Using sea water for cleaning oil from seabird feathers

作者：McConnell Helen M; Morgan Kerri J; Sine Abigail; Leung Yuet Ming B; Ward Janelle M; Chilvers B Louise^*; Gartrell Brett

来源：Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2015, 6(10): 1235-1238.

DOI：10.1111/2041-210X.12413

• hydrocarbon external contamination
• oil spills
• sea water wash
• seabirds

During an oil spill, marine wildlife, particularly birds, are at risk of external contamination, affecting insulation, waterproofing and consequently survival. Decontamination of oiled wildlife usually involves a succession of washes and rinses with warm, freshwater and detergent. However, accessibility of large quantities of freshwater needed for cleaning oiled wildlife can be limited. To assess the efficacy of sea water as an alternative, we used 80 seabird feathers, 40 saturated with heavy fuel oil and 40 unoiled feathers as controls, then washed and rinsed them using either freshwater or sea water, or a combination of both. Cleanliness and water repellency were assessed visually, and a barbule amalgamation index (BAI) was calculated to evaluate feather microstructure. Particulate residue was assessed using scanning electron microscopy. Results indicate that for oiled feathers, a sea water wash/rinse produced clean, low BAI/unclumped feathers with minimal particulate residue. Sea water cleaning trials should now be undertaken on live birds to understand links with sea water use and waterproofing. The method described has world-wide application for oiled wildlife response activities and could be readily modified for the cleaning of other taxa such as mammals.

• 出版日期2015-10