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Pollution in the Ocean - Coggle Diagram
Pollution in the Ocean
Plastic Pollution
There is an estimated 100,000,000 tons of plastic debris floating in the ocean.
A few examples include plastic bags, plastic cutlery, straws, six-pack rings, and much much more.
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The number one risk that plastic debris causes for marine life is ingestion leading to death. Debris can also cause entanglement, suffocation, injuries and pain.
The plastic produce that causes the most deaths is fishing nets killing anything from dolphins and sharks to turtles and seabirds. Most often these deaths are slow and painful and can kill entire colonies at a time.
Some plastics in the oceans will eventually turn into micro-plastic and be ingested by fish and enter their meat making it possible for humans to eat.
Oil Pollution
The ocean is polluted every day by oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs, cars and land vehicles, boats, and oil dumping.
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Oil spills suffocate fish, get caught in birds feathers and other mammals most of the time slowly killing them.
When oil enters the water it blocks light from entering the water stopping light from reaching the plant and stops photosynthesis, depleting one of the primary sources of energy in the ocean.
Oil affects fish in many ways: reduced growth, enlarged livers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment. Reference:US Department of Commerce, N. O. and A. A. (2019, March 14). How does oil impact marine life? NOAA's National Ocean Service. Retrieved September 11, 2022, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oilimpacts.html
Oil is lethal to fish’s sensitive eggs,and larvae.
Sewage Pollution
Sewage discharge pollutes waterways with excessive nutrients that wreaks havoc on ecosystems.
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Sewage requires bacteria and lots of oxygen to be broken down so where sewage is being dumped there is a lack of bacteria and oxygen, harming marine life.
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About 95,000 cubic meters of sewage from toilets and 5,420,000 cubic meters of sewage from sinks, kitchens, and showers are released into the ocean each day. Reference: Sea pollution. Young People's Trust For the Environment. (2014, September 15). Retrieved September 11, 2022, from https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/sea-pollution/sewage
Once sewage is dumped in an area that water can be harmful to drink for human and land-living animals.
Eutrophication
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Allow toxic growths of blue-green algae blooms which are harmful to the water quality and marine life.
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Cause the dissolved oxygen concentration will decrease which will cause the death of aquatic plants.
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Taints drinking water supplies.
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Noise includes: passing ships, seismic surveys, sonaar, oil drilling, oil exploration surveys, and much more.
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Noise Pollution also interferes with sea creatures being able to communicate with mate or family pods. Reference:What is ocean noise? NOAA's National Ocean Service. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2022, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-noise.html
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Marine life easily gets confused and disoriented because of the acoustic interference.