Chapter 3 Oil Spills

When and where did the Exxon Valdez oil spill occur?

• March 24, 1989, in Prince William Sound, Alaska

• April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico

• January 19, 1993, off the Shetland Islands

• December 13, 1979, off the coast of Brittany, France

Which of the following animal populations suffered significant losses due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

• Bald eagles, salmon, and grizzly bears

• Seabirds, sea otters, and harbor seals

• Whales, dolphins, and sharks

• Polar bears, walruses, and arctic foxes

Which species mentioned in the video had regained its pre-spill population levels ten years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

• Pacific herring

• Sea otters

• Harbor seals

• Bald eagles

What was the total amount of the criminal restitution and civil settlement paid by Exxon after the oil spill?

• $100 million

• $900 million

• $1 billion

• $1.5 billion

What is one method used to capture sea otters for study?

• A net thrown from a boat

• A basket trap placed underwater by divers

• A fishing line with bait

• A tranquilizer dart from a distance

What was the estimated population decline of marbled murrelets in Prince William Sound after the oil spill?

• Approximately 10%

• Approximately 30%

• Approximately 60-70%

• Approximately 90%

What other factor was already affecting seabird populations in the Barren Islands when the oil spill occurred?

• Increased predation by marine mammals

• Changes in sea surface temperature affecting forage fish

• Overfishing by commercial vessels

• Habitat loss due to coastal development

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What was the immediate impact of the oil spill on pink salmon in Prince William Sound?

• They migrated to uncontaminated waters.

• Their eggs were laid in oil-contaminated streams, leading to high mortality.

• They developed a resistance to oil contamination.

• Their population increased due to reduced fishing pressure.

What factors were identified as contributing to the herring population crash in 1993?

• Overfishing and natural predators.

• A virus, potentially exacerbated by oil and changing ocean conditions.

• A sudden drop in ocean temperatures.

• Increased competition from other fish species.