An algal bloom or marine bloom or water bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system. Algae ( sing. alga are a large and diverse group of simple typically Autotrophic organisms ranging from Unicellular to Multicellular forms Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine environments. Typically only one or a few phytoplankton species are involved, and some blooms may be recognized by discoloration of the water resulting from the high density of pigmented cells. Phytoplankton are the Autotrophic component of the Plankton community Although there is no officially recognized threshold level, algae can be considered to be blooming at concentrations of hundreds to thousands of cells per milliliter, depending on the severity. Algal bloom concentrations may reach millions of cells per milliliter. Colors observed are green, yellowish-brown, or red. Bright green blooms may also occur. These are a result of blue-green algae, which are actually bacteria (cyanobacteria). Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, blue-green bacteria or Cyanophyta, is a phylum of Bacteria that obtain their energy Blooms may also consist of macroalgal, not phytoplankton, species; these blooms are recognizable by large blades of algae that may wash up onto the shoreline.
Some algal blooms are the result of an excess of nutrients (particularly phosphorus and nitrogen) into waters and higher concentrations of these nutrients in water cause increased growth of algae and green plants. Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 As more algae and plants grow, others die. This dead organic matter becomes food for bacteria that decomposes it. With more food available, the bacteria increase in number and use up the dissolved oxygen in the water. When the dissolved oxygen content decreases, many fish and aquatic insects cannot survive. This results in a dead area.
Algal blooms may also be of concern as some species of algae produce neurotoxins. A neurotoxin is a Toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells ( Neurons, usually by interacting with Membrane proteins such as Ion channels At the high cell concentrations reached during some blooms, these toxins may have severe biological impacts on wildlife. Algal blooms composed of phytoplankters known to naturally produce biotoxins are often called Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs.
Algal blooms are monitored using biomass measurements coupled with the examination of species present. A widely-used measure of algal and cyanobacterial biomass is the chlorophyll concentration. Chlorophyll is a green Pigment found in most Plants Algae and Cyanobacteria. Peak values of chlorophyll a for an oligotrophic lake are about 1-10 µg/l, while in a eutrophic lake they can reach 300 µg/l. An oligotrophic lake is a lake with low Primary productivity, the result of low Nutrient content A eutrophic lake (Eu meaning good/well and trophic meaning food/nutrients is a lake with high Primary productivity, the result of high Nutrient content In cases of hypereutrophy, such as Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, maxima of chlorophyll a can be as high as 3,000 µg/l. Hypereutrophic lakes are very nutrient-rich lakes characterized by frequent and severe nuisance Algal blooms and low transparency Hartbeespoort Dam also known as HARTIES (officially the Hartbeespoort Dam Reservoir) is a Dam situated in the North West Province of South Africa The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa [1] [2]
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Black water
So-called black water is a dark discoloration of sea water, first described in the Florida Bay in January 2002. Florida Bay is the shallow bay located between the southern end of the Florida mainland (the Florida Everglades) and the Florida Keys. [3][4]
Water treatment
Algal blooms sometimes occur in drinking water supplies. In such cases, toxins from the bloom can survive standard water purifying treatments. Researchers at Florida International University in Miami are experimenting with using 640-kilohertz ultrasound waves that create micropressure zones as hot as 3,700 °C. Florida International University, commonly referred to as FIU or Florida International, is a public Research University located Not to be confused with Supersonic. Ultrasound is cyclic Sound pressure with a Frequency greater than the upper This breaks some water molecules into reactive fragments that can kill algae. [5]
See also
- Ciguatera
- Cultural eutrophication
- Dead zone (ecology)
- Dinoflagellate (see "neurotoxins" and "red tide" under Ecology and fossils and see "phosphate" under Cautions)
- Domoic acid
- Eutrophication
- Red tide
References
- ^ Zohary, T. Ciguatera is a Foodborne illness poisoning in humans caused by eating Marine species whose flesh is contaminated with a toxin known as Ciguatoxin, Cultural eutrophication is the process that speeds up natural Eutrophication because of human activity This page is about the oceanic phenomenon see Dead Zone for other uses The dinoflagellates are a large group of Flagellate Protists Most are marine Plankton, but The dinoflagellates are a large group of Flagellate Protists Most are marine Plankton, but The dinoflagellates are a large group of Flagellate Protists Most are marine Plankton, but Domoic acid, the neurotoxin which causes Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP is an Amino acid associated with certain Harmful algal blooms Eutrophication is an increase in chemical Nutrients -- typically compounds containing Nitrogen or Phosphorus -- in an Ecosystem, and may occur "Red tide" is a common name for a phenomenon known as an Algal bloom, an event in which estuarine marine or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the Water ; and R. D. Roberts (1990). "Hyperscums and the population dynamics of Microcystis aeruginosa". J. Plankton Res. 12 (2): 423-432. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. ISSN 0142-7873. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication.
- ^ Bartram, J. ; Wayne W. Carmichael, Ingrid Chorus