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Impact of Oil Spills on Ecosystems

Impact of Oil Spills on Ecosystems

Assessment

Interactive Video

Biology

9th - 10th Grade

Practice Problem

Hard

Created by

Patricia Brown

FREE Resource

In 1969, an oil spill near West Falmouth, Massachusetts, released 200,000 gallons of oil, affecting the local ecosystem. Despite appearing to recover, the marshes still contain oil decades later. Studies by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution highlight the long-term environmental impact and the importance of keeping oil out of low-energy environments like marshes. The spill led to a collapse in local wildlife and a ban on shellfish harvesting. While oil is biodegradable, some components resist degradation, posing ongoing environmental and health risks. The Gulf of Mexico faces similar challenges, but its warmer climate aids faster natural remediation.

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10 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What was the primary reason the West Falmouth oil spill became a significant study site?

The immediate recovery of the local ecosystem

Its proximity to a major city

The large amount of oil spilled

Its closeness to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Why is it crucial to prevent oil from entering coastal marshes?

Marsh sediments trap oil, causing long-term damage

Oil in marshes can be easily cleaned

Marshes are high-energy environments

Oil in marshes evaporates quickly

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What was one of the visible effects of the oil spill on the local ecosystem?

Increase in bird population

Collapse of the shellfish population

Growth of new plant species

Improvement in water quality

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How long has shellfish harvesting been banned in the area affected by the West Falmouth spill?

10 years

20 years

Over 40 years

30 years

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What factor contributes to faster natural remediation of oil in Louisiana compared to West Falmouth?

Colder climate

Lower nutrient levels

Higher biological activity

Less microbial presence

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Why is it difficult to predict the impact of one oil spill based on another?

Ecosystems and oil compositions vary

Oil spills are always in the same location

The effects of oil spills are immediate and short-term

All oil spills have the same chemical composition

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is a potential health risk associated with degraded oil?

Immediate respiratory failure

Protocarcinogens linked to cancer

Increased oxygen levels

Enhanced immune response

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