How does oil harm marine ecosystems when spilled?

Prepare for the APES Aquatic Pollution Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get detailed hints and explanations for each question to ace your exam!

When oil is spilled into marine ecosystems, it creates toxic environments that can severely impact marine life. The compounds found in oil can be harmful to the physiological functions of various organisms, including fish, birds, and marine mammals. These toxins can interfere with reproduction, growth, and immune responses, leading to decreased populations and biodiversity.

Oil spills can coat the feathers of birds, impairing their ability to fly and insulate themselves, which can lead to hypothermia. Marine mammals may ingest toxic oil while feeding or suffer from skin and respiratory ailments. Additionally, oil spills affect the quality of water and the surrounding habitats, disrupting the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

While the other choices suggest potential effects on the environment, they do not accurately reflect the consequences of an oil spill. For instance, oil spills do not boost fish populations; rather, they often lead to a decline due to toxic exposure and habitat destruction. Also, while oil spills can affect water temperature indirectly through ecological consequences, they do not directly increase water temperature as a primary effect. Finally, freshwater availability is impacted by many factors, but the immediate concern during an oil spill in marine environments is the toxicity and its effect on marine life, not freshwater availability.

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