Why might bird populations take longer to recover from an oil spill compared to mammal populations?

Bird populations may take longer to recover from an oil spill primarily because their breeding grounds can become contaminated. Oil spills affect the ecosystem in various ways, contaminating nesting sites and food sources that are crucial for bird reproduction. If these areas are polluted, birds may be unable to lay eggs or raise their young effectively, leading to lower reproductive success and slower population recovery.

In contrast, mammals may have different reproductive strategies or habitats that allow them to recover more quickly. They might not rely as heavily on specific breeding grounds that are directly affected by the oil, or they might have the ability to relocate to safer areas more readily. This highlights why the contamination of breeding sites poses a significant and lasting challenge for bird populations following an oil spill.