Anemones Give Insight on Oil Spill's Impact

In order to better understand the oil spill's long-term impact on the coastal environment and creatures living there, scientists at the University of Alabama have brought back dozens of sea anemones and study them. Anemones are small animals related to the corals that build ocean reefs. The one that were brought were known as Nematostella vectensis. These ones were used because the researchers had its whole DNA sequence. "We will also bring back live specimens and maintain them in clean seawater to allow them to recover from the oil exposure," Jenny, assistant professor of biological sciences at UA, said. The scientists will observe the two differ in functions, processes, and how they differ molecularly. Researchers say that after the April explosion, sea life has been tremendously affected by the oil exposure and the lower oxygen levels. People at UA want to know which genes have been affected in the anemones and how this affects the organisms’ ability to do things, such as storing energy or even reproducing. These results will be compared to laboratory experiments where the anemones have been fed Artemia larvae contaminated with oil and dispersant.

This article is related to science and biology concepts because it talks of how scientists are trying to predict the long term effects of the oil spill on organisms and environments. If the results look promising, then we can be better prepared to help protect and save the organisms and environments in that area. "The results of these experiments will provide insight into the different molecular and cellular processes that are used to protect the organism from combinations of stressors that are associated with the oil spill and exposure to oil or dispersed oil," the researchers wrote in their grant application's project summary.

This article is important to us because it gives us much more information on how and why organisms, like the anemones are affected by the oil exposure. Already, we can see that the explosion of this oil rig has a tremendous effect on the organisms and environments near it. It is our responsibility to not let this disaster happen again.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826205734.htm