What is one ecological effect of oil spills on wildlife?

• A. Oil evaporates quickly and leaves no lasting effects.
• B. Oil increases water salinity
• C. Oil coats animals, blocks insulation or movement, poisons organisms, and damages habitats.
• D. Oil improves insulation for animals.

Answer: (C)

Oil spills harm wildlife through multiple interconnected effects. The oil coats fur and feathers, blocking insulation and hindering movement, which makes animals lose body heat more quickly and struggle to swim or fly. Hydrocarbons can be toxic if they are inhaled or ingested, damaging organs and affecting reproduction. The oil also contaminates habitats—shorelines, wetlands, and feeding grounds—disrupting food sources and shelter. These combined pathways explain why the statement that describes coating, insulation or movement blockage, poisoning, and habitat damage best captures the ecological impact on wildlife. In contrast, the notion that oil evaporates quickly and leaves no lasting effects is misleading because weathered oil can persist and remain harmful; oil does not increase water salinity, and it does not improve insulation for animals.