Dataset for: The effects of oil exposure and weathering on black-needle rush (Juncus roemerianus) marshes along the Gulf of Mexico.

We sought to assess the effects that oil exposure would have on the growth and survival of Juncus roemerianus, the dominant species in Alabama coastal salt marshes. J. roemerianus sod was collected from salt marshes in Mobile Bay, and mesocosms were established at Auburn University. Louisiana sweet crude oil was weathered for 0 days, 3 days, and 3 weeks, and applied in high, medium, or low concentrations to each of the mesocosms, resulting in three mesocosms with each treatment. J. roemerianus was assessed after two, four, and ten weeks for culm heights and counts, photosynthesis, and carbon assimilation. We found the low dose mesocosms had highest culm survivorship and photosynthetic activity. Although differences observed between oil weathering treatments were not significant, those treated with unweathered oil consistently had the lowest culm survivorship and photosynthetic activity. Publication citation: Anderson, C.J. and T.A. Hess. 2012. The effects of oil exposure and weathering on black-needle rush (Juncus roemerianus) marshes along the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64(12):2749-2755

本研究旨在评估原油暴露对阿拉巴马州沿海盐沼优势种——黑针蔺（Juncus roemerianus）的生长与存活产生的影响。研究人员从莫比尔湾的盐沼中采集黑针蔺草皮块，并于奥本大学构建中宇宙（mesocosm）实验体系。将路易斯安那甜质原油分别风化0天、3天及3周后，以高、中、低三种浓度施加至各中宇宙体系，每种处理设置三个重复中宇宙。分别于实验第2、4、10周，对黑针蔺的茎秆高度与数量、光合活性及碳同化能力进行测定。研究结果显示，低剂量处理组的中宇宙体系中，黑针蔺的茎秆存活率与光合活性最高。尽管不同原油风化时长处理间的差异未达统计学显著水平，但未风化原油处理组的茎秆存活率与光合活性始终最低。文献引用：Anderson, C.J. 与 Hess, T.A. 2012. 《墨西哥湾沿岸黑针蔺（Juncus roemerianus）盐沼受原油暴露与风化作用的影响》. 海洋污染公报（Marine Pollution Bulletin）, 64(12): 2749-2755