AUGUST 5, 2016--A team funded by Clean Caribbean Americus (CCA) conducted a week-long trip from July 10-15 to revisit, document observations, and collect sediment core samples from the 1984 TROPICS (Tropical Oil Pollution Investigations in Coastal Systems) study sites conducted in Panama near Bocas del Toro.

The scientific team was led by Paul Schuler from CCA and two of the original study principal investigators, Dr. Tony Knapp from Texas A&M University and Dr. Richard Dodge from Nova Southeastern University. Other team members included Dr. Dorothy Renegar and Nicholas Turner from Nova Southeastern University, Ronan Jezequel from Cedre (Centre de documentation, de recherche et d'expérimentations sur les pollutions accidentelles des eaux) located in Brest, France.
Bradford Benggio, from OR&R’s Emergency Response Division, participated in the project. He has worked with CCA previously on training, drills, and research advisory projects. The team valued having NOAA representation on the team. The study trip was coordinated and supported through the Smithsonian's Tropical Research Institute located in Panama.

The original study, conducted over 32 years ago, highlighted and concluded likely benefits to mangrove, coral and seagrass communities from dosing with dispersed oil compared to oil only. Since 1984, Study teams have revisited the sites at 10, 20 and now 32 years to observe and document the status of recovery for each affected habitat.

Once samples are analyzed, it is anticipated that some long-term conclusions may be revealed and support the identified need for more, studies that will help grow our knowledge of oil and dispersed oil effects associated with recovery metrics.

For further information, contact Brad.Benggio@noaa.gov.

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