Marine Life Talk Seminar

Deep-water oil well blowouts can bring large quantities of hydrocarbons into contact with the seabed and hence the seafloor (benthic) ecosystem.

The substantial quantities of oil observed on the deep seafloor after the Deepwater Horizon incident (Gulf of Mexico) gave us direct evidence of this. Such events result in unknown and un-quantified impacts on the way deep-sea organisms interact with their environment, in other words, on ecosystem function. Estimating the response of biota to human disturbances of this kind is necessary in order to fully resolve our understanding of processes in both the deep-sea environment and wider oceanic ecosystem.

How can we predict potential effects of large-scale, deepwater oil spills in other areas of concern where deepwater drilling is taking place? This talk will describe some of the work that is being done here at NOC to address the enormous task of evaluating effects of accidental oil releases on ecosystem function (how organisms interact, regulating substances like oxygen and carbon) and ecosystem services (the benefits we derive). The work includes novel applications of models, experiments and data collection in the field.

Further information

This talk is open to members of the public, staff and students. Admission is free.

Visitors attending the talk should arrive at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton at 7.15pm to be met in Reception

The National Oceanography Centre Southampton can be reached via Dock Gate 4 (between Town Quay and Ocean Village).

The talks are accessible via stairs or a lift. Since the lift cannot be used in an emergency, evacuation of less able visitors is down the stairs via an evacuation chair. You are therefore required to notify us in advance of the presence of a wheelchair user or anyone with access issues likely to require use of an evacuation chair.