Domination of Weed Species — 

 Percentage of Capitella in Community 



Heavily Oiled Offshore Station 



Nature of Recovering Communities 



Numbers of Species - The heavily oiled sta- 

 tion showed a greatly reduced number of 

 species for at least two years after the spill and 

 subsequent studies showed significantly reduced 

 numbers of species for years afterwards. In addi- 

 tion, the number of species was much more 

 variable through time at the oiled stations than 

 at the offshore control station. 



Opportunistic Species - In the first year after 

 the spill, the opportunistic worm Capitella 

 capitata exploited the biological vacuum that 

 was caused by the spill. Marine opportunistic 

 "weed" species are similar to weed species 

 found on land, and are characterized by high 

 rates of reproduction, short life cycles, im- 

 pressive powers of dispersion, and a general 

 hardiness and adaptability. The marine worm 

 Capitella becomes fully mature in several weeks, 

 is very prolific, and is resistant to many types of 

 pollution, including oil. 



1969 



1970 



1971 



Source: Sanders, H.L., et al., IN PRESS. Anatomy of an Oil Spill: 

 The West Falmouth Study. Draft Submitted to EPA. 

 pp. 85, 86, 87. 



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