NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Dog Cemetery, Refinery Reef, Reef Berths, Pos Chikitu - Annual Linear Extension Data

From 1925 to 1985, Lago Oil and Transport Co. operated a transshipping terminal and refinery on the southeastern coast of Aruba, N.A. This facility has affected the nearshore marine ecosystem through both oil contamination at the harbor and tanker berths, and from disturbance related to shipping, dredging and construction. The impact of this facility on nearby coral reef communities was studied from January 1987 to August 1989. This included an analysis of reef community structure comparing sites adjacent to the refinery with those upstream and downstream, the modern and historical growth of the predominant coral species, and recruitment of new corals. Both upstream and downstream control sites were in good health and exhibited high diversity. In contrast, reefs adjacent to the refinery exhibited low density and diversity of live corals and abundant dead coral rubble. Additionally, periods of construction in the inner harbor and on surrounding spoil islands and high refinery activity corresponded well with periods of reduced coral growth near the refinery. Although the relative importance of oil contamination, sedimentation and other anthropogenic effects is uncertain, our observations suggest that sedimentation and other physical stress resulted in substantial reductions in environmental quality at the disturbed sites. Coral recruitment at the highly impacted sites showed hope for recovery if these environments are protected from renewed perturbation.

1925年至1985年间，拉哥石油运输公司（Lago Oil and Transport Co.）在北美阿鲁巴岛东南海岸运营了一座转运码头与炼油厂。该设施通过港口与油轮泊位的石油污染，以及航运、疏浚与施工带来的生态扰动，对近岸海洋生态系统造成了负面影响。1987年1月至1989年8月，研究团队针对该设施对附近珊瑚礁群落的影响开展了系统性调研，研究内容包括：对比炼油厂周边点位与上下游对照点位的珊瑚礁群落结构、优势珊瑚物种的现代与历史生长状况，以及珊瑚幼体补充情况。上下游对照点位的珊瑚礁生态状况良好，物种多样性处于较高水平。与之形成鲜明对比的是，炼油厂邻近海域的珊瑚礁活珊瑚密度与多样性均较低，且存在大量死亡珊瑚碎屑。此外，内港及周边弃土岛的施工时段与炼油厂高运营时段，与炼油厂附近珊瑚生长速率下降的时段高度吻合。尽管目前尚无法明确石油污染、沉积作用与其他人为影响的相对重要性，但观测结果表明，沉积作用与其他物理胁迫已大幅降低了受扰动点位的环境质量。在受影响最为严重的点位，珊瑚幼体补充的情况显示，若能避免此类环境再次受到扰动，该区域具备珊瑚群落恢复的潜力。