Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)


Effects of oil and dispersed oil on temperate seagrass: scaling of pollution impacts

Apart from assessing the effects of oil and dispersed oil on seagrass between seasons, locations, and morphologically different species, the research also investigated whether laboratory results could be indicative of those obtained in situ.

The findings of this study are that non-dispersed oil, in general, leads to less photosynthetic stress to Zostera capricorni and Halophila ovalis compared with the addition of a chemical dispersant. When the addition of a chemical dispersant is deemed necessary to protect other resources in the area, the seagrass may still recover depending on the dispersant used.

Author

Kim Wilson and Professor Peter Ralph

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