Oil in the Environment: Legacies and Lessons of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Description

What light does nearly twenty-five years of scientific study of the Exxon Valdez oil spill shed on the fate and effects of a spill? How can the results help in assessing future spills? How can ecological risks be assessed and quantified? In this, the first book on the effects of Exxon Valdez in fifteen years, scientists directly involved in studying the spill provide a comprehensive perspective on, and synthesis of, scientific information on long-term spill effects. The coverage is multidisciplinary, with chapters discussing a range of issues including effects on biota, successes and failures of post-spill studies and techniques, and areas of continued disagreement. An even-handed and critical examination of more than two decades of scientific study, this is an invaluable guide for studying future oil spills and, more broadly, for unraveling the consequences of any large environmental disruption. For access to a full bibliography of related publications, follow the resources link at www.cambridge.org/9781107027176.

John A. Wiens is Chief Scientist at PRBO Conservation Science in California, USA, and Winthrop Research Professor in the School of Plant Biology at the University of Western Australia. He has served on the faculties of Oregon State University, the University of New Mexico and Colorado State University, where he was a University Distinguished Professor. From 2002 to 2008 he was Lead Scientist with The Nature Conservancy. His work emphasizes landscape ecology, conservation and the ecology of birds.

'It is now 24 years since approximately 34,500 tonnes of crude oil were released into Prince William Sound, Alaska, as a result of the grounding of the tanker Exxon Valdez ... [The] spill has been described as the most intensively studied in history - over 800 peer-reviewed scientific papers have been produced to date and work is ongoing. This volume, written by scientists who conducted many of these scientific studies, provides an excellent compilation and critical evaluation of the evidence gathered in relation to impacts which occurred as a result of the incident. The additional perspective given by time has also allowed a very useful series of 'lessons learned' following each of the main topic areas ... [I] recommend this volume to anyone involved in studies undertaken to assess impacts of oil and/or chemical spills, and to others interested in this area ...' Robin Law, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science '... this book provides a holistic view of possible ecosystem effects and describes the evidence to change as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It is comprehensive in approach but accessible in style - each chapter both fits within the context of the spill 'life cycle' but stands alone. The narrative is accessible to the non-expert and is supported by well laid out tables and figures. Oh - that this would have been available in 2010 as oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico! No two spills are the same but there is a lot to be learned from one that can be applied to others - both for interested bystanders and experts. This book does an excellent job of capturing and conveying the essentials, laying out lessons learned, and supporting the information with citation and illustration.' Denise Reed, The Water Institute of the Gulf, USA 'A carefully written book ... Given its breadth and authority, [it] will likely become a classic in oil spill literature. It is very well organized, covering in sequence topics from oil chemistry to effects on shoreline biota, fish, seabirds and marine mammals. All chapters are written by pre-eminent specialists who have studied this spill and others for decades. I highly recommend the book to environmental scientists, regulatory and industry personnel, and spill response specialists. Anyone interested in understanding how oil interacts with marine ecosystems and how such systems recover or not from such perturbations will benefit from this book. It is particularly timely given the needs of the scientific community responding to the 2010 Macondo well (Deepwater Horizon) blow-out in the Gulf of Mexico. The contributing authors should be congratulated for their outstanding scientific effort and scholarship.' Peter G. Wells, Dalhousie University and (formerly) Environment Canada 'For those wanting to get a feel for the detail and breadth of the studies following the Exxon Valdez spill, this book provides not only a detailed summary on all aspects of the fate and effects, but also an excellent signpost to the primary research carried out. ITOPF echoes the call made in the concluding section of the book for open and transparent science to be carried out at oil spills.' ITOPF (The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation) 'The collection provides practical, implementable advice on how to design 'field studies and analyses that are quantitative, objective, and scientifically rigorous'. The numerous full-color maps, charts, photographs, and other illustrations are not only illuminating in making difficult scientific processes more understandable, but they are also beautifully rendered and thoughtfully formatted. Furthermore, Oil in the Environment has a rich bibliographic note that catalogs the literature related to the Exxon Valdez spill. Most remarkable is a link to a comprehensive online bibliography. A 436-page document, the bibliography is a 'must have' for any scholar interested in Prince William Sound, the Exxon Valdez event, or oil spills in general ... Oil in the Environment is a wise starting point to gain grounding in the literature and to help frame future studies.' Katrina Lacher, AAG Review of Books