The effects of oil spill and clean-up on dominant US Gulf coast marsh macrophytes: a review

The objective of this review was to synthesize existing information regardi ng the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marsh macrophytes in a manner t hat will help guide research and improve spill-response efficiency. Petrole um hydrocarbons affect plants chemically and physically. Although plants so metime survive fouling by producing new leaves, even relatively non-toxic o ils can stress or kill plants if oil physically prevents plant gas-exchange . Plant sensitivity to fouling varies among species and among populations w ithin a species, age of the plant, and season of spill. Physical disturbanc e and compaction of vegetation and soil associated with clean-up activities following an oil spill appear to have detrimental effects on the US Gulf c oast marshes. Other techniques, including the use of chemicals such as clea ners or bioremediation, may be necessary to address the problem. Clean-up m ay also be beneficial when timely removal prevents oil from migrating to mo re sensitive habitats. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.