Researchers found alarming biological effects of the Fukushima disaster on the environment including butterflies and birds.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster was nuclear disaster that happened in the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on March, 2011 in Japan.

The disaster was considered the largest nuclear incident since the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986, measuring a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

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This disaster happened after the power plant was hit by a tsunami triggered by the Tohoku earthquake, which caused three nuclear reactors of the power plant to have a meltdown.

Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina said that they found out that the Fukushima disaster has affected some species with radioactive releases.

In previous studies, researchers found out that pale glass blue butterfly that were common in Japan had reduced size, slowed growth, and morphological abnormality when exposed to radiation.

Joji Otaki from the University of Ryukyus said that non-contaminated larvae can fed from contaminated host plants that were collected near reactor causing their abnormalities.

Scientist found consequences of radiation in this study such as morphological effects like aberrant feathers found on barn swallows.

They also found that the population of birds, butterflies and cicadas in Fukushima declined.           

Scientist believe that this study highlight the need for early and ongoing monitoring at sites affected by the radiation.

They believe that there is a need for detailed analysis on the impacts of radiation on the environment of Fukushima.

This study could provide the needed information to predict the recovery time of the wild communities found in the prefecture, they explained

There is an urgent need for greater investment in basic scientific research of wild animals and plants of Fukushima, they added.