21

NOAA Technical Report NMFS 21

Annotated Bibliography on

Hypoxia and its Effects on

Marine Life, With Emphasis

on the Gulf of Mexico

Maurice L. Renaud

February 1985

u.s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA TECHNICAL REPORTS NMFS

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surveillance of foreign fishing off United States coastal walas. and the development and enforcement of international fishery

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series: "Special Scientific Report-Fisheries" and "CircuJar." The series contains the following types of reports: Scientific

investigations that document long-term continuing programs of NMFS, intensive scientific repoTts on studies of restricted

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Springfield, VA 22161.
•

NOAA Technical Report NMFS 21

Annotated Bibliography on

Hypoxia and its Effects on

Marine Life, With Emphasis

on the Gulf of Mexico

Maurice L. Renaud

February 1985

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

John V. Byrne, Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

William G. Gordon, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not approve, recommend or endorse any propriety product or proprietary material mentioned

in this publication. No reference shall be made to NMFS, or to this publication furnished by NMFS, in any advertising or sales promotion which

would indicate or imply that NMFS approves, recommends or endorses any

proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned herein, or which has

as its purpose an intent to cause directly or indirectly the advertised product to be used or purchased because of this NMFS publication.

•
CONTENTS

Introduction .

Acknowledgments .

Annotated bibliography .

iii

Annotated Bibliography on Hypoxia and its Effects on

Marine Life, With Emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico

MAURICE L. RENAUD1

ABSTRACT

This bibliography contains 73 annotated references from publications and reports concerning hypoxia, .,;

2.0 ppm dissolved oxygen concentration, in the Gulf of Mexico. Instances of hypoxia from similar habitats and

the effects of low oxygen levels on marine or estuarine organisms are also included.

INTRODUCTION

Marine and aquatic organisms require various levels of dissolved oxygen to maintain normal growth and activity. Hypoxia,

2.0 ppm dissolved oxygen concentration, occurs naturally in

several regions of the world and creates a stressful condition for

most organisms subjected to it. A variety of environmental

variables are associated with the formation of oxygen-depleted

water. Freshwater runoff, water column stratification, biological

processes, and weather cor:ditions appear to play major roles in

hypoxia formation. The extent to which any single factor is involved is unknown.

During the past 10 yr, hypoxia has become a major concern to

scientists and commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hypoxic or anoxic conditions have been reported annually in the

Gulf of Mexico since 1972. They have been concentrated along

the Louisiana coastline between the Mississippi River Delta and

Marsh Island, LA. More recently, hypoxia was noted off western

Louisiana and the upper Texas coast.

The full effect of hypoxia on the commercial fish and shrimp

industries is unknown. Although hypoxia has not been directly

linked to temporary changes in migratory patterns or in the

decline of annual shrimp catch, its presence during portions of a

shrimp's life cycle implicate it as a possible source of variation in.

annual yields.

This paper contains 73 annotated references that document the

occurrence of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and similar coastal

habitats, or address the effects of oxygen depletion on marine life.

References were obtained through a computer survey of Biological

Abstracts, Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts, National

Technical Information Service, and library research. All articles

in this bibliography were reviewed by the author. Users are encouraged to alert the author of any omissions so that addenda can

be produced.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Beatrice Richardson for typing the

manuscript; the librarian, Pat Torrefranca, for the acquisition of

several articles not present in our library; and Lorna Kent for the

computer literature survey.

I Southeast Fisheries Cen:er Galveston Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77550.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adams, J. K.

1983. Oxygen depletion on the OCS: Session summary.

Proc. 3rd Annu. Gulf Mex. Inf. Transfer Meeting, p. 182-

183. U.S. Dep. Inter., Minerals and Management Serv.,

New Orleans, LA.

Summarization topics include 1) the occurrence of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, 2) factors influencing hypoxia, 3)

characterization of Mississippi River water, 4) sources of

oxygen-demanding material, 5) areal extent of hypoxic

bottom water, 6) research needs concerning the prediction

of hypoxia, and 7) understanding the processes in the ecosystem controlling hypoxia.

Alderdice, D. F., W. P. Wickett, and J. R. Brett.

1958. Some effects of temporary exposure to low dissolved

oxygen levels on Pacific salmon eggs. J. Fish. Res. Board

Can. 15:229-249.

Discusses the effect of hypoxic conditions on the embryological development, i.e., fertilization through hatching, of

the salmon egg. Mortality and hatching success are noted.

Barrett, B. 8., J. W. Tarver, W. R. Latapie, J. F. Pollard, W. R.

Mock, G. B. Adkins, W. J. Gaidry, C. J. White, and J. S. Mathis.

1971. Cooperative Gulf of Mexico estuarine inventory and

study, Louisiana. Phase II, Hydrology, p. 9-130. Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission, New Orleans.

