Marine Oil Spill – A Cause of Concern
What if someone pours gallons of crude oil on you, in your home, and over your entire neighborhood? Petrified by the act? Marine organisms face a similar plight whenever a marine oil spill occurs. Oil spill behavior irreversibly damages the fauna and flora of the marine eco system.
Rapid currents and wind spread the marine oil spill to coastal areas and other waterways all over the world. As the oil spreads, it turns into a sticky mass called mousse. When feathery creatures encounter this, they are soaked up in mousse, and begin battling for life.
Oil by nature has a tendency to keep us warm. When it clings on the feathers it makes birds lose their ability to insulate themselves, forcing them to death eventually. The mousse not only affects birds but also seal pups and otters, whose fur gets sticky and messy.
What is even worse is that the birds and animals try to wipe out the oil from their bodies by licking it! They accidently swallow the harmful oil and poison themselves with the toxins and harmful chemicals in the crude oil.
Marine oil spill also has a devastating effect on the reproduction rate. The Gulf of Mexico is the breeding ground for many turtles and sharks. The vast spread of the oil spill has affected the egg laying season of the marine life, leading to a decrease in the marine population. In extreme cases, the oil spill has adverse effects on the behavior of the marine life, making them even desert their young ones.
The use of chemical-based dispersants in cleaning up the oil spill instead of biodegradable options like Oil Gone Easy S-200 has also proved lethal. The oil that reaches the shore affects planktons and other organisms, depriving sea creatures of their food, which in turn disturbs the food web.
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