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Assignment in Science Jeon Do Hae

Red tide is caused by algal blooms that discolor coastal waters and can release toxins harmful to humans and animals. Warm temperatures, nutrients from runoff, and calm conditions contribute to red tide events. Algae toxins accumulate up the food chain and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, and amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans. Monitoring programs now track red tides to warn of health risks and scientists study them to potentially develop antidotes.

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31 views2 pages

Assignment in Science Jeon Do Hae

Red tide is caused by algal blooms that discolor coastal waters and can release toxins harmful to humans and animals. Warm temperatures, nutrients from runoff, and calm conditions contribute to red tide events. Algae toxins accumulate up the food chain and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, and amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans. Monitoring programs now track red tides to warn of health risks and scientists study them to potentially develop antidotes.

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전도해
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Assignment in Science Jeon Do Hae<Victoria>

II - Joseph
Red Tide - A Harmful Algal Bloom

What is Red Tide?

Red tide is a phenomenon caused by algal blooms during which algae


become so numerous that they discolor coastal waters (hence the name "red tide").
The algal bloom may also deplete oxygen in the waters and/or release toxins that may
cause illness in humans and other animals.

What Causes Red Tide?


Major factors influencing red tide events include warm ocean surface
temperatures, low salinity, high nutrient content, calm seas, and rain followed by
sunny days during the summer months. In addition, algae related to red tide can
spread or be carried long distances by winds, currents, storms, or ships.

How Are Red Tides Harmful?

Red tide algae make potent natural toxins. It is unknown why these toxins are created, but some can be
hazardous to larger organisms throught the processes of biomagnification and bioaccumulation. Grazers such as fish
and krill are unaffected by the toxins, so as they eat the algae the toxins are concentrated and accumulate to a level
that is poisonous eat to organisms that feed on them. Large fish kills and several mammalian diseases and deaths
have been attributed to consumption of shellfish during red tide algal blooms. Diseases that may affect humans
include:
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)—This disease is caused by the production of saxitoxin by the
Alexandrium species. It is common along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in the US and Canada. Poisoning
occurs when one ingests shellfish contaminated with PSP toxins causing disruption of nerve function and
paralysis. Extreme cases may result in death by asphyxiation by respiratory paralysis.
Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP)—This disease is caused by the Dinophysis species. It generally
occurs in Japan and Europe, but it has also been found in other countries such as Canada, the US, Chile,
New Zealand, and Thailand. Symptoms of DSP include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and
cramps. DSP is generally not lethal.
Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP)—This disease, which has been found along the eastern
Canadian coast, is caused by domoic acid producing planktonic and benthic algae, including
Pseudo-nitzschia pungens forma. Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries and Amphora coffaeformis. It can
also be found in soft shell clams and blue mussels infected by Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima.
Gastric and neurological symptoms include dizziness, disorientation and memory loss.

What is Being Done About Red Tide?


Technological advancements such as satellite imagery have allowed scientists to better track and monitor
harmful algal blooms. Tracking and monitoring red tide algae helps reduce harmful effects of the algae by providing
warnings against eating infected shellfish and against swimming in infected waters. For example, the Sarasota
Operations Coastal Oceans Observation Lab (SO COOL) has developed instruments that can test for red tide algae
in coastal waters. Finally, researchers are attempting to develop an antidote to the red tide toxins. Interestingly,
while developing such anti-toxins, researchers have found a possible cystic fibrosis treatment.

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