This bird was killed by an oil spill off the coast of Scotland.
Oil spills can occur for a number of reasons. Oil pipelines can rupture and leak. Tankers and barges that transport oil across the ocean can crash or catch fire, among other accidents. Offshore drilling stations can experience well leaks. No matter what causes them, oil spills can have drastic negative impacts on an entire area of the ocean.
Effects on Marine Animals
Oil spills negatively affect a vast array of marine animals. Fish swimming in oil-contaminated water suffocate to death as their gills become coated with oil. Animals such as lobsters on the sea floor become coated in oil that settles on the bottom of the ocean. Oil covers the fur of marine mammals such as seals and clogs their airways. Predators who eat prey contaminated with oil may die from the toxins. All of these impacts are potentially lethal, and certainly harmful to the animals in question.
Effects on Seabirds
Seabirds rest on the surface of the ocean and dive into it to catch and eat prey. In an oil spill, much of the oil floats to the water's surface. As the birds come in contact with the oil, it coats their feathers. Depending on how thick the coating is, the bird could lose its ability to fly or swim. Ingesting oil can be fatal to birds, and a coating of oil on seabird eggs may kill the growing embryos inside the eggs.
Effects on Aquatic Plant Life
A large variety of aquatic plants can be negatively impacted by an oil spill. Marsh grass and mangrove trees can both be killed if oil reaches the roots. Oil spills have the potential to kill a large amount of phytoplankton, tiny plants that float in the ocean and form the base of the food chain. In addition, when oil coats any aquatic plant it can suffocate it.
Effects on Humans
Oil and oil fumes from spills contain chemicals and carcinogens that have the potential to be harmful to humans. In addition to possible health hazards, oil spills have a direct negative impact on the economy. Consumers do not eat oil-contaminated shellfish and other sea creatures, meaning that fishermen and seafood restaurants suffer economically immediately following an oil spill. In areas where an economy depends on beach tourism, an oil spill that affects beaches could negatively impact the economic viability of an entire region.
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