- reports of 155,000 gallons of oil being released dominate a discussion about impacts on birds, fish, and marine mammals
- the current thinking as to the cause is that a large tanker ship’s anchor pulled a seafloor oil pipeline, causing the pipe to split, releasing oil into the ocean
- with every oil spill, we see the seabirds, fish, and marine mammals that may be impacted
- the wider impact is occurring beneath the surface, among the invertebrates that make up the base of the food chain
Reports of 155,000 gallons of oil being released dominate a discussion about impacts to birds, fish, and marine mammals. The current thinking as to the cause is that a large tanker ship’s anchor pulled a seafloor oil pipeline, causing the pipe to split, releasing oil into the ocean says an article on VC Reporter.
Oil spills impact the marine food chain
Anderson guided students in toxicology experiments seeking to understand the impacts of the spill on the smaller creatures that are often forgotten. With every oil spill, we see the seabirds, fish, and marine mammals that may be impacted. Anderson points out the wider impact is occurring beneath the surface, among the invertebrates that make up the base of the food chain.
Sand crab embryos are most vulnerable
The problem with sand crabs is “they are highly variable critters. You can dig for them right where you’re standing and get nothing. Then 10 feet away get tons. It’s hard to say how many absolutely died,” from any particular event. So to get at the impacts you can’t just count the bodies.
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Source: VC Reporter
