Presentation

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The Effects of Chemical Dispersant on Common Murre (Uria aalge) Behavior and Waterproofing

DescriptionChemical dispersant application is an Applied Response Technology (ART) that can be approved for use during oil spill incidents in California and elsewhere. This oil spill mitigation measure may help reduce oil concentrations at the surface and therefore exposure of seabirds; however, the persistence of dispersants at the water’s surface is dependent on factors such as wind chop and wave action, among others, and the presence of such chemicals may pose a threat to seabirds and other animals. There are few studies that have examined the effects of dispersants on wildlife, especially seabirds. A previous study (Whitmer et al. 2017) noted that birds exposed to high concentrations of dispersant experienced immediate waterproofing and buoyancy issues because of alterations in feather geometry. These authors recommended that seabird impacts be considered when determining whether dispersants should be applied. Building on the results of the Whitmer et al. 2017 study, we will present findings of immediate and short-term impacts that chemical dispersant and chemically dispersed oil may have on the behavior of Common Murres (Uria aalge) post-exposure. A secondary goal of this study was to evaluate the use of infrared thermography for remote assessment of waterproofing and compare the use of this thermal imaging technique with visual assessment for determination of waterproofing.

Authors

Becky Elias

EAS