How an Oil Spill Affects the Ecosystem

You may have seen dramatic pictures and footage of birds and sea animals covered in black oil. These poor creatures have been affected by oil spills. There is a lot more than that on what an oil spill can bring. When there is an oil spill, the oil can go anywhere because of the tides and wind that leads to harmful effects to the ecosystem.

Oil spill happens when there is an accidental release of petroleum into the environment. It can be eliminated easily when it strikes on land. But on water, it appears to be the opposite that it can result to oil pollution over the wide areas and can give serious danger to the ecosystem.

When oil is spilled in the ocean, it starts to spread out rapidly on the surface of the water to form a thin layer that we call, oil slick. Depending on the density and composition, the spreading process continues and the oil becomes thinner and thinner until it appears to look like a rainbow which is called, sheen. There are circumstances that oil spills can bring hazard to marine birds, mammals, fishes, and other sea animals due to the contamination in water. They can die due to suffocation, swallowing the oil, or breathing in the toxic fumes.

The insulating ability of fur-bearing animals such as sea otters and water-repelling ability of feathers from birds can be destroyed by the oil which in return can make them vulnerable to harsh elements. Other birds and animals can be poisoned trying to clean themselves with the tendency of swallowing the oil. Fishes ingest oil through their gills which may kill them or affect their reproduction.

When oil waste reaches the coast, it can cause interference on human activity on the shoreline such as fishing which can lead to precautionary ban on catching and selling fish and shellfish. Fish and shellfish tend to be vulnerable in tidal areas where they may become contaminated with oil especially when the tide is low. This impact of oil spill affects the seafood market as well.

Recreational activities such as boating, scuba diving and swimming can be affected by oil spill. Rocks and boulders on the shoreline are coated with sticky oil residues that can greatly interfere with recreational activities of human especially when that coastal area is a tourist attraction. Other than that, beach sand and gravel soaked with oil may not be able to shield and cultivate normal vegetation.

The impact of oil spill can reach even in wildlife environment. Animals that live near the ocean can also be poisoned by oil waste. They are exposed to the harsh elements brought by the oil in which they can ingest and may damage their reproductive systems and behaviors.

Industries that involve seawater or located close to the sea can be affected if part of their operation is to draw large quantities of water which carries the risk of drawing oil along with it. Clean-up operations of shipyards, ports and harbors can be disrupted. Oil can also impure boats and other gears.

On the first step of recovery is usually a clean-up operation. However, this can be aggressive in some habitats which can cause more harm than good which makes it better to let natural cleaning process do the restoration in the ecosystem. It would be relatively slow, yet it can be followed by further measures for the recovery of the natural environment.

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One Response to “How an Oil Spill Affects the Ecosystem”

1. Just ME in T says:

   June 1, 2010 at 1:54 am

   I have been concerned about what will happen to all of this oil once the 2010 hurricane season arrives in the Gulf of Mexico. Of course the seas will get whipped up into a frenzy, and should one of the hurricanes pass over where the oil is collecting I felt that surely some of it would be sucked up into the developing storm.

   My first place to visit for information on this was the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site, which told me categorically there would be no oil in rain related to a hurricane. I was dissatisfied (dare I say distrustful?) of that seemingly blasé comment, so went searching further for information.

   http://just-me-in-t.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-raining-its-pouring-but-will-it-be.html