(Updated
Dec. 10, 2010)
Note: Very few long-term studies
have been conducted on the effects of oil on wildlife, and little
is known.
How are animals and fish
generally affected by oil spills?
Generally, direct contact with oil or consumption
of oil-tainted items can cause health problems, such as organ
failure, skin irritations, breathing problems and a variety of
other health problems that can lead to death.
Indirect contact through bioaccumulation of oil in
the food chain is of high concern. Bioaccumulation is the transfer
of toxins from the environment into the food chain. Typically
higher-order animals accumulate toxic levels of these poisons from
eating many items that have smaller, less-toxic levels of the
poison. Reduced egg production, abnormal larval development, poor
health and death can occur from exposure to oil.
How can I help rescue oiled birds
or other animals?
People who find injured or oiled wildlife should
not attempt to handle or help those animals themselves because the
oil is toxic to humans as well as wildlife. There is specific
hazardous-materials training that is required for anyone coming
into contact with these animals. Also, it is important to
have training in handling wildlife because those animals can
sometimes cause serious injuries when they are under the stress of
captivity.
Should I move a shorebird
nest that is in imminent danger from the oil spill?
No, you should not move shorebird nests.
Report oiled shorebird and wildlife sightings by calling
888-404-3922. Removing eggs from a nest will cause the birds to
abandon the nest. Only highly trained personnel are equipped with
the skills and resources necessary to rescue eggs or
hatchlings.
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How are birds affected by oil spills?
Symptoms include dehydration and emaciation. Birds
may lose their ability to regulate their body temperature.
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What happens if a bird ingests
oil?
Ingestion of oil causes an irritation to the lining
of the mouth, esophagus and stomach. It also interrupts the
intestines' ability to absorb nutrients, proteins and water.
Dehydration causes organ failure by blocking the normal flow of
liquid in the kidneys, liver and spleen, which further leads to a
buildup of toxic fluids that can cause death. Weakened and
emaciated birds also are more susceptible to fungal and bacterial
diseases.
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What should I do if
I see a sea turtle nest on a beach contaminated by oil?
You should treat this as an incident in which
wildlife have been affected by oil from the spill. Report
this sighting by calling 888-404-3922. Trained responders will be
sent to the site to evaluate the situation. Do not attempt to
restrain or interfere with the nesting sea turtle. Permits
are required for anyone who is going to work with nesting sea
turtles, sea turtle nests and hatchlings. The FWC is developing
procedures for taking care of sea turtles and their nests
throughout the course of this event.
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What should I do if a beach gets contaminated with
oil after sea turtles nest on it?
You should treat this as an incident in which
wildlife have been affected by oil from the spill. Report
this sighting by calling 800-320-0519. Decontaminating a nest is an
extremely delicate process, and if the eggs have to be removed,
special skills and facilities are needed to ensure the animals can
be returned to the wild with a chance of survival. Even though
compassion motivates many people to help animals in trouble, it is
necessary to have trained and permitted responders evaluate the
situation and determine the best way to take care of sea turtle
nests that may be affected in this way.
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How are sea turtles
affected by oil spills?
Sea turtles and their nests are highly sensitive to
exposure to oil, and direct exposure to oil can cause death. Oil
clings to the nostrils and eyes and can damage airways and lungs of
sea turtles. Exposure to oil can irritate and damage skin and
mucous membranes (nose, throat and eyes) increasing the risk of
infection. Oil exposure also can affect the immune system as well
as the turtles' oxygen-carrying capabilities. Turtles may eat
anything of appropriate size, including tar balls, which may result
in the absorption of toxins or cause a blockage in the digestive
system.
Oil on contaminated eggs can alter the incubation
environment, potentially resulting in death.
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How are fish affected by oil
spills?
Fish in all life stages, including eggs, larvae and
young of all species, are sensitive to oil. Exposure to oil can
lead to death. Fish populations most at risk are those that are
spawning during an oil spill.
Low concentrations of oil affect reproduction and
feeding in fish. Impacts include:
- reduced egg hatching;
- reduced larval survival;
- larval abnormalities.
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How are crustaceans
affected by oil spills?
Currently, the spawning seasons for blue crabs,
stone crabs, shrimp and horseshoe crabs are ongoing. Direct
exposure to oil and oil dispersants can kill larvae. Exposure to
oil can coat the outer skeleton and sensory organs (feelers, eyes,
etc.).
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How are mollusks affected
by oil spills?
