Jerome La Peyre, a scientist focusing on oyster diseases at the LSU AgCenter School of Animal Sciences in Louisiana, USA, is studying the effects of oil by evaluating biomarkers that are used to assess oyster health. These biomarkers include looking at the whole oyster performance down to its cells, proteins and genes. This research is part of a multinational research initiative studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The work is being paid for by research money set aside by BP and administered independently through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.

According to La Peyer, a variety of issues can impact oyster populations, making it difficult to discern the impact of oil on oysters in local estuaries. The research has two components, the first being the effects of oil and evaluating chosen biomarkers in caged oysters kept at oiled and non-oiled sites. The second part of the research examines the exposing of oysters to oil-contaminated sediment in the lab to measure the effects on them, in a controlled experiment.

In the lab, La Peyre uses different combinations of salt and fresh water and different concentrations of oil. This will allow him to discern the effects of the oil independently of water salinity. It can also help him note the combined effects.

A problem with studying oysters after the spill is the lack of significant previous research in estuaries along the Gulf Coast. Some data on oil and gas activities in Barataria Bay was available from before the 2010 oil spill focussing on the presence of oil hydrocarbons in oysters. Six months after the BP spill, hydrocarbon levels in oysters had returned to those seen before the spill.

The level of oyster reproduction and survival has still been low since the oil spill.

(Spill-international, Edited by Topco)