Whale and dolphin death toll underestimated in deep-water disaster

The disastrous 2010 oil spill in the gulf ruined most everything living in that area. It devastated the Gulf of Mexico ecologically and economically. Estimates have come out about the impact of the species that live in the gulf, and a new study in Conservation Letters, reveals the true impact of the wildlife in that area. The new study indicates that the true impact of the deep-water oil spill on the wildlife was greatly underestimated. The study argued that the fatality figures that were based on animal carcasses do not give a true death toll. The new death toll is estimated to be as much as 50 times higher then previously believed.

This new study focused on 14 species of cetacean, which is an order of mammals including whales and dolphins. The author argues that a majority of the deaths in cetacean’s occurred far from the shore where we cannot retrieve the carcasses. The carcasses recovered on shore where just a small proportion of the actual deaths. The team’s analysis suggested that only 2% of the cetacean carcasses were ever recovered after the disastrous oil spill. The oil spill was the largest in history and this new study revealed a lot more information that was not previously released about the marine life in that area. This study revealed that the actual numbers of cetacean deaths were greatly underestimated in the previous estimations.

This article relates to the class in many aspects. This historic oil spill is an example of a disturbance. The oil spill killed and damages many species living in that area. This may in the future, create opportunities for other species to grow and reproduce in the Gulf. This spill is also an example of dispersal limitation. It prevented some species from reaching areas of suitable habitat. The spill prevented many birds from flying, or fish from swimming to new areas. This disaster will also test the species ability to tolerate or avoid the area. How will the species respond to the stressful environmental conditions to minimize their exposure to the oil; and also how will the species survive the stressful environmental conditions, are great questions dealing with toleration and avoidance.

First, I feel that the oil spill could have been completely avoided. The proper precautions were not taken before the drilling started. I think that the whole oil spill situation is a complete disaster to the surrounding ecosystems and species that live in those waters. This new study indicates that the death tolls were severely underestimated; I do not find that hard to believe at all. Counting the number of carcasses is not the proper way to count the death toll. A majority of the deaths occurred miles from the shoreline. I feel that underestimating the death toll of cetacean species is not acceptable. I believe people withheld this information to the public to make the spill not seem as devastating. Overall, I feel that the spill was a complete disaster and that proper estimations on the death tolls of whales and dolphins should be released to the public, and not be underestimated.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110330094006.htm

-Mark Bleier