Dissolved oxygen concentration, turbidity, nitrates,

nitrites, inorganic and total phosphates were measured at

82 stations in Louisiana estuaries from Sabine Lake to the

Pearl River, from April 1968 to March 1969. Seasonal and

geographic variation of data are discussed.

Bedinger, C. A., R. E. Childers, J. W. Cooper, K. T. Kimball, and

A. Kwok.

1981. Pollution fate and effect studies. In C. A. Bedinger

(editor), Ecological investigations of petroleum production

platforms in the central Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1, part 1,53
p. Final report to the Bureau of Land Management, New

Orleans, LA. Contract No. AS551-CT8-17.

Review of the geology and physical oceanography on the

outer continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, i.e., advective processes, Louisiana shelf circulation, dissolved oxygen levels, water column stratification, photosynthesis,

and estimates of petroleum hydrocarbons in the Mississippi River discharge. An examination of hypoxic occurrences is included. Cause and effect relationships are

discussed.

Boesch, D. F.

1983. Implications of oxygen depletion on the continental

shelf of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Coastal Ocean

Pollut. Assess. News 2:25-28.

A concise review of documented hypoxia in the Gulf of

Mexico. The severity, potential causes, and consequences

of hypoxia are evaluated.

Brongersma-Sanders, M.

1957. Mass mortality in the sea. In J. W. Hedgpeth (editor),

Treatise on marine ecology and paleoecology. Vol. l.

Ecology, p. 941-1010. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 67.

Classifies mass mortality in the sea into general categories,

i.e., catastrophe, sudden changes in environmental parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration,

salinity, and currents), phytoplankton blooms, etc. A

catalog of worldwide mass mortalities in the sea is presented. Biological and physical processes resulting in the

depletion of oxygen on the ocean floor are discussed.

Bulloch, D. K.

1976. Ocean kill in the New York Bight: summer 1976.

Underwater Nat. 10:4-12.

Presents the chronological reporting of the fish and invertebrate kill. Information was collected from commercial

and sport fishermen and scuba divers. A low dissolved

oxygen concentration in the bottom water of the New

York Bight was identified as the cause of the mortalities.

Possible sources of the low oxygen levels are discussed.

Burton, D. T., L. B. Richardson, and C. J. Moore.

1980. Effect of oxygen reduction rate and constant low dissolved oxygen concentrations on two estuarine

fish. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 109:552-557.

Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, and spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, were examined. Relationships between the

mean lethal concentration of oxygen and the rate of reduction of dissolved oxygen that induces a fish kill were determined.

Carpenter, J. H., and D. G. Cargo.

1957. Oxygen requirement and mortality of the blue crab

2

in the Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay Inst., Johns

Hopkins Univ., Tech. Rep. 13,22 p.

Discusses blue crab mortalities in Chesapeake Bay from

1951 to 1953. Dissolved oxygen concentration and water

circulation in the Bay are examined. Resistance times to

varying degrees of hypoxic water are calculated. Wind

direction and speed, tidal velocity, and air and water

temperatures are considered.

Childress, J. J.

1968. Oxygen mlmmum layer: vertical distribution and

respiration of the mysid Gnathophausia ingens. Science

(Wash., DC) 160:1242-1243.

The ::>xygen consumption rate of G. ingens was measured

in water with a dissolved oxygen concentration ranging

from 0.0 to 0.3 ppm. The ability of G. ingens to function

under anerobic conditions, and the production and maintenance of the oxygen minimum layer in the deep sea are

discussed.

Connell, C. H., and J. B. Cross.

1950. Mass mortality of fish associated with the protozoan

Gonyaulax in the Gulf of Mexico. Science (Wash., DC)

112:359-363.

Reports on temporal fluctuations of oxygen levels in

Offatts Bayou with respect to Gonyaulax sp. activity and

fish kills.

Conseil Permanent International Pour I'Exploration de la Mer.

1936. Bulletin hydrographique pour l'annee 1935 (Series

Bl), 105 p.

Provides oxygen, phosphate, and nitrate profiles at

numerous locations in the Gulf of Mexico during 1935.

Davis, G. E., J. Foster, C. E. Warren, and P. Duodoroff.

1963. The influence of oxygen concentration on the swimming performance of juvenile Pacific salmon at various

temperatures. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 92: 111-124.

Experimental evidence suggests that minor changes in dissolved oxygen concentration severely affects the swimming behavior of the chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha,

and coho, O. kisutch, salmon. This could impact food

gathering, predation, and escape behavior, i.e., survival of

fish in the wild. May be applicable to Gulf species as well.

Deubler, E. E., Jr., and G. S. Posner.

1963. Response of postlarval flounders, Paralichthys lethostigma, to water of low oxygen concentrations. Copeia

1963:312-317.

