Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 7.41
A hotel under construction on the Goa coast (15
°
29
′
5.1
″
N and 73
°
47
′
40.9
″
E); photograph taken on 4
April 2013 by Ms. Ankita Mitra (Environmentalist)
In salt marshes, the light fractions of oil are the
most toxic, but the heavier fractions and crude oil
can completely smother the vegetation
(Baker
1979
; reviews: Long ad Mason
1983
;
Clarke
1992
) (Fig.
7.42
). Oil readily becomes
trapped by both the vegetation and sediments and
may persist for a long time. Annual species are
most sensitive; either they are killed or their
reproduction is severely impaired. Reseeding is
required from remote sources, and it can take
2
3 years before the populations recover. Shal-
low-rooted annuals, such as
-
, and
Salicornia sp., have little or no food reserves and
are particularly susceptible. Other species (e.g.
Juncus maritimus
Suaeda maritime
) will survive single light
exposures, but frequent light oilings will kill them.
Fig. 7.42
Mangrove roots masked with oil
