The biodiversity most likely to be first impacted by an oil spill along the coast includes: A) Seabirds and other species swimming close to the shoreline. B) Shrimp and species living on the sea floor. C) Sharks and species inhabiting open waters away from the coast. D) Whales and species that migrate long distances.
Biology · Middle School · Mon Jan 18 2021
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A) Seabirds and other species swimming close to the shoreline
When an oil spill occurs along a coast, the organisms that frequent the shoreline and surface waters are typically the first to be impacted. Seabirds often land on the water to rest or look for food, which puts them at high risk of coming into contact with the oil. Oil can coat their feathers, impairing their ability to fly, maintain buoyancy, and regulate body temperature. Additionally, marine mammals and other creatures that swim near the surface of the water or spend time on the shoreline can also be directly affected by oil spills, as the oil can contaminate their habitat, coat their skin or fur, and be ingested or inhaled