RAPID: Effects of oiling and hydrologic remediation on baldcypress swamp elevation and ecosystem processes in the context of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

这是一项快速反应研究(RAPID)建议，旨在研究石油污染作为一种灾难性的干扰对海岸海拔的影响，以及与泥炭材料的生物贡献有关的影响。针对BP深水地平线漏油事件，PIS将测试以下假设：i)油污或旨在防止油污的水文补救措施将导致地上和地下的产量和泥炭堆积减少，土壤呼吸和分解速率增加，最终导致白柏沼泽海拔的净损失，ii)这些栖息地对这些生态系统过程的弹性将低于未受干扰的地区。调查人员将利用之前对让·拉菲特国家公园和其他地点的沿海白柏沼泽进行的长期研究得出的地上和地下产量、树木生长、分解和再生的历史相关数据。将测量湿地的二氧化碳、一氧化二氮和甲烷排放量，预计分解和其他生物地球化学过程可能会因干扰而发生变化。这些地点被作为长期研究的目标，因为它们对整个区域经历的海平面快速上升造成的海拔变化很敏感。这些数据将有助于评估漏油的直接和间接影响，以及为减少油污对整个墨西哥湾和东南大西洋沿岸沿海淡水沼泽生态系统的生态系统进程造成的积极影响。这项研究将为管理人员和公众提供有关英国石油公司深水地平线漏油事件及其水文补救措施对沿海湿地高程的影响的信息，并将通过同行评议的期刊文章和为公众撰写的简报进行传播。作为研究的一部分，一名本科生将接受培训。

This is a Rapid Response Research (RAPID) proposal to study the effects of oiling as a catastrophic disturbance on coastal elevation, as related to the biotic contributions of peat material. In response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil-spill, the PIs will test the hypotheses that i) oiling, or hydrologic remediation designed to prevent oiling, will cause reductions in above- and below-ground production and peat accumulation, increases in soil respiration and decomposition rates, and ultimately result in net losses in elevation of baldcypress swamps, and ii) that the resilience of these habitats, with regard to these ecosystem processes, will be lower in oiled swamps than in undisturbed areas. The investigators will make use of historically-relevant data on above- and belowground production, tree growth, decomposition, and regeneration from previous long-term studies in coastal baldcypress swamps in Jean Lafitte National Park and other sites. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane emissions from the wetlands will be measured, in anticipation that decomposition and other biogeochemical processes may shift in response to the disturbance. These sites were targeted for long-term studies because they are sensitive to changes in elevation as a result of high rates of sea level rise experienced throughout the region. These data will permit an assessment of both the direct and indirect impacts of oil spills and the proactive efforts made to reduce oiling on ecosystem processes in coastal freshwater swamp ecosystems that are found along the entire Gulf and Southeast Atlantic coasts. The research will provide managers and the public with information on the effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its hydrologic remediation on coastal wetland elevation, and will be disseminated via peer reviewed journal articles and briefs written for the public. An undergraduate student will be trained as part of the research.