When I first read this story, I thought that “yeah, of course it’s larger than people originally thought”. But it is important for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it came out of the Washington Post, who are known for top notch reporting.

1. Species Being Discovered Outside Range
Species such as whale sharks and other aquatic life are being found close to shore outside of their usual range, likely meaning that the oil is driving them closer to shore.

2. Dead Birds Underreported
So far the count is only at 1200, but scientists who are familiar with the birds in question have theorized that they are hiding in marshes in order to recover, and will just die there. So far, the only ones that have been counted are ones that are washing up visibly on beaches.

3. Coastal Marshes are Dying
Louisiana’s coastal marshes were home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the US. Some experts argue that the marshes were already dying due to erosion and river control projects, but the consensus is that the oil spill is at the very least not helping matters. Robert Barham, a regional expert with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has stated that the marshes are “stressed and dying now”.

Tags: bp oil disaster, bp oil spill, bp species at risk

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