Mollusks are a group of soft-bodied invertebrates,
including oysters, clams, scallops and snails. Many mollusks, such
as oysters, are highly susceptible to oil contamination because
they filter large volumes of water for food and oxygen.
Oil exposure can cause reduced egg production and
hatching rates; abnormal larval development or survival;
respiration, feeding and growth problems; general poor health or
death. Exposure to contaminants can enhance effects of pre-existing
infections and increase susceptibility to new infection.
Oil contamination is of special concern for oysters
during the spring because they are just beginning their spawning
season.
Some species, such as oysters, can temporarily
avoid impacts from oil exposure by closing their shells.
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How are corals affected by oil
spills?
Oil exposure, even short-term, can kill an entire
coral colony. Longer exposure (4-48 hours) to low concentrations of
oil may be more toxic than shorter exposures at higher
concentrations.
All types of corals are susceptible to oil damage.
Impacts include tissue death, impaired feeding, impaired polyp
retraction, increased mucus production (which impairs feeding),
reduced growth in hard structure, reproductive damage, including an
overall decrease in larval production, premature larval expulsion,
larval death and prevention of new coral larvae from settling.
Coral is a colony of organisms that have a mutually
benefiting and required relationship. Coral polyps provide
structure and cover for the algae, and the algae provide a food
source for the polyps. If the oil interrupts the photosynthetic
process, the algae cannot provide the coral polyps with energy
necessary to survive. Eventually this can lead to expulsion of the
algae by stressed corals.
Oil concentrates in the sediments surrounding
corals. These sediments can then act as a chronic source of
contamination for future reef communities by continually leaching
out the stored oil.
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How are mangroves
affected by oil spills?
Mangroves are highly susceptible to oil exposure,
which can kill them within a few weeks to several months. Most
deaths occur in the first six months of exposure. Lighter oils are
more acutely toxic to mangroves than heavier oils.
Impacts include yellowing of leaves, loss of
leaves, failure to germinate from propagules or seeds and increased
mutation. Mangrove-associated invertebrates and plants recover more
quickly from oiling than do the mangroves themselves. A NOAA study
found that more than 96 percent of seedlings exposed to crude oil
died.
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How are seagrasses
affected by oil spills?
The oil will adhere to the seagrass, which will
quickly lose oiled blades. Plants have the capacity to grow new
leaves unless the sediments are heavily oiled.
Oil commonly passes over seagrass beds with minimal
impacts. However, organisms living on the seagrass blades or using
the beds as nurseries are highly sensitive to oil on the seagrass
and sediments.
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How are manatees, whales
and dolphins affected by oil spills?
Little is known about the effects of oil on
manatees. Therefore the symptoms as described are all theoretical,
as observed in other species.
Manatees, whales and dolphins are air-breathers and
must come to the surface frequently to breathe. In a large oil
spill, these animals may be exposed to volatile chemicals during
inhalation.
Exposure to the chemicals in oil can lead to death
and occurs in two ways:
- Internally - Eating or swallowing oil,
consuming prey containing oil-based chemicals or inhaling volatile
oil-related compounds.
- Externally - Swimming in oil and/or
dispersants.
External effects:
- They do not have fur which can be oiled and do not depend on
fur for insulation. Therefore they are not susceptible to the
insulation effects (hypothermia) that often puts haired marine
mammals (such as otters and seals) at risk.
- Oil and chemicals on skin and body may result in skin and eye
irritation, burns to mucous membranes of eyes and mouth, and
increased susceptibility to infection. For large whales, oil can
foul the baleen they use to filter-feed, thereby decreasing their
ability to eat. For manatees, oil exposure may damage the sensory
hairs around their mouths, which serve as sensors in detecting
edible seagrasses.
Internal effects:
- Inhaling volatile organics from oil or dispersants may cause
respiratory irritation, inflammation, emphysema or pneumonia.
- Ingesting oil or dispersants may cause inflammation, ulcers,
bleeding, diarrhea and digestive problems.
- Absorption of inhaled and ingested chemicals may damage organs
such as the liver or kidneys, resulting in anemia, immunity
problems and reproductive failure or death.
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What should I do if I spot
a sea turtle, bird or marine mammal in distress from the oil
spill?
Report any sightings of wildlife oiled or injured
as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by calling,
toll-free, 888-404-3922. Do not attempt to rescue the animal.
Such rescues require hazardous-material training, permits and
animal-handling skills to ensure human safety and the best
interests of the animal.
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