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Oil Spills at the Water's Edges
When oil spills into the ocean, it's especially likely to harm animals and plants at two interfaces (places where different things come together):
Near the surface of the water, where water and air meet
As oil slicks move across the water surface, oil can clog the feathers of birds that land on the water or the fur of marine mammals that must surface for air, and oil can kill or damage plankton (the tiny floating plants that support all other marine life) and other small creatures.
Along the shore, where water and land meet
Here, beached oil can smother creatures such as worms or clams, and toxins in oil can damage other creatures and plants. Where marshes grow near the shoreline, grasses and plants can be oiled and be damaged or killed.
Pages in this series
Visit these pages to learn about spills at these interfaces: |
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