. The Canadian field-naturalist. 1975 Vermeer and Vermeer: Oil Threat to Birds on Coast 281 Higher Spill Probability Zones Collision Grounding. PACIFIC OCEA N Figure 1. Oil spill probability zones (Paish and Associates 1972). Tanker route indicated by arrows. Effects of Oil Pollution on Birds Among the damages caused by oil to the marine fauna and flora, the oiling of birds is one of the most striking. Oil destroys the waterproof qualities of the plumage by dis- rupting feather arrangement and allows chilling by water or air, especially during the winter months. The oil may saturate not o
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 1975 Vermeer and Vermeer: Oil Threat to Birds on Coast 281 Higher Spill Probability Zones Collision Grounding. PACIFIC OCEA N Figure 1. Oil spill probability zones (Paish and Associates 1972). Tanker route indicated by arrows. Effects of Oil Pollution on Birds Among the damages caused by oil to the marine fauna and flora, the oiling of birds is one of the most striking. Oil destroys the waterproof qualities of the plumage by dis- rupting feather arrangement and allows chilling by water or air, especially during the winter months. The oil may saturate not only the outer contour feathers but also penetrate the down feathers which insulate the bird. Soaked with oil and water, the bird loses its buoyancy and may drown or make its way to shore to die eventually. Continued exposure to cold and inability to feed render the bird incapable of maintaining its body temperature (Hartung 1967; McEwan and Koelink 1973). Compli- cations such as pulmonary, kidney, liver, gall- bladder, and gastrointestinal infections, and shock combined with the depletion of body fat eventually kill the bird (Beer 1968; Guillon 1967). The toxic nature of oil also plays a role in the mortality of oiled birds. Hartung (1963) showed by means of isotope studies that oiled birds preen about 50% of the oil from their feathers in the first 8 days after oiling and ingest most of this in the process. Hartung and Hunt (1966) tested a number of unweathered industrial oils for their toxic effects on water- fowl and found all the oils to cause lipid pneumonia, gut irritation, fatty livers, and adrenocortical hyperplasia when fed to ducks. Diesel oil resulted in acinar atrophy of the pancreas. Fuel oil produced toxic nephrosis of the kidneys; cutting oil reduced cholines- terase levels in the plasma. The authors con- cluded that the toxicity of oils is a definite factor in the observed mortalities due to oil pollution. Postmortem work by Guillon (1967) on several species of
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