Scientists from the University of West Florida found that Coquina clams could be used to detect biologically available oil in Florida surf zones

Scientists and teachers passionate about their work team up with students eager to help with ongoing oil spill research

Mississippi River plume played substantial role in the transport and fate of the oil after 2010 spill.

Students, teachers, and journalists joined scientists on board research expeditions and in labs and share their experiences online.

"You cannot fix it if you don't know how it works, and you cannot restore it if you don't know what it was to begin with."

Scientists study of the diverse organisms that break down oil naturally and how the oil spill has affected their consumption

WHAT WAS DEEP-C?

/ is no longer an active website. The Deep-C (Deep Sea to Coast Connectivity in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico) Consortium was a four-year, interdisciplinary study of deep sea to coast connectivity in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The study, which began in 2011, investigated the environmental consequences of petroleum hydrocarbon release in the deep Gulf on living marine resources and ecosystem health. Deep-C examined the geomorphologic, hydrologic, and biogeochemical settings that influence the distribution and fate of the oil and dispersants released during the Deepwater Horizon (DwH) accident, and used the resulting data for model studies that support improved responses to possible future incidents.

The content of this website will remain online to be used as a reference. However, for new research related to the Gulf of Mexico, visit the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) website at http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/

IN THE NEWS

Study Reveals Oil Spill Changed Oxygen Conditions in Gulf Sediment
(Source: GoMRI, May 26, 2015)

Five years after oil spill, how bad is the Gulf of Mexico today?
(Source: Boston Globe, April 20, 2015)

Students, researchers hunting for tarballs on Pensacola Naval Air Station
(Source: Pensacola News Journal, March 2, 2015)

Study details impact of Deepwater Horizon oil spill on beach microbial communities
(Source: Georgia Tech News Center, February 17, 2015)

Millions of gallons of BP oil rests on Gulf floor
(Source: USA Today, February 4, 2015)

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

Grad Student Caroline Johansen Counts Bubbles to Understand Natural Oil Seeps

NOAA Response and Restoration Blog: What Have We Learned About Using Dispersants During the Next Big Oil Spill?

Deep-C Fish Ecology Cruise Possibly Finds A New Species

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

ROV Maker Day. On October 2, Deep-C visited the Cornerstone Learning Community for a day-long event designed to introduce fifth-graders to ocean science and the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for deep sea research. The students had the chance to hear from Deep-C scientists. They also built and drove their own ROVs. The event was hosted by Dauphin Island Sea Lab (disl.org).

DEEP-C PUBLICATIONS

Hercules 265 Rapid Response: Immediate ecosystem impacts of a natural gas blowout incident
(Source: Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography)

Effects of preservation methods of muscle tissue from upper-trophic level reef fishes on stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N)
(Source: PeerJ)

A Decline in Benthic Foraminifera following the Deepwater Horizon Event in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico
(Source: PLoS ONE)

δ13C and δ15N in deep-living fishes and shrimps after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico
(Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin)

More Publications...

Deep-C was a four-year, interdisciplinary study of deep sea to coast connectivity in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.Deep-C is no longer an active research project. The information on this website is for historical reference purposes only.