Examines behavior of postlarval flounders in oxygendepleted water.
Drake, T.

1982. Oxygen depletion as influenced by the Mississippi

River outflow. Proc. 3rd Annu. Gulf Mex. Inf. Transfer

Meeting, p. 183-184. V.S. Dep. Inter., Minerals and

Management Serv., New Orleans, LA.

Characterizes oxygenation and reoxygenation in the lower

Mississippi River. Examines historical and future trends

and describes the effects of dredging in the river. Discusses

future dredging planned by the Corps of Engineers at

Southwest Pass, LA, and the need for future studies.

Egusa, S., and T. Yamamoto.

1961. Studies on the respiration of the "Kuruma" prawn

Penaeus japonicus Bate-I. Burrowing behaviour with

special reference to its relation to environmental oxygen

concentration. Bull. Jpn. Soc. Sci. Fish. 27:22-27.

Describes changes in the burrowing behavior of the

"Kuruma" prawn with respect to changes in dissolved oxygen concentration.

Flowers, C. W., W. T. Miller, and J. D. Gann.

1975. Water chemistry. Vol. II. In J. G. Gosselink, R. H.

Miller, M. Hood, and L. M. Bahr (editors), Environmental

assessment of a Louisiana offshore oil port and appertinent

pipeline and storage facility, Vol. II, Append. V. 1, 86

p. Final report to Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, New

Orleans, LA.

Water chemistry was evaluated in the vicinity of a proposed single-point mooring terminal and offshore oil pipeline.

Temperature, pH, salinity, BOD-COD, organic matter,

inorganic nutrients, and selected heavy metal data were

collected monthly during 1973 and 1974. Temporal variations of these data and a large anoxic area discovered during the study were described. Numerous raw data are

available in this report.

Foote, K.

1982. Observations of oxygen depletion in Louisiana offshore wat..rs. Proc. 3rd Annu. Gulf Mex. Inf. Transfer

Meeting, p. 185-186. U.S. Dep. Inter., Minerals and

Management Serv., New Orleans, LA.

Summarizes the occurrence of hypoxia off Louisiana from

1978 to 1982. Describes the relationship of hypoxia with

catches of demersal fish, plankton, and epibenthos. Provides a ,~orrelation 0: environmental parameters with

hypoxia.

Fotheringham, N., and G. H. Weissberg.

1979. Some causes, consequences and potential environmental impacts of oxygen depletion in the northern Gulf of

Mexico. Proc. 11 th Annu. Offshore Tech. Conf. 4(3611):

2205-2208.

Far-tors affecting the formation of hypoxic bottom water

3

and the assessment of major impacts of oxygen depletion

in Louisiana nearshore waters are discussed. Water temperature, salinity, current velocity, and water chemistry

are mentioned. Temporal changes in density and vitality of

macrofauna with respect to the presence of oxygendepleted water are noted.

Gallaway, B. J.

1981. An ecosystem analysis of oil and gas development on

the Texas-Louisiana continental shelf. U.S. Fish Wildl.

Serv., Office BioI. Serv., Wash., DC, FWS/OBS-81-27, 88

p.

Considered an overview of the Texas-Louisiana shelf ecosystem. Water currents, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen concentration, bottom topography, and sediments are

discussed. Zoogeographic faunal assemblages are

presented and temporal variations are discussed. The effects of drilling structures, fluids, and oil spills on the

above biological and physical data were investigated.

1982. Defining and obtaining management information

related to oxygen depletion. Proc. 3rd Annu. Gulf Mex.

Inf. Transfer Meeting, p. 190-193. V.S. Dep. Inter.,

Minerals and Management Serv., New Orleans, LA.

Presents historical data associated with changes in Mississippi River waters, summarizes reports of hypoxia and major biological changes in Gulf water, and suggests the

development of assimilative models for the TexasLouisiana shelf ecosystem.

Gallaway, B. J., and L. A. Reitsema.

1981. Shrimp spawning site survey. Vol. III. In W. B.

Jackson and E. P. Wilkens (editors), Shrimp and redfish

studies; Bryan Mound brine disposal site off Freeport,

Texas, 1979-1981. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC67, 84 p. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, VA.

Reports on the impact of brine disposal from the Bryan

Mound disposal site off Texas. Data were collected at one

offshore and two nearshore sites in order to determine the

presence and magnitude of brown and white shrimp

spawning. Hydrographic data (including dissolved oxygen

concentration), sediment TOC and grain size, meristic

notes on fish and shrimp catch, biochemical analyses of

benthic infauna, and histological information on various

shrimp tissues were gathered.

Garlo, E. Y., C. B. Milstein, and A. E. Jahn.

1979. Impact of hypoxic conditions in the vicinity of Little

Egg Inlet, New Jersey in summer 1976. Estuarine

Coastal Mar. Sci. 8:421-432.

