quote:from news.yahoo.com may 25th
(Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Sea Turtles
Of the seven remaining species of sea turtles known today, five of those species are in the Gulf. The oil spill area is one of the only foraging grounds for the most endangered species of the bunch, the Kemp’s ridley turtle, which is in its peak nesting season.
One of its two primary migration routes runs south of Mississippi. Loggerhead turtles, also endangered, feed in the warm waters in the Gulf between May and October.
The seven species that can be found today have been around for 120 million years (longer than the dinosaurs) -- and many of these species live up to 80 years.
(Photo: NASA)
Dolphins
Several dolphin species routinely inhabit the northern Gulf, and already 12 bottlenose dolphins have been found dead due to the the oil spill, reports Yahoo! News.
When marine mammals come to the surface to breathe, they may inhale hydrocarbon vapors that can result in lung injuries; oil that comes in contact with the animals’ sensitive mucous membranes and eyes may produce irritations.
Young cetaceans may be injured due to ingestion of oil from contaminated teats when nursing; and there may be long-term chronic effects as a result of migration through oil-contaminated waters.
this is one of the times I'm thoroughly embarrassed to be a human, totally! Especially how little importance this is getting in news and overall state-of-the-world. (I'm so sorry turtlys! Fishies and birdies, I'm so sorry..
) This will likely create the worse weather conditions ever, be a floating death to ocean after ocean, industry after industry, and that is if it is stopped NOW! When will it be stopped? Any guesses? Will Earth's plates smash into each other without the oil lubricating it's innards? Will the oceans simply die and with them our oxygen? I'd better shut up, this distresses me too much! 