Explain the effects of oil pollution on the ocean.
Answers
When oil is spilled into an aquatic environment, it can harm organisms that live on, around, and under the water surface by both chemical toxicity and by coating and smothering wildlife. This has both short-term and long-term effects on all parts of the marine food web, including long-term damage to breeding and migration habitats that affects future generations of marine life. Short-term effects vary with the type of environment, amount of oil, effect of waves and weather, and type of oil: light, medium or heavy.
- Offshore and Coastal Waters
The loss of predators has a cascade effect on ecosystems, and offshore, the most vulnerable species are those found on the sea surface. Since most oils float, the creatures most affected are surface predators, such as sea otters and seabirds.
- Shallow Inshore Waters
Invertebrates like sea stars and coral play an essential role in ocean ecosystems, where they serve as keystone species or foundation species. Keystone species are those that provide an essential link in the food chain that influences both predators and prey, and foundation species like coral create and maintain a habitat for other species.