A mass mortality of marine organisms in the presence of

hypoxic bottom water is described. Benthic infauna llnd

epifauna, fouling organisms, and fishes were affected.

Abnormal seasonal variation of several environmental

parameters is discussed with respect to the formation of

hypoxic bottom water.
Gosselink, J. G., R. R. Miller, M. Hood, and L. M. Bahr (editors).

1975. Environmental assessment of a Louisiana offshore

oil port and appertinent pipeline and storage facility.

Volume II. Tech. Append., 540 p. Final report to Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, New Orleans, LA.

A description of marine chemistry and biology in the vicinity of a proposed offshore pipeline and mooring terminal. Plankton, demersal nekton, benthos, avifauna,

mammal, sediment, and hydrological data were recorded

in and around the study area. Hypoxia documented during

this study was the most widespread and severe in present

day records.

Reports on the first documented occurrence of widespread

hypoxia in Texas waters. Variation in environmental parameters; species diversity; and species density before, during, and after the event is presented. Provides an understanding of the formation of hypoxic bottom water and

contains a brief review of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.

Harris, A. H., J. G. Ragan, and R. H. Kilgen.

1976. Oxygen depletion in coastal waters. Louisiana

State University Sea Grant Summary Report, Proj. No.

RlBOD-l, 161 p.

Gunter, G.

1942. Offatts Bayou, a locality

mortality of marine organisms.

633.

with recurrent summer

Am. MidI. Nat. 28:631-

Discusses the formation of hypoxic water and its effect on

commercial shrimp, fish, and other forms of marine life.

Numerous environmental and biological data are provided.

A baseline of normal environmental conditions versus

hypoxic and anoxic conditions is presented.

Fish and invertebrate kills in Offatts Bayou, from 1936 to

1941, are described. Dredging, the presence of hydrogen

sulfide, oxygen depletion, salinity, water column stratification, and minimal tidal exchange with Offatts Bayou and

West Galveston Bay are discussed in relationship to the

mass mortalities.

Hagerman, L., and R. F. Uglow.

1982. Effects of hypoxia on osmotic and ionic regulation in

the brown shrimp Crangon crangon (L.) from brackish

water. J. Exp. Mar. Bio!. Ecol. 63:93-104.

Monitors haemolymph chloride, magnesium, and calcium

ions at various salinities (lO, 15, and 20% 0) and oxygen

levels (PO z = 10-60 mm Hg). Discusses avoidance

behavior of C. crangon to hypoxic water and chemical

changes in its blood chemistry under hypoxic conditions

which may increase the animal's ability to remove oxygen

from water with a low POz'

Hann, R. W., and R. E. Randall (editors).

1982. Evaluation of brine disposal from the Bryan Mound

site of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Program. Final

report of eighteen-month postdisposal studies. Vols. I and

II, 1050 p. Prepared for the Department of Energy,

Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Project Management Office,

New Orleans, LA.

An indepth report contammg information on various

hydrological parameters, water and sediment quality,

nekton, plankton, and benthos. Data were collected before,

during, and after brine diffuser operation. Hypoxic bottom

water was present in 1979.

Harper, D. E., Jr., L. D. McKinney, R. R. Salzer, and R. J. Case.

1981. The occurrence of hypoxic bottom water off the

upper Texas coast and its effects on the benthic biota.

Contrib. Mar. Sci. 24:53-79.

4

Hochachka, P. W.

1980. Living without oxygen-Closed and open systems in

hypoxia tolerance. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 181 p.

Presents biochemical aspects of anerobic metabolism in

parasitic helminths, bivalve mollusks, cephalopods, fish,

and diving mammals. Adaptations of organisms that

normally live in an anoxic or hypoxic environment are

discussed.

Imabayashi, H.

1983. Effects of oxygen-deficient water on the benthic

communities. [In Jpn., Eng!. abstr.] Bull. Jpn. Soc. Sci.

Fish. 49:7 -15.

Describes the effect of oxygen-depleted water on species

composition, species diversity, and the number of individuals in a benthic community.

Ingham, M.

1982. Distress signals from inner space? Coastal Ocean.

Climatol. News 4:47.

Provides a list of signs that suggest a worsening of environmental conditions is proceeding in the north central Gulf

of Mexico. Discusses man-made versus natural causes of

hypoxia using the New York Bight incident as an example.

Kramer, G. L.

1975. Studies on the lethal dissolved oxygen levels for

young brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus IVES. Proc. World

Maricult. Soc. 6: 157-167.

Brown shrimp tolerance to sudden salinity changes and

varying rates of reduction of dissolved oxygen are described. Behavioral responses are recorded and analyzed

with respect to shrimp size and sex. Avoidance of oxygendepleted water by brown shrimp is hypothesized.
Landry, A. M., and H. W. Armstrong.

