Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report Permanent Archiving of Specimens Collected in Nearshore Habitats Restoration Project 02608 Final Report Nora R. Foster Aquatic Collection University of Alaska Museum 907 Yukon Drive Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 Max K. Hoberg Institute of Marine Science University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 April 2003 The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The Council administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please write to : EVOS Trustee Council, 441 West 5th Avenue, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99501- 2340; or O.E.O. U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report Permanent Archiving of Specimens Collected in Nearshore Habitats Restoration Project 02608 Final Report Nora R. Foster Aquatic Collection University of Alaska Museum 907 Yukon Drive Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 Max K. Hoberg Institute of Marine Science University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 April 2003 Permanent Archiving of Specimens Collected in Nearshore Habitats Restoration Project 02608 Final Report Study History: This study was initiated in 2002 to support the acquisition and archiving of marine invertebrate specimens collected as part of EVOS assessment studies in Prince William Sound between 1989 and 1995: (Jewett, S. C., T. A. Dean, R. O. Smith, M. Stekoll, L. J Haldorson, L. McDonald, and D. R Laur, 1995). The effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill on Shallow Subtidal Communities in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1989-93. Restoration Project 93047 [Subtidal Study 2A] Final Report to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; and Jewett, S. C., and T. A. Dean. 1997. The Effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill on Eelgrass Communities in Prince William Sound, Alaska 1990-95. Restoration Project Final Report [Restoration Project 95106] Final Report to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Habitat and Restoration Division, Anchorage, Alaska. Specimens represent a time series of samples from eelgrass, Laminaria/Agarum, and silled fjord habitats. Abstract: Specimens of marine invertebrates from 26 sites in Prince William Sound, collected as part of Exxon Valdez oil the spill damage assessment, have been accessioned into the University of Alaska Museum. The collections represent five seasons of sampling between 1989 and 1995. At least 499 species are present; of which seven are new records for the region. Key Words: Prince William Sound, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, marine invertebrates, infauna, subtidal, University of Alaska Museum. Project Data: Description of Data: Sample sites/year, accession number, habitat, oiled or control, accession numbers, number of species accessioned, number of vials. For each accession: species list , nomenclature update. Data are in the form of Excel spreadsheets. Custodian of Data: Aquatic Collection, University of Alaska Museum. Contact Nora R. Foster, [email protected] or Gordon Jarrell, [email protected]. Availability: Specimens are available through a loan request to Aquatic Collection, University of Alaska Museum. Data are also available by request to the University of Alaska Museum Aquatic Collection or the Arctic Archival Observatory, or will be online at arctos.musuem.uaf.edu:8080/AAO. Citation: Foster, N. R. and M. K. Hoberg. 2003. Permanent archiving of specimens collected in nearshore habitats, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report (Restoration Project 02628), University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska. ii Table of Contents Study History/Abstract/Keywords/Project Data/Citation…………………………..i Table of Contents………………………………………………………………….. ii List of Tables……………………………………………………………………….iii List of Appendices………………………………………………………………….iv Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………….2 Methods……………………………………………………………………………...2 Results……………………………………………………………………………….3 Discussion……………………………………………………………………………3 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………….4 Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………………5 Literature Cited………………………………………………………………………6 iii List of Tables Table 1 Accession Numbers Assigned to Sites Table 2 Identifications by Taxon Level Table 3 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1989 Table 4 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1990 Eelgrass Sites Table 5 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1990 Laminaria /Agarum Sites Table 6 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1990 Silled Fjord Sites Table 7 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1991 Eelgrass Sites Table 8 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1991 Laminaria /Agarum Sites Table 9 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1991 Silled Fjord Sites Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1993 Eelgrass and Silled Fjord Site Table 10 Summary of Taxa by Site/Habitat: 1995 Eelgrass Sites Table 11 New Records of Species Occurrence in Prince William Sound iv Appendices Appendix A Specimen Archive for all Sites: 1989 Appendix B Specimen Archive for all Sites: 1990 Appendix C Specimen Archive for all Sites: 1991 Appendix D Specimen Archive for all Sites: 1993 Appendix E Specimen Archive for all Sites: 1995 Appendix F Cumulative Species List v Executive Summary This project has supported the acquisition and archiving in the University of Alaska Museum of collections made by the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences from nearshore subtidal environments of Prince William Sound. As a result, 3297 lots (one taxon from a single site/year) have been accessioned into the University of Alaska Museum. These specimens represent 152 genus-level, 303 species level identifications, and 20 taxa that could not be determined below the phylum or class level. All specimens were of adequate quality to be retained for further study The nearshore subtidal specimens represent a time series for 26 localities in Prince William Sound. Collections were made in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1995. Specimens were collected by divers from three depth ranges down to 20 meters, in eelgrass beds, Laminaria/Agarum (kelp) sites, and silled fjords. Seven species have apparently not been previously recorded in Prince William Sound. The two bivalve mollusks were fairly conspicuous, while the annelids and crustacea were small, and possibly easily overlooked in previous studies. This study adds some qualitative detail to results of earlier studies on the impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on subtidal benthic communities in Prince William Sound. This valuable collection and its associated collecting will be included in a web-accessible database system (the University of Alaska Museum’s Arctic Archival Observatory) that assures their perpetual availability to the scientific community. Species–level determinations, particularly for animals that showed a response to the oil spill will aid in selecting indicator species for future monitoring studies. The physical specimens will be permanently available to assure accurate identifications. The data describing species distribution in the study areas will contribute detail to baseline monitoring. 1 Introduction This project has supported the acquisition and archiving in the University of Alaska Museum (UAM) of collections made by the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences from nearshore subtidal environments of Prince William Sound. Collections made by the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences represent an extensive survey of the invertebrate fauna of Prince William Sound (Jewett et al. 1995). This valuable collection and its associated collecting data have been included in a system that assures their perpetual availability to the scientific community. Objectives: The project's objectives are to: 1. Retain specimens and associated locality data collected as part of the Exxon Valdez oil spill studies from being lost. 2. Make information based on the specimens (that is, species composition and distribution of Prince William Sound and Gulf of Alaska marine invertebrate fauna ) available to stakeholders. Methods The nearshore subtidal specimens represent a time series for 26 localities in Prince William Sound. Collections were made in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1995. Specimens were collected by divers from three depths ranges, to a maximum of 20 meters, within eelgrass beds, Laminaria/Agarum (kelps), and silled fjords. For a detailed discussion of field methods, see Jewett et al. (1995) and Jewett and Dean (1997). Identification to genus and species level was accomplished at the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, with additional taxonomic assistance from Nora Foster (mollusks); Leslie Harris, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and Jerry Kudenov , University of Alaska Anchorage (annelids); Ken Coyle, University of Alaska and John Chapman, Oregon State University (amphipods and cumaceans). The specimen archive consisted of 30 “banker’s boxes” containing alcohol-preserved specimens sorted by taxon and locality stored in vials within taped plastic bags. The physical condition of the specimens is excellent, locality and taxonomic information