Veterinary pathologist Greg Bossart, a dolphin expert at the Georgia Aquarium, says researchers are still trying to determine all the ways BP oil affected the Gulf's ecosystem.

乔治亚水族馆的海豚专家、动物病理学家格瑞戈·博萨尔特称，研究人员仍在尝试研究石油泄漏对墨西哥湾生态系统产生的各方面的影响。

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Also, "the estuaries here are a nursery ground, literally a nursery ground, for the entire fish population in this area, " Bossart said.

CNN: Oil spill could be disaster for animals, experts say

It's not just birds that could be affected, although they are usually the first to feel the effects, said Gregory Bossart, chief veterinary officer for the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

CNN: Oil spill could be disaster for animals, experts say

Exposure to the oil for a prolonged period of time can result in a toxic effect on the skin, and mammals can suffer lung damage or death after breathing it in, Bossart said.

CNN: Oil spill could be disaster for animals, experts say