1980. Determine seasonal abundance, distribution and

community composition of demersal finfishes and macrocrustaceans. Vol. IV. In W. B. Jackson and G. M. Faw

(editors), Biological/chemical survey of Texoma and Capline sector salt dome brine disposal sites off Louisiana,

1978-1979. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC-28, 180

p. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, VA.

Provides seasonal variation in shrimp and finfish catch

data, benthic community structure and sediment types at

two study sites off Louisiana. Environmental data, including dissolved oxygen concentration, are presented.

Leming, T.

1983. Remote sensing discovers coastal water hypoxia in

the Gulf of Mexico. Habitat perspectives, p. II. Unpublished report by NOAA, NMFS, Office of Protected

Species and Habitat Conservation, Wash., DC.

Brief summary of the role of satellite sensing with regard

to discovering hypoxic water off Louisiana in 1982.

Loesch, H.

1960. Sporadic mass shoreward migrations of demersal

fish and crustaceans in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Ecology

41:292-298.

Discusses the anomalous crowding of fish and invertebrates into the shallow waters of Mobile Bay, i.e.,

"jubilees." The recorded history of "jubilees" is presented.

Temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen data are examined. Climatological data are also reported.

May, E. B.

1973. Extensive oxygen depletion in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Limnol. Oceanogr. 18:353-366.

Widespread hypoxia is documented in Mobile Bay, AL, in

1971. Historical references of resultant "jubilees," the

shoreward movement of demersal fish and crustaceans are

discussed. Causes and effects of hypoxia are mentioned.

McLeese. D. W.

1956. Effects of temperature, salinity and oxygen on the

survival of the American lobster. J. Fish. Res. Board

Can. 13:247-272.

Survivorship in all possible combinations of salinity (20,

25, and 30 ppt), temperature (5°, 15°, and 25°C), and

dissolved oxygen concentration (2.9, 4.3, and 6.4 mg/I)

were tested on acclimated and nonacclimated lobsters.

Size differences, molting stage, starved and fed lobsters

were considered. Resistance times are also identified.

Milstein, C. B., E. V. Garlo, and A. E. Jahn.

1977. A major kill of marine organisms in the Middle

5

Atlantic Bight during summer 1976. Ichthyol. Assoc.

Bull. 16,56 p.

Reports on anoxia in the Middle Atlantic Bight in 1976.

Physical and chemical aspects of the water, demersal fish,

and benthic invertebrates affected by the low oxygen

levels are discussed. Similar data collected from 1972 and

1975 are compared with the 1976 findings. Plausible

causes and consequences of the kill are presented. Some

raw data are included. Finally, the chronological reporting

of the hypoxic occurrence is provided.

National Marine Fisheries Service.

1977. Oxygen depletion and associated environmental

disturbances in the Middle Atlantic Bight in 1976.

Northeast Fish. Cent., Tech. Ser. Rep. 3, 483 p. Sandy

Hook Laboratory, NJ.

Reports on a series of workshops covering hypoxia and its

consequences in the New York Bight. Climatic, oceanographic, and biological data are presented.

Nichols, J. A.

1976. The effect of stable dissolved-oxygen stress on

marine benthic invertebrate community diversity. Int.

Rev. Gesamten Hydrobiol. 61 :747 -760.

Reviews hypotheses explaining the effects of oxygen stress

on community diversity, species diversity, the number of

species present, and their numerical composition. Special

reference is made to marine invertebrate communities in a

stable oxygen stress environment.

Oetking, P., R. Back, R. Watson, and C. Merks.

1974. Hydrography on the nearshore continental shelf of

of south central Louisiana. Offshore Ecol. Invest., Final

report to the Gulf Univ. Res. Consort., Houston, TX, 56 p.

Dissolved oxygen concentration, temperature, salinity,

transmissivity, water mixing, and photosynthesis are

among several hydrographic parameters recorded during

this study. Seasonal trends and interrelationships are

discussed. Numerous raw data are available.

Officer, C. B., R. B. Biggs, J. L. Taft, L. E. Cronin, M. A. Tyler,

and W. R. Boynton.

1984. Chesapeake Bay anoxia: Origin, development, and

significance. Science (Wash., DC) 223 :22-27.

Reviews history of anoxia in Chesapeake Bay. Temporal

enhancement during the past 30 yr was investigated. Typical onset of annual hypoxia is described. Ecological and

economic impacts and the magnitude of these impacts are

discussed. Although this paper does not refer directly to

the Gulf of Mexico, its findings may parallel those in the

Gulf in the near future.
Ogren, L., and J. Chess.

1969. A marine kill on New Jersey wrecks. Underwater

Nat. 6(2):4-12.

