Natural Oils in Marine Habitat

            With the recent oil spill, many marine habitats have been ruined. Aquatic animals have also suffered, and many of them have even died. However, not all oils are bad for marine animals. Natural oils in the sea can actually help. This is because marine life thrives on the oils that are naturally bubbling from the sea. In fact, 45% of the oil in oceans per year come from natural seeps. The other 55% of the oil is unfortunately cause by people. So if marine animals can thrive in bodies of water with oil, why are oil spills such a big deal? That's because not only is it pollution, but the animals would not be able to adapt to such a huge change in their habitat. With oil spills, hundreds of gallons of oil are released out into the water all at once, which makes it harder for the marine animals to adapt to. Natural oil from seeps are not released that way, but are instead releasing oil at a very slow rate, which makes surrounding ecosystems able to adapt slowly.

            This article relates to biology concepts because it talks about how marine environments are affected due to factors like oil spills. Some factors can be helpful to environments, but some can also be harmful. Oil can be helpful and harmful at the same time, but the majority seems to be harmful due to human causes. Environments in the water are being affected by extra oil given from the humans.

            People should care about a topic as this because this also effects everyone else. The seafood that we eat come from the ocean. What will happen to the fishes in the ocean if their environment is contaminated with oil? Some will die, leaving less seafood for everyone to have. Not only will the water be contaminated, but other animals besides the ones living in the water will die too if they starve due to lack of food. In the end, it all comes back to us to fix the problem. What we do to nature can always come back and get us.

            http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=unlike-bps-natural-oil-seeps