Ecology / Ecology Panel, Committee to Review the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Series:

Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program ; II

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Environmental Studies Program (U.S.)--Evaluation.

Environmental Studies Program (U.S.).

Continental shelf--United States.

Continental shelf.

Environmental impact analysis--United States.

Environmental impact analysis.

Offshore oil industry--Environmental aspects--United States.

Offshore oil industry.

Oil and gas leases--United States.

Oil and gas leases.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (162 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Ecology

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program reviews the ecological studies done by the Environmental Studies Program of the Minerals Management Service. This program, which has spent $10 million a year on ecological studies in recent years, is designed to provide information to predict and manage the environmental effects of outer continental shelf oil and gas activities. The book considers studies on marine mammals and endangered species, birds, benthic organisms, fisheries, and marine ecosystems and makes recommendations for future studies.

Contents:

Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

THE PRESENT STUDY

MARINE BIRDS, MAMMALS, AND TURTLES

BENTHIC PROCESSES

FISHERIES AND ECOSYSTEMS

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1 Introduction

OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES

Magnitude and Management

Environmental Concerns

THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM

Mandate

History of the Environmental Studies Program

Development of a Studies Plan

Implementation of Studies According to Lease-Sale Schedules

MMS Support of Ecological Studies

THE PRESENT STUDY AND REPORT

2 Principles of Assessment

FOCUS AND GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT OF STUDIES

ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABILITY: DETECTING THE EFFECTS OF OCS ACTIVITIES

Testing Hypotheses

Different Approaches for Different Species Groups

STUDIES OF MARINE BIRDS, MAMMALS, TURTLES, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

Selection of Species for Study

Distribution and Abundance

Ecological Processes

Relationship of Distribution to Oceanic Features

Trophic Relationships

Population Processes

Community and Ecosystem Processes

Specific OCS Impacts

Effects of External Oiling

Toxic Effects of Ingested Oil and Other Physiological Effects

Trophic Effects

Disturbance

Other Potential Effects

CHARACTERIZATION OF BENTHIC ENVIRONMENTS

FISHERIES

ECOSYSTEM MODELING

3 Analysis of the Program

BIRDS

Allocation of Program Effort

Assessment of Results

Selection of Species and Locations for Study

Colony Inventories

At-Sea Inventories

Shoreline Habitat Inventories

Colony Process Studies

At-Sea Process Studies

Effects Studies, Modeling, and Estimation of Risk

Gaps in the Available Data

Shoreline Habitat Inventories.

Colony Process Studies

Shoreline and Nearshore Process Studies

Effects

Models and Estimation of Risk

Recommendations for Future Research

Shoreline Process Studies

Effects and Risk Studies

Modeling Studies

Coordination, Cooperation, and Organization

SEA TURTLES

MARINE MAMMALS

Introduction

Environmental Studies Program and Results

Inventory

Gaps in Available Data

Conclusions and Recommendations

Data Management and Accessibility

BENTHIC STUDIES

Accomplishments of the Environmental Studies Program

Shortcomings of the Environmental Studies Program

Design of Benthic Monitoring Programs

Understanding Benthic Processes

Biogeochemical Concerns

Statistical Analyses

Biological Hierarchy

Other Impacts

Summary of Monitoring Design Requirements

Information Needed

Biological Models Developed with MMS Funding

Circulation Models

Population Risk Models

Ecosystem and Oil-Flux Models

Fishery Models

Drilling Discharges

Evaluation of MMS Modeling Efforts

4 Conclusions and Recommendations

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

References

Appendix A Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources

Appendix B Ecology Study Contracts Awarded by Minerals Management Service, 1973-1989.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical reference.

ISBN:

9786610203338

9781280203336

1280203331

9780309537766

0309537762

9780585149578

0585149577

OCLC:

567851072