Wildlife official says amount of oil reaching Gulf wetlands a factor in affecting food chain

Oil flowing into wetlands key to ecological effect

NEW ORLEANS — Wildlife experts say the ecological effects from the oil spill has less to do with the amount of oil and more to do with where it’s flowing.

Randy Pausina, an assistant secretary with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said Sunday the effects of an uncontrolled oil flow on the Gulf’s marine life would depend largely on its path.

If the oil stays mostly offshore, Pausina says the consequences could be dire for some deep-water marine life such as sea turtles and dolphins. But he says it could be worse if small amounts of oil reaches the sensitive coastal wetlands that provide food and habitat for a multitude of fish and other creatures.

Pausina says how much oil is sopped up by cleanup crews will be critical.