• Environment

  Environment

  Posted by Dinusha Fernando on July 4, 2024 at 4:16 pm

  How do oil spills harm marine life and ecosystems?

  Anagani Srilaxmi replied 6 months, 3 weeks ago 2 Members · 1 Reply

  • marine life and ecosystems
• 1 Reply

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  Anagani Srilaxmi

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  July 5, 2024 at 12:41 pm

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  Oil spills can have devastating impacts on marine life and ecosystems in several ways:

  1. Coating and Suffocation:

     • Oil can coat the feathers of birds and the fur of marine mammals, destroying their insulation and leading to hypothermia, dehydration, and drowning.
     • Oil can also coat the gills of fish and the bodies of other marine organisms, suffocating them.

  2. Ingestion and Absorption:

     • Marine animals may ingest oil while grooming or feeding, leading to internal organ damage, poisoning, and starvation.
     • Oil can also be absorbed through the skin of marine organisms, causing skin irritation, organ failure, and death.

  3. Habitat Destruction:

     • Oil can smother and destroy sensitive coastal habitats like mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs, which are crucial nursery grounds for many marine species.
     • The toxic chemicals in oil can persist in the environment for years, disrupting the food chain and damaging entire ecosystems.

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