As the devastating news came Saturday evening that BP's (NYSE:BP) "top kill" attempt failed, this only means continued disaster to the delicate ecosystems that the oil spill is already destroying. Not to mention the wildlife and sea life that this will continue to devastate for years to come.
Among these are the Gulf of Mexico's 8,300 species, from the smallest plankton to the birds that live, breed, and eat from these waters. There are also numerous animals on the verge of extinction that the crude oil could wipe out all together, such as the Atlantic blue fin tuna and the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, to name just a couple.
Paul Montagna, professor of ecology, said, "instead of creating a typical spill, where the oil goes to the surface and you can scoop it up, this stuff has been distributed throughout the water column, and that means everything, absolutely everything is being effected."
As if the oil isn't enough, the toxic chemicals being dispersed a mile below the surface, are changing the composition of the oil entirely. The effects of this are preventing the oil from breaking down, as well as changing the consistency to being much oilier and much gooier.
"It's probably going to be one of the worst disaster we've ever seen," said Montagna.
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