Sediment macrofaunal composition and sediment geochemistry of deep-sea coral habitats after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010-2016

Deep-sea corals create complex habitats that support distinct sediment communities. Several deep-sea coral habitats were impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, and recovery of associated sediment communities may take several years. While spill-associated organic enrichment may lead to increased abundances of tolerant taxa, toxic effects of the spill may lead to declines in sensitive groups. However, temporal variability in coral-associated sediment macrofauna is unknown and represents an important consideration for post-spill community assessments. Here we examine how the macrofaunal communities change over time at impacted and reference sites. From 2010 to 2016, we examined macrofaunal communities at multiple impacted and reference [...]