Oil in the Environment
Legacies and Lessons of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Scientists directly involved in studying the Exxon Valdez spill provide a comprehensive synthesis of scientific information on long-term spill effects.

John A. Wiens (Edited by)

9781107614697, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 July 2013

482 pages, 4 b/w illus. 101 colour illus. 12 maps 27 tables
24.6 x 18.9 x 2.3 cm, 1.04 kg

'The collection provides practical, implementable advice on how to design 'field studies and analyses that are quantitative, objective, and scientifically rigorous'. The numerous full-color maps, charts, photographs, and other illustrations are not only illuminating in making difficult scientific processes more understandable, but they are also beautifully rendered and thoughtfully formatted. Furthermore, Oil in the Environment has a rich bibliographic note that catalogs the literature related to the Exxon Valdez spill. Most remarkable is a link to a comprehensive online bibliography. A 436-page document, the bibliography is a 'must have' for any scholar interested in Prince William Sound, the Exxon Valdez event, or oil spills in general … Oil in the Environment is a wise starting point to gain grounding in the literature and to help frame future studies.' Katrina Lacher, AAG Review of Books

What light does nearly twenty-five years of scientific study of the Exxon Valdez oil spill shed on the fate and effects of a spill? How can the results help in assessing future spills? How can ecological risks be assessed and quantified? In this, the first book on the effects of Exxon Valdez in fifteen years, scientists directly involved in studying the spill provide a comprehensive perspective on, and synthesis of, scientific information on long-term spill effects. The coverage is multidisciplinary, with chapters discussing a range of issues including effects on biota, successes and failures of post-spill studies and techniques, and areas of continued disagreement. An even-handed and critical examination of more than two decades of scientific study, this is an invaluable guide for studying future oil spills and, more broadly, for unraveling the consequences of any large environmental disruption. For access to a full bibliography of related publications, follow the resources link at www.cambridge.org/9781107027176.

List of contributors
Prologue
Acknowledgments
A bibliographic note David K. Johnson and Laura R. Rustin
List of acronyms
Part I. Introduction and Background: 1. Introduction and background John A. Wiens
2. The phases of an oil spill and scientific studies of spill effects Paul D. Boehm, Erich R. Gundlach and David S. Page
Part II. Oil in the Environment: 3. Oil in the water column Paul D. Boehm, Jerry M. Neff and David S. Page
4. Surveying oil on the shoreline Edward H. Owens and P. Douglas Reimer
5. Ancient sites and emergency response: cultural resource protection Chris B. Wooley and James C. Haggarty
6. Fate of oil on shorelines David S. Page, Paul D. Boehm, John S. Brown, Erich R. Gundlach and Jerry M. Neff
7. Understanding subsurface contamination using conceptual and mathematical models Gary A. Pope, Kimberly D. Gordon and James R. Bragg
8. Removal of oil from shorelines: biodegradation and bioremediation Ronald M. Atlas and James R. Bragg
Part III. Biological Effects: 9. Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) as a biomarker in oil spill assessments James T. Oris and Aaron P. Roberts
10. Assessing effects and recovery from environmental accidents Keith R. Parker, John A. Wiens, Robert H. Day and Stephen M. Murphy
11. Shoreline biota Erich R. Gundlach, David S. Page, Jerry M. Neff and Paul D. Boehm
12. Oiling effects on pink salmon Ernest L. Brannon, Matthew A. Cronin, Al W. Maki, Larry L. Moulton and Keith R. Parker
13. Pacific herring Walter H. Pearson, Ralph A. Elston, Karen Humphrey and Richard B. Deriso
14. Oil and marine birds in a variable environment John A. Wiens, Robert H. Day and Stephen M. Murphy
15. Sea otters: trying to see the forest for the trees since Exxon Valdez David L. Garshelis and Charles B. Johnson
Part IV. Assessing Oil Spill Effects and Ecological Recovery: 16. Characterizing ecological risks, significance, and recovery Mark A. Harwell, John H. Gentile and Keith R. Parker
Part V. Conclusions: 17. Science and oil spills: the broad picture John A. Wiens
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Conservation of the environment [RNK], Environmental management [RNF], Applied ecology [RNC], Petroleum & oil industries [KNBP], Environmental economics [KCN], Politics & government [JP]