Golden Coast vs. Oiled Coast Jacqueline Sanchez MCM 591 GIS for Conservation Medicine The potential impact of California’s natural oil seeps on seabirds Fall 2019

Natural Seeps Impact Assessment Seabird Habitats in California Conservation Impacts Although oil spills have had a major impact on seabird This spatial analysis included the ranges of 10 seabird species, 2016 populations, contamination from natural seeps are a consistent further described below. The winter range was selected for

threat. Oil and gas seeps naturally occur in California. Liquid seabirds that have a designated winter range, and the year-long

and gaseous hydrocarbons leak out of the ground, fed by range was selected for those that do not. The main map includes natural underground reserves. The greatest seeps occur in the the range of each species merged by their IUCN Red List status

Santa Barbara Channel in California with around 5 million and population trend to create 5 separate categories. The

gallons entering the marine environment per year. The rate of individual maps contain the range of each individual species, a release may vary over time but is more pronounced during the 25-mile buffer around the samples collected from seeps, and the

late winter months. oil and gas reserve found in California. Understanding the habitat range of seabirds in California will Seabirds and Oil To understand the percentage of the species range in the help provide information on possible species affected by natural Seabirds rely heavily on the condition of their feathers. Bird’s conservative 25-mile buffer and the oil and gas reserve, the area seepage and assess those at greatest risk. As seen from the feathers contain microscopic barbs and barbules which lock of overlap was calculated in square miles. This analysis showed analysis, least concern species have a large range in the buffer together to form a tight barrier. Properly aligned feathers keep the potential for seabird species to be contaminated from zone and oil and gas reserve. This is of conservation concern water and air out and ensure that the bird is buoyant and naturally occurring oil seeps. specifically for species with decreasing populations. Oil contamination has the possibility to decrease the breeding insulated. When feathers are contaminated with oil, the Seep vs Spilled interlocking property of barbs and barbules is disrupted. population, as is the same for seabirds that migrate and The chemical composition of Feathers covered in oil become matted and separation of over-winter in California. These species should also be oil is used to determine where feathers exposes the sensitive skin to adverse conditions. considered for conservation efforts in California. a sample originated. This is a Feather condition impairs flying, buoyancy, ability to regulate process called ‘fingerprinting’. body temperature, and ability to capture food. Birds Acknowledgements: A big thank you to Carolyn Talmadge for giving me inspiration on my Analytical chemists are able project and assisting me throughout the process. I would also like to thank Annie Nguyen and instinctively try to get rid of the oil by preening, which results in to determine hydrocarbons Miren Schleicher for answering all my questions. the ingestion of oil and severe damage to internal organs. Oil unique to seeps and spills Data Source: BOEM, California Fish and Wildlife, ESRI, and PETRODATA pollution is a serious source of mortality for seabirds. Projection: NAD 1983 California Teale Albers Ft US Ashy-Storm Petrel Marbled Murrelet Snowy Plover California Gull Surf Scoter

45% 47%

Oceanodroma homochroa Brachyramphus marmoratus Charadrius nivosus 20% 3% Larus californicus Melanitta perspicillata 6% 18% 0.14% 0.05% 18% IUCN Status: Endangered IUCN Status: Endangered IUCN Status: Near Threatened IUCN Status: Least Concern 15% IUCN Status: Least Concern Population Trend: Decreasing Population Trend: Decreasing Population Trend: Decreasing Population Trend: Decreasing Population Trend: Decreasing Western Grebe Common Loon Brown Pelican Common Murre Double-Crested Cormorant

45% 48%

Aechmophorus occidentalis Gavia immer Pelecanus occidentalis Uria aalge Phalacrocorax auratus 3% 22% 5% 16% 14% 13% IUCN Status: Least Concern 9% IUCN Status: Least Concern IUCN Status: Least Concern IUCN Status: Least Concern 10% IUCN Status: Least Concern Population Trend: Decreasing Population Trend: Stable Population Trend: Increasing Population Trend: Increasing Population Trend: Increasing