Reports on a fish kill off New Jersey in the fall of 1968. A

list of dead and moribund fish and invertebrates is provided. Environmental anomalies preceding the kill are

discussed. Scant hydrographic data are available. Recolonization of a wreck after 8 mo is described.

O'Reilly, J.

1983. NEFC monitors low dissolved oxygen levels off New

Jersey. Habitat perspectives, p. 10. Unpublished report

by NOAA, NMFS, Office of Protected Species and Habitat

Conservation, Wash., DC.

Brief summary on hypoxic water noted off the New Jersey

coast in 1983, its effect on bottomfish and accumulation of

organic detritus on the ocean floor.

Parker, R. H., A. L. Crowe, and L. S. Bohme.

1980. Describe living and dead benthic (marco-meio)

communities. Vol. I. In W. B. Jackson and G. M. Faw

(editors), BiologicaUchemical survey of Texoma and Capline sector salt dome brine disposal sites off Louisiana,

1978-1979. NOAA Tech. Memo, NMFS-SEFC-25, 103

p. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, VA.

A baseline survey of the benthic communities near two

proposed brine diffuser sites. Geographic and temporal

variation in community structure is described. A large

anoxic region in the Gulf of Mexico is reported.

Ragan, J. G.

1975. Benthic macroinvertebrates. Vol. II. In J. G. Gosselink, R. R. Miller, M. Hood, and L. M. Bahr (editors), Environmental assessment of a Louisiana offshore oil port

and appertinent pipeline and storage facility, Vol. II, Append. V. 5,40 p. Final report to Louisiana Offshore Oil

Port, New Orleans, LA.

Variability in the density of macroinvertebrates is discussed with respect to bottom depth, season, salinity, distance

from shore, and bottom water dissolved oxygen concentration. Comparisons are made by species as well as with

total number of species of invertebrates. Community composition and the number of organisms per species are

presented.

Ragan, J. G., and A. H. Harris.

1975. Nekton. In J. G. Gosselink, R. R. Miller, M. Hood,

and L. M. Bahr (editors), Environmental assessment of a

Louisiana offshore oil port and appertinent pipeline and

storage facility, Vol. II, Append. V. 6, 65 p. Final report

to Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, New Orleans, LA.

A baseline study south of Belle Pass, LA, in a proposed

area for an offshore oil pipeline. Provides estimates of

relative abundance of fish and invertebrates and lists

6

natural variation in species number and weight. Correlations between water quality and species diversity and

abundance were determined. Temporal variation is included in these analyses.

Ragan, J. G., A. H. Harris, and J. H. Green.

1978. Temperature, salinity, and oxygen measurements of

surface and bottom waters on the continental shelf off

Louisiana during portions of 1975 and 1976. Nicholls

State Univ. Prof. Pap. Ser. (BioI.) 3:1-29.

Ocean temperature, sa.linity, dissolved oxygen concentration, and monthly river discharge rates are presented.

Seasonal analyses of these and additional data from

1973-74 are presented. Raw data are provided.

Ray, S. M.

1981. Areas of low dissolved oxygen, Gulf of Mexico. In P.

Sheridan and S. Ray (editors), Report of the workshop on

the ecological interactions between shrimp and bottomfishes, April, 1980. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC63, 132 p. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, VA.

Synopsis of historical references to hypoxia on the inner

continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico and its apparent

causes.

Reitsema, L. A.

1980. Determine seasonal abundance, distribution and

composition of zooplankton. Vol. II. In W. B. Jackson and

G. M. Faw (editors), Biological/chemical survey of Texoma and Capline sector salt dome brine disposal sites off

Louisiana, 1978-1979. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFSSEFC-26, 133 p. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, VA.

Temporal and geographic variation in zooplankton are

discussed. Species diversity, species density, and dominant

taxa are listed. Locations of hypoxic bottom water

discovered during the study are poted.

Reitsema, L. A., B. J. Gallaway, and G. S. LewbeL

1982. Shrimp spawning site survey Vol. IV.In W. B. Jackson (editor), Shrimp population studies: West Hackberry

and Big Hill brine disposal sites off southwest Louisiana

and upper Texas coasts, 1980-1982. NOAA/NMFS

Final report to DOE, 88p. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv., Springfield, VA.

Brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, and white shrimp, P.

setiferus, abundance and spawning activity off the upper

Texas and Louisiana coasts were investigated at four inshore and three offshore regions. Notes on the occurrence

of hypoxic bottom water during this study are included.

Hydrographic data, substrate characterization, meristic

notes on fish and shrimp catch, biochemical analyses of

shrimp and benthic infauna, and histological information

on various shrimp tissues were also gathered.
Renaud, M.

1983. Hypoxia returns to the Louisiana coastline. Habitat

prespectives, p. 10. Unpublished report by NOAA,

NMFS Office of Protected Species and Habitat Conservation, Wash., DC.

