GoMRI eNews · Oct 13, 2020 · ← All issues
Welcome to the GoMRI eNews.

Keeping you current on emerging Gulf science and the people investigating the effects of oil spills on the environment and public health.

October 13, 2020                                                                    GoMRI eNews

Stories

Sea Grant Publication Offers Tips for Effective Academic Engagement with Spill Response Community

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is pleased to announce a new Sea Grant tip sheet that discusses how academic researchers can become more familiar with priority oil spill research needs and with protocols for collecting data during response activities.

State Events to Showcase a Decade of Discovery with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) and the Sea Grant oil spill outreach team are pleased to announce and extend an invitation to attend Gulf Coast state events that will highlight GoMRI contributions to research, recovery, and resilience from a state-based perspective.

Studies Explore the Roles of Halloysite Clay Particles and Solvents in Oil Dispersion Technologies

Scientists with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) have been investigating solvent-free formulations to improve the safety and efficiency of dispersant technologies used in oil spill response. One promising area involves halloysite clay nanotubes.

From the Archives

Studies Shows Beach Environment Enhanced Oil Degradation, But Still May Take 30 Years

Posted on October 1, 2019
Researchers at Florida State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology analyzed degradation processes of oil that was deposited along Gulf of Mexico beaches following Deepwater Horizon.

Grad Student Aiyer Shows How Oil Droplets Evolve Under Deep-water Conditions

Posted on October 11, 2018
Oil, gases, and bubbles jet out together during a deep-ocean petroleum blowout, and the oil quickly breaks up into different-sized droplets. Predicting the sizes of these droplets is critical to determine how long it will take the oil to reach the ocean’s surface and the resulting oil slick’s size.

Study Finds Different Avoidance Behaviors in Estuarine Fish to Oiled Sediment

Posted on October 5, 2017
A Louisiana State University researcher conducted laboratory experiments to learn how estuarine fish behave around sediments containing varying concentrations of weathered and fresh oil. He observed that fish exhibited a stronger avoidance response to medium and high concentrations of fresh oil compared to low concentrations and observed no significant avoidance of any weathered oil concentrations.

Study Suggests Wider Range of Mahi-Mahi’s Genetic Responses to Oil Exposure

Posted on October 4, 2016
Scientists used novel bioinformatics to investigate molecular-level changes over time and toxicity pathways in mahi-mahi embryos and larvae exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil. They observed that weathered oil induced more pronounced gene expression changes than a non-weathered source oil.

Publications
Study Develops Tool for Spatial and Temporal Characterization of Pelagic Habitats
An Empirically Validated Method for Characterizing Pelagic Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico Using Ocean Model Data. Johnston, M.W.; Milligan, R.J.; Easson, C.G.; deRada, S.; English, D.C.; Penta, B.; Sutton, T.T. 2019. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 17, 6, 362-375.
 
Study Measures Diel Vertical Migration Activities of Northern Gulf of Mexico Zooplankton
Acoustic Detection of Zooplankton Diel Vertical Migration Behaviors on the Northern Gulf of Mexico Shelf. Parra, S.M.; Greer, A.T.; Book, J.W.; Deary, A.L.; Soto, I.M.; Culpepper, C.; Hernandez, F.J.; Miles, T.N. 2019. Limnology and Oceanography, 64, 5, 2092-2113.

Data
Benthic footprint of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill data analyzed from sediment cores collected aboard R/V Ocean Veritas and R/V Gyre cruises in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-16 to 2010-10-22 -- data link

Using blood gas analysis and capnography to determine oxygenation status in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill -- data link

Marsh and subtidal sediment microphytobenthos from three regions of coastal Louisiana: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data from 2015-05-12 to 2017-10-13 -- data link

Announcements

Save The Date! Sea Grant to Host “Decade of Discovery State Showcases” Series
As GoMRI research comes to a close, the Sea Grant Oil Spill Science Outreach Team will host events to celebrate GoMRI’s unique contributions to research, recovery, and resilience in each Gulf state over the past decade. All events can be attended via Zoom or Facebook Live. See below for more information about your state’s event:
  • Florida: An October 16th event called “Ten Years of GoMRI Science: Honoring Discoveries, Contributions, and Legacies in Florida” will take place at 12 pm Central Time. Register here to attend on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.
  • Alabama: An October 23rd event called “Ten Years of Discovery: Celebrating the Legacy of GoMRI in Alabama” will take place at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. A reception will be held at 6 pm Central Time followed by a the main program at 6:30 pm. Register here to attend the event in person or on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.
  • Mississippi: An October 29th event called “A Salute to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative’s Contribution to the State of Science in Mississippi” will take place at 1 pm Central Time. Register here to attend on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.
  • Louisiana: A November 10th event called “Commemorating 10 Years of GoMRI Science in Louisiana” will take place at 2 pm Central Time. Register here to attend on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.