The distribution of residual oil in Alabama coastal marshes and its impact on marsh vegetation from May 2010 - September 2011.

We sought to assess the extent of oil distribution in Alabama coastal salt marshes from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and determine the effects of that oil on vegetation and soil conditions. Baseline soil and vegetation data were collected from ten plots in each of thirteen wetlands in May 2010 in Baldwin County, AL. Follow up data were collected from the same sites in May and September 2011. The data we collected included number of species in each wetland, percent coverage by each species in each plot, maximum height of dominant species, as well as soil and vegetation tissue samples. These vegetation and tissue samples were then frozen prior to processing. Soil samples were dried and analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPS) concentration (mg TPH/ Kg soil) and for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (CNS) makeup.