Brief summary of the hypoxic conditions off Louisiana in

1983. "Typical" sequence of events leading to the formation of hypoxia is described. An editing error in the last

sentence of the second paragraph occurs. It should read

"The offshore migrations of shrimp and fish may be affected by hypoxic bottom water."

Savage, N. B.

1976. Burrowing activity in Mercenaria mercenaria (L.)

and Spisula solidissima (Dillwyn) as a function of temperature and dissolved oxygen. Mar. Behav. Physio!. 3:221-

234.

Discusses the ability of the hard shell clam and the surf

clam to burrow when exposed to extreme temperatures and

low dissolved oxygen concentrations « 1.0 ppm). Habitat

and geographic distribution of these clams are discussed

with respect to temperature and oxygen tolerances.

Segar, D. A., and G. A. Berberian.

1976. Oxygen depletion in the New York Bight apex:

Causes and consequences. In M. G. Gross (editor), Middle

.Atlantic continental shelf and the New York Bight, p. 220-

239. Am. Soc. Limno!. Oceanogr. Spec. Symp. 2.

Oxygen and carbon dioxide cycles are examined. Major

sources of oxygen demand are identified. The history of

low dissolved oxygen in the New York Bight is reviewed.

Primary production and nutrient sources are considered.

The consequences of discontinuing sewage and spoil

dumping are hypothesized.

Seki, H., T. Tsuji, and A. Hattori.

1974. Effect of zooplankton grazing on the formation of

the anoxic layer in Tokyo Bay. Estuarine Coastal Mar.

Sci. 2:145-151.

The effect of fecal pellet production by herbivorous copepods on the onset of anoxia is discussed. The relationship

between phytoplankton density and the formation of

phytodetritrus and fecal pellets is analyzed.

Shepard, M. P.

1955. Resistance and tolerance of young speckled trout

(Salvelinus fontinalis) to oxygen lack, with special reference to oxygen acclimation. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 12:

387-446.

The tolerance of juvenile speckled trout to oxygen-depleted water was determined. Avoidance behavior, resistance

time, and acclimation times were investigated. An empirical method for describing the ability of fish to withstand

hypoxia is presented.

Shick, J. M.

1976. Physiological and behavioral responses to hypoxia

and hydrogen sulfide in the infaunal asteroid Ctenodiscus

crispatus. Mar. Bio!. (Ber!.) 37:279-289.

Resistance of the starfish, Ctenodiscus crispatus, to hypoxia

is noted. The compounding effect of hydrogen sulfide in

the presence of hypoxia is discussed. Behavioral responses,

including morphological changes, to hypoxia are examined.

Stuntz, W. E., N. Sanders, T. D. Leming, K. N. Baxter, and R. M.

Barazotto.

1982. Area of hypoxic bottom water found in northern

Gulf of Mexico. Coastal Oceanogr. Climato!. News 4:37-

38.

Reports on hypoxic bottom water in the Mississippi River

Delta Bight, in 1982, and the shrimp and fish associated

with these areas. Remote satellite sensing of hypoxia is

also discussed.

Swanson, R. L., and C. J. Sindermann (editors).

1979. Oxygen depletion and associated benthic mortalities

in New York Bight, 1976. NOAA Prof. Pap. 11,345 p.

Rockville, MD.

An indepth review of bottom water hypoxia and its effects

on the commercial fisheries of the New York Bight in

1976. A compilation of papers covering physical characteristics, atmospheric conditions, chemical factors, bottom

dissolved oxygen concentrations, water column stratification, water and oxygen transport, plankton dynamics, and

biological processes before, during, and after the onset of

hypoxia. The socioeconomic impacts and a perspective on

natural and human factors are also presented.

Sharp, J. H.

1976. Anoxia on

summer of 1976.

the Middle Atlantic Shelf during the

University of Delaware, Lewes, 122 p.

Theede, H.

1973. Comparative studies on the influence of oxygen

deficiency and hydrogen sulphide on marine bottom invertebrates. Neth. J. Sea Res. 7:244-252.

A compilation of information on the extensive faunal mortality off Long Island, NY, in 1976. Topics include a

general summary, meteorological data, phytoplankton

distribution and production, modeling, an analysis of timedependent factors possibly leading to anoxia, and the

physical and biological characteristics of the region.

7

Survivorship of several marine benthic invertebrates, from

the North and Baltic Seas, was measured in oxygen-deficient «0.2 ppm) water. The additive effects of hydrogen

sulfide, pH, salinity, and temperature were also considered. Tissue samples from these organisms were also
tested in a similar manner. In addition, the oxygen consumption of invertebrates at different oxygen tensions was

measured.

Theede, H., A. Ponat, K. Hiroki, and C. Schlieper.

