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Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico suffered extensive damage from the spill. Pelicans covered in oil and dead sea turtles washed up on beaches were common images of the oil spill¹.
Seabirds
Seabirds were harmed by oil on the surface. It coated their feathers, which made it difficult for them to fly. Oil coated feathers also leads to dehydration, starvation, and drowning. In 2014, it was estimated that around 700,000 seabirds died because of the oil spill. Birds that live on land in marshes, like sparrows, were also harmed by the oil spill, because the grasses they live in were contaminated by oil that washed up on shore.
Coral
Damage to coral was found almost immediately after the spill. Oil that sunk to the ocean floor covered the coral. Coral near the well had tissue damage and studies found that coral exposed to oil had lower survival rates and had a more difficult time settling on a hard surface so it could grow.
Fish
The dispersants used during the cleanup made oil particles cause fish to be at a greater risk of oil exposure. Fish either ate the oil particle directly or ate fish exposed to oil. Oil was also absorbed through their gills and skin. The most harmful part of oil to fish is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs). PHAs damage DNA, which leads to developmental issues, cancer, or death.
Dolphins
Before the spill, there was an average of 63 deaths of dolphins in the Gulf per year. During seven months after the spill, the number of deaths rose to 125. In 2011, there 335 dolphin deaths.
