BIOPADE · Biological Impact of Oil Pollution in Arctic and Deep-sea Environment
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2017-10-01 → 2019-09-30
- EU contribution
- €196,400
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-SE
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Biological Impact of Oil Pollution in Arctic and Deep-sea Environment
The increase of oil demand, associated with the depletion of easily exploitable oil deposits, led the oil industry to intensify the search for new oil areas in the Arctic and deep-sea ecosystems.The BIOPADE project aim was to increase the knowledge base of biological impact assessment of an oil spill in the Arctic and deep-sea ecosystems in the way to conduct potential relevant Spill Impact Mitigation Assessment (SIMA). This was performed thanks the achievement of three objectives. (i) Assess the potential long-term impacts of dispersed oil on a key Arctic species. For this, several levels of biological organizations of Gadus morhua were assessed to obtain data coupling both high response sensitivity and ecological relevance. This study reports that short-term impacts of oil compounds on low integration levels are not lasting at an integrative level, thus, highlighting effective compensation phenomena. (ii) Expand knowledge of dispersed oil impacts in deep-benthic ecosystem. This was achieved using a new methodology on the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa to directly reach the mitochondria metabolism. The activity of the respiratory chain complexes highlighted the dispersant impact on mitochondrial metabolism. (iii) Develop bioassays to assess biological impact at depth to provide information on potential behavior and toxicity of chemicals. This was reealized through the adaptation of two classical bioassays (luminescent bacteria and biodegradation tests) at simulated depth. BIOPADE results provide relevant biological data on the cost and the benefits of the chemical dispersant use in Arctic and deep-sea areas and constitute a valuable input for SIMA in the Arctic and deep-sea areas. Consequently, it gives further information to establish exploitation of oil resources in European marine areas.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The increase demand of oil, associated with the depletion of easily exploitable oil deposits is leading the oil industry to intensify the search for new oil areas and exploit deposits previously considered as economically unprofitable. These new oil research areas are mostly located in Arctic waters and in the ""offshore"" areas in deep waters. However, very few studies have investigated the biological impacts of oil contamination in these very specific areas. Practically, the research actions will estimate the potential synergistic effect of oil, warming and hypoxia on a key Arctic species, polar cod Boreogadus saida (Work package 1, WP1).The project will then will focus on the impacts of the soluble fraction of oil on the metabolism of deep benthic species, in particular Lophelia pertusa and Eurythenes gryllus (WP 2). WP3 will consist of an applied study in order to validate two experimental set-ups which could make possible the assessment of the impact of oil in deep-sea environments. Finally, WP4 will be devoted to provide recommendations to perform a relevant NEBA in Arctic and deep-sea areas. The complementarities between the applicant and the supervisors profiles, associated with partner organizations skills ensure the realization of this innovative project and the dissemination and exploitation of the different results.""
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- AKVAPLAN NIVA AS · TROMSOCoordinatorNorway
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union