1969. Studies on the resistance of marine bottom invertebrates to oxygen deficiency and hydrogen sulphide. Mar.

BioI. (Berl.) 2:325-337.

Survivorship of 14 marine benthic invertebrates, from the

North and Baltic Seas, was measured in oxygen-deficient

«0.2 ppm) water. The additive effects of hydrogen

sulfide, pH, salinity, and temperature were also considered. Tissue samples from these organisms were also

tested in a similar manner.

Waddell, E., and P. Hamilton.

1981. Physical oceanography. Vol. 1. In C. E. Comiskey

and T. A. Farmer (editors), Characterization of baseline

oceanography for the Texoma region brine disposal sites.

Prepared for DOE, Strategic Petroleum Reserve Office,

Wash., DC, 130 p.

Monthly water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen

concentration, and current speed and direction were

among several physical data collected near the proposed

Texoma brine disposal site from 1977 and 1978. Factors

controlling nearshore currents, water column stratification,

and sediment TOC and grain size are discussed. Plankton,

demersal nekton, and benthos were characterized for each

site. Geographic and seasonal variation in the data are

presented.

Turner, R. E., and R. L. Allen.

1982. Bottom water oxygen concentration in the Mississippi River Delta Bight. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 25:161-172.

Ward, C. H., M. E. Bender, and D. J. Reish (editors).

1979. The offshore ecology investigation. Effects

drilling and production in a coastal environment.

Univ. Stud. 65(4-5), 589 p.

of oil

Rice

Describes geographic and seasonal variation of bottom

water dissolved oxygen concentrations from south of

Mobile Bay, AL, to south of Atchafalaya Bay, LA, from

1975 to 1980. Historic references to hypoxic water masses

in the Gulf of Mexico are provided.

1982. Plankton respiration rates in the bottom waters of

the Mississippi River Delta Bight. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 25:

173-179.

Discusses community plankton respiration (CPR) rates

and oxygen depletion times in bottom waters of the

Mississippi River Delta Bight during July and November

1976. Describes the relationship of CPR with suspended

sediments, chlorophyll concentrations, and bottom water

dissolved oxygen concentrations.

Vetter, R. D., and R. E. Hodson.

1982. Use of adenylate concentrations and adenylate

energy charge as indicators of hypoxic stress in estuarine

fish. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39:535-541.

Investigates the effect of hypoxic conditions on estuarine

fish. Concentrations of ATP and total adenylates in white

muscle are used as indicators of environmental stress.

Voyer, R. A., and R. J. Hennekey.

1972. Effects of dissolved oxygen on two life stages of the

mummichog. Prog. Fish-Cult. 34:222-225.

Dissolved oxygen tolerance limits and percent mortality of

adult and embryonic mummichogs are compared and contrasted. Hatching rates at various dissolved oxygen levels

are discussed. The tolerance of juvenile menhaden, Atlantic silversides, and embryonic oysters to low oxygen concentrations is also mentioned.

8

A compilation of papers on the physical and biological

oceanography of Timbalier Bay and the offshore waters of

Louisiana. Seasonal variation in the hydrographic parameters, sediment characters, fish and benthos community

composition, and nutrient concentrations are described.

The effects of oil production platforms on the above are

considered.

Whitmore, C. M., C. E. Warren, and P. Duodoroff.

1960. Avoidance reactions of salmonid and centrarchid

fishes to low oxygen concentrations. Trans. Am. Fish.

Soc. 89:17-26.

Avoidance of oxygen depleted water (1.5-6.0 ppm dissolved oxygen concentration) by juvenile coho salmon,

bluegills, largemouth bass, and chinook salmon is discussed. Seasonal variation in their responses is noted.

Wiebe, P. H.

1982. Rings of the Gulf Stream. Sci. Am. 246(3):60-70.

Examines the formation and separation of eddy currents

from the Gulf Stream. Changes in physical and biological

properties of these rings are discussed. Their role in the

formation of regions of hypoxic water masses is hypothesized.

Wiseman, W. J.

1983. Physical processes which may impact the oxygen

depletion zone over the Louisiana shelf. Proc. 3rd Annu.

Gulf Mex. Inf. Transfer Meeting, p. 18-189. U.S. Dep.

Inter., Mineral and Management Serv., New Orleans, LA.

Mississippi River flow into the Gulf of Mexico, water

column stratification, and the intrusion of high salinity

water from offshore are discussed with respect to the
formation of hypoxic bottom water in the Mississippi

River Bight.

Young, J. S.

1973. A marine kill in New Jersey coastal waters. Mar.

9

Pollut. Bull. 4:70.

Mortality of the American lobster, Homarus americanus,

on ship wrecks off the New Jersey coast is discussed.

Oxygen depletion is considered as a possible cause of

mortality. Minimal data are available.