EFFECT OF THE HEBEI SPIRIT OIL SPILL ON INTERTIDAL MEIOFAUNAL COMMUNITIES IN TAEAN, KOREA

Abstract

On December 7, 2007, the M/V Hebei Spirit was struck by a crane on the Yellow Sea approximately five miles off Taean. The spilled oil spread rapidly in the water and onto the nearby coast. In this study, we studied the effects of an oil spill on meiobenthic communities in sandy intertidal areas. The distribution patterns of meiofauna were monitored for 5 years at two contaminated sites (Site 1, 2) and one uncontaminated site (Site 3). The sampling sites showed different patterns of change in density of meiofauna over this period. For the first two years after the accident, the density of meiofauna fluctuated among the sites. Seasonal variations in the density characteristics were observed at two contaminated sites after three years from the oil spill accident. At the end of the 5-year period, the density differences among the sites decreased. In the initial 6 months after the accident, the density of meiofauna was higher at site 1 than at site 2 in which the level of oil pollution was higher. Nematode densities did not decrease in the initial period after the oil spill. However, the species assemblage of nematodes was altered by the oil pollution.ll on meiobenthic communities in sandy intertidal areas. The distribution patterns of meiofauna were monitored for 5 years at two contaminated sites (Site 1, 2) and one uncontaminated site (Site 3). The sampling sites showed different patterns of change in density of meiofauna over this period. For the first two years after the accident, the density of meiofauna fluctuated among the sites. Seasonal variations in the density characteristics were observed at two contaminated sites after three years from the oil spill accident. At the end of the 5-year period, the density differences among the sites decreased. In the initial 6 months after the accident, the density of meiofauna was higher at site 1 than at site 2 in which the level of oil pollution was higher. Nematode densities did not decrease in the initial period after the oil spill. However, the species assemblage of nematodes was altered by the oil pollution.