Effect of "Tasman spirit" oil spill on marine plants in the coastalarea of Karachi [Pakistan]
2005
Saifullah, S.M.,Karachi Univ. (Pakistan). Dept. of Botany)Chaghtai, F
The present paper deals with the impact of "Tasman Spirit" oilspill on marine primary producers which occurred near KarachiHarbour on July 27th 2003. One year long study in the affected arearevealed that phytoplankton were seriously affected by oil spill butnot so much seaweeds and mangroves. Very low species diversity ofphytoplankton was observed as compared to previous observations inthe same and adjacent areas but the standing crop (phytoplanktonabundance) was not affected. Large size species dominated over thesmaller ones indicating adjustment to presence of low density oil onthe surface of water. Centric diatoms out numbered the pennateforms and armoured dinoflagellates the naked forms. The seaweedswere less affected. The attached forms on the buoys and floatingforms survived the spill. However, those growing attached to smallrocky patches on the beach died due to deposition of thick layer ofcrude oil, but later recovered soon after the oil spill was over alongwith barnacles. The mangroves do not grow in the affected area nordid the oil reach the adjacent mangrove stands, therefore, its effecton them could not be studied. However, the mangrove propagulesand seedlings drifted in the area were all damaged and killed,thereby affecting the benthic food chain and also the reproductivepotential of the mangroves of the adjacent areas.
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