46% exhibited evidence of impact on more than half of the colony,
whereas nearly a quarter of all of the
corals showed impact to >90% of the colony.
Additionally, 53% of these corals’ ophiuroid associates displayed abnormal color and/or attachment posture.
Analysis of hopanoid petroleumbiomarkers isolated from the floc provides strong evidence that this material contained oil fromtheMacondowell.
The presence of recently damaged and deceased corals beneath the path of a previously documented
plume emanating from the Macondo well provides compelling evidence that the oil impacted deep-water ecosystems.
Our findings underscore the unprecedented nature of the spill in terms of its magnitude,
release at depth, and impact to deep-water ecosystems.