A review of ecological impacts of oil and gas development on coastal ecosystems in the Mississippi Delta

Abstract We review the multiple ecological impacts of oil and gas development on coastal ecosystems in the Mississippi Delta. This area has one of the greatest developments of oil and gas production in the world. This activity has generated significant impacts on coastal ecosystems due to the toxicity of spilled oil and the secondary and indirect effects of petroleum-related activities, such as alteration of hydrology. Effects on plant communities include disruption of plant–water relationships, direct impacts to plant metabolism, toxicity to living cells, and reduced oxygen exchange between the atmosphere and the soil. Effects on consumers include growth inhibition, reduced production, altered metabolic systems, and biomagnification of hydrocarbon compounds. Petroleum-related activities have contributed significantly to wetland loss in the Delta. Subsidence was increased by 2–3 times due to fault activation. Canals altered natural hydrology by altering water flow pathways, increasing saltwater intrusion, and reducing overland flow and sediment inputs. The combination of these factors increased plant stress and plant death.