Task 1 Evaluating Effects of Oil Spills
In this activity, you will examine the effects of oil spills on aquatic ecosystems.

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

Observations and Data Collection
Part A
Question
In 2010, a large oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. This image shows boats moving through the water near the site of the spill.

boats cutting tracks through a layer of oil on the surface of the ocean
This image is a close-up of oil in a beaker of water.

oil on top of water in a beaker
Which observations describe both images? Select all the correct answers.

The oil sinks to the bottom of the water.

The oil floats on the surface of the water.

The oil stays in one spot.

The oil spreads to cover the water.

The oil mixes with water.

Part B
After hearing about an oil spill, Natalia decides to investigate how oil may affect birds in aquatic ecosystems. She gets some bird feathers. She takes the mass of one, dips it in oil, then takes its mass again. The images show the bird feather before and after being dipped in oil.

dry feather and feather covered in oil

The table gives the mass of the feather before and after being dipped in oil.

Before Oil After Oil
Mass 1.1 g 4.5 g

Describe how the mass and the appearance of the feather changed because of the oil. Can Natalia clean off the feather using water? Predict what will happen if Natalia dips feathers covered in oil in either cold water or in hot water.

Part C
Natalia dipped two feathers in oil. Then she dipped one feather in cold water and the other feather in hot water. She swirled both feathers around for 20 seconds, then removed them. Her results are in the table.

Cold Water Hot Water
Before Oil After Oil After Water Before Oil After Oil After Water
Mass 1.2 g 4.5 g 4.2 g 1.2 g 4.4 g 3.5 g

She also took a picture of each feather after swirling it in water.

two feathers, each with oil and beads of water

Was either the cold water or the hot water able to remove the oil? Explain your reasoning.

Part D
The video shows the movement of oil near the site of the 2010 oil spill.

This video shows the shoreline a distance away from this spill.

What happens to the oil after it is spilled?

Analyze and Extend

Part A
What happens to oil when it enters the water? In your answer, explain how this property of oil contributes to the effects of oil spills in ocean ecosystems.

Part B
What happened to the oil released offshore? What effect could this have on resource availability for organisms that live near or around the shore?

Part C
Birds use their feathers for flight and fluff their feathers to keep warm. Based on Natalia's feather experiment, how do oil spills affect birds’ ability to use their feathers?

Part D
Based on the experiment, do you think birds can just wash off the oil with water? Explain your answer.

Part E
How can oil spills affect the ability of sea birds to access resources such as food and shelter? How will other animals that depend on birds for food be affected?