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new indicators of biological status of the organism (histopathology, behavior, metabolism of toxins, 

 skeletal growth records, allelic frequencies, etc.) 

 biochemical indicators of toxin induced stress 

 sensitive lifestage bioassay 



• Chemical Based Components 



metals as tracers and toxins 

 organics tracers and toxins 



Field Designs Employed 



single transect at multiple platforms is the preferred approach 

 alternately, tradition intensive bullseye at a few platforms 

 single point in time sampling strategy in July/August 



• Components Serving to Address OCS Issues 



unlike other components, the entire project is of direct and immediate MMS relevance 



• Links to Physical Oceanography 



physical studies largely limited to benthic boundary layer transport and exchange of toxin between 

 water and sediments 



Analysis and Interpretation 



critical to develop appropriate techniques and initiate strong QA/QC program 

 modeling required for geochemical behavior of toxins and modes of long-term effects 

 analysis of field efforts tied closely to appropriate statistical design 



4.2.3 Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring 



The Long-Term Monitoring Workshop met its charge by detailing the structure that might be taken to study 

 natural and human impacts across the Gulf OCS for a period of 10 years. The trade offs of wide thin coverage 

 versus intensive restricted programs was also established. An important definition was put forward distinguishing 

 characterization from monitoring. The latter should be designed to detect and explain variation. The former 

 produces only a static picture of no predictive value. 



Due to the fact that such a monitoring program has never been attempted, the workshop was concerned that 

 some special consideration must be given to program structure and management to assure success. First among 

 these is a structure which will employ modeling and prediction to use rather than archive the data. Second is 

 a structure which centralizes planning and analysis while allowing regional studies to be conducted by the most 

 appropriate regional institution. Third is the quality assurance need to have all chemical analyses centralized. 



A possible monitoring program might include the following elements: 



• Primary Processes Studied 



population changes 



processes as identified in TEXLA Ecosystem Study 



• Studies Based Upon Faunal Groups 



dominant macro and megafauna 

 food web analysis of dominants 



• Studies Based Upon Chemical/Geological Aspects 



water column, surface, and sediment hydrocarbons/pollutants 

 tissue hydrocarbon/pollutant concentrations 

 descriptive sedimentology to detect past transport events 



