An Ecosystem Services Approach to Assessing the Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

As The Gulf Of Mexico Recovers From The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Natural Resource Managers Face The Challenge Of Understanding The Impacts Of The Spill And Setting Priorities For Restoration Work. The Full Value Of Losses Resulting From The Spill Cannot Be Captured, However, Without Consideration Of Changes In Ecosystem Services--the Benefits Delivered To Society Through Natural Processes. An Ecosystem Services Approach To Assessing The Impacts Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill In The Gulf Of Mexico Discusses The Benefits And Challenges Associated With Using An Ecosystem Services Approach To Damage Assessment, Describing Potential Impacts Of Response Technologies, Exploring The Role Of Resilience, And Offering Suggestions For Areas Of Future Research. This Report Illustrates How This Approach Might Be Applied To Coastal Wetlands, Fisheries, Marine Mammals, And The Deep Sea -- Each Of Which Provide Key Ecosystem Services In The Gulf -- And Identifies Substantial Differences Among These Case Studies. The Report Also Discusses The Suite Of Technologies Used In The Spill Response, Including Burning, Skimming, And Chemical Dispersants, And Their Possible Long-term Impacts On Ecosystem Services. The Ecosystem Services Approach -- Resilience And Ecosystem Services -- Oil Spill Response Technologies -- Ecosystem Services In The Gulf Of Mexico -- Research Needs In Support Of Understanding Ecosystem Services In The Gulf Of Mexico -- References -- Appendix A: Biographical Sketches Of Committee Members And Staff. Committee On The Effects Of The Deepwater Horizon Mississippi Canyon-252 Oil Spill On Ecosystem Services In The Gulf Of Mexico, Ocean Studies Board, Division On Earth And Life Studies, National Research Council Of The National Academies. Title From Pdf Title Page. Includes Bibliographical References. This Study Was Supported By The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Under Contract Number 10-dels-294-01. Any Opinions, Findings, Conclusions, Or Recommendations Expressed In This Publication Are Those Of The Author(s) And Do Not Necessarily Reflect The Views Of The Organizations Or Agencies That Provided Support For The Project. English.