The deep benthos of Prince William Sound, Alaska, 16 months after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

In 1990, 16 months after the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) in Prince William Sound, Alaska, an assessment of the benthic macrofauna and associated environmental parameters at 40 and 100 m was made. Assessment of the biota and environmental data demonstrated patterns in deep benthic assemblages reflective of oceanographic conditions, as indicated by sediment differences, rather than EVOS toxicity. Comparison of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and δ13C values in sediments between stations within the oil trajectory and reference stations outside of the trajectory showed no significant differences. This investigation uncovered no signals of disturbance 16 months after the EVOS. These results agree with conclusions of studies of intertidal and shallow subtidal regions following the EVOS that demonstrated disturbance effects decreasing with depth.