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Increased benthic biodiversity and food web recovery after decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure.

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Title: Increased benthic biodiversity and food web recovery after decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure.
Authors: Chen, Zelin1 (AUTHOR) zelin.chen@essex.ac.uk, Cameron, Tom C.1 (AUTHOR) tcameron@essex.ac.uk, Couce, Elena2 (AUTHOR) elena.couce@cefas.gov.uk, Garcia, Clement2 (AUTHOR) clement.garcia@cefas.gov.uk, Hicks, Natalie1 (AUTHOR) natalie.hicks@essex.ac.uk, Thomas, Gareth E.1,3 (AUTHOR) gareth.thomas@nhm.ac.uk, Thompson, Murray S. A.2 (AUTHOR) murray.thompson@cefas.gov.uk, Whitby, Corinne1 (AUTHOR) cwhitby@essex.ac.uk, O'Gorman, Eoin J.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Limnology & Oceanography. Jan2026, Vol. 71 Issue 1, p1-16. 16p.
Subjects: Benthic ecology, Species diversity, Environmental impact analysis, Restoration ecology, Energy infrastructure, Environmental monitoring
Abstract: There is a global increase in the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas (O&G) infrastructure at the end of its operating lifetime. However, there is strikingly limited empirical evidence for the environmental and ecological impacts of decommissioning. Here, we employed a meta‐analytical approach on an industry benthic monitoring database to investigate the benthic biodiversity and food web properties of structures sampled in the short term (< 1 yr; scenario 1), medium term (1–5 yr; scenario 2), and long term (> 5 yr; scenario 3) after decommissioning. We found reduced species richness and simplified food webs in scenario 1, followed by the first signs of recovery in scenario 2, with a slightly higher proportion of intermediate species and density of food web connections. Food webs recovered further in scenario 3, with a much greater density of interactions, but also more links and longer food chains, while a reduction in generalism and connectance indicated an increased prevalence of specialist species. Our findings demonstrate disturbance risks associated with the decommissioning process in the short term, but a positive recovery trajectory over longer timescales. We highlight the importance of industry collecting more extensive and long‐term data at multiple time points and covering different decommissioning types, establishing a standardized data workflow for integrating with available monitoring efforts, and improving stakeholder participation and data accessibility to support an environmentally sound decommissioning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:There is a global increase in the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas (O&G) infrastructure at the end of its operating lifetime. However, there is strikingly limited empirical evidence for the environmental and ecological impacts of decommissioning. Here, we employed a meta‐analytical approach on an industry benthic monitoring database to investigate the benthic biodiversity and food web properties of structures sampled in the short term (< 1 yr; scenario 1), medium term (1–5 yr; scenario 2), and long term (> 5 yr; scenario 3) after decommissioning. We found reduced species richness and simplified food webs in scenario 1, followed by the first signs of recovery in scenario 2, with a slightly higher proportion of intermediate species and density of food web connections. Food webs recovered further in scenario 3, with a much greater density of interactions, but also more links and longer food chains, while a reduction in generalism and connectance indicated an increased prevalence of specialist species. Our findings demonstrate disturbance risks associated with the decommissioning process in the short term, but a positive recovery trajectory over longer timescales. We highlight the importance of industry collecting more extensive and long‐term data at multiple time points and covering different decommissioning types, establishing a standardized data workflow for integrating with available monitoring efforts, and improving stakeholder participation and data accessibility to support an environmentally sound decommissioning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00243590
DOI:10.1002/lno.70295