terminal are: water at the oil terminal are: – Negligible in the deep benthos.Negligible in the deep benthos.– Stronger in shallow sites.Stronger in shallow sites.– Overall, effects on benthic infauna limited, small.Overall, effects on benthic infauna limited, small.

References

Blanchard, A. L., H. M. Feder and D. G. Shaw. 2002. Long-term investigation of benthic fauna and the influence of treated ballast water disposal in Port Valdez, Alaska. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44: 367-382.

Blanchard, A. and H. M. Feder. 2003. Adjustment of benthic fauna following sediment disposal at a site with multiple stressors in Port Valdez, Alaska. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46:1590-1599.

Blanchard, A. L., H. M. Feder and D. G. Shaw. 2003. Variations of benthic fauna underneath an effluent mixing zone at a marine oil terminal in Port Valdez, Alaska. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46:1583-1589.

Blanchard, A. L. 2008. Challenges in Environmental Monitoring of Marine Invertebrate Communities at a Marine Oil Terminal in Alaska. In JSM Proceedings, Section on the Environment. Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association.

Blanchard, A. L., H. M. Feder and M. K. Hoberg. In preparation. Temporal Variability of Benthic Communities Affected by a Large Earthquake and Anthropogenic Stressors, 1971-2005.

Blanchard, A. and H. M. Feder. In preparation. Associations of Benthic Macrofauna Variations with Long-term Discharges of Residual Hydrocarbons into the Marine Environment at a Major Marine Oil Terminal.