Question

How does ocean pollution affect marine wildlife and ecosystems?

Answer 1

Ocean pollution can have detrimental effects on marine wildlife and ecosystems in several ways:

1. Physical Harm: Marine animals can become entangled in plastic debris or mistakenly ingest it, leading to injury or death.
2. Chemical Contamination: Toxins from pollutants like oil spills or chemical runoff can contaminate the water, affecting the health of marine organisms and disrupting the food chain.
3. Habitat Destruction: Pollution can degrade or destroy habitats like coral reefs or seagrass beds, impacting the various species that rely on these ecosystems.
4. Disruption of Ecosystem Balance: By introducing foreign substances into the water, pollution can disrupt the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, leading to population declines or shifts in species composition.
5. Global Impact: Ocean pollution can have far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate affected areas, contributing to issues like climate change and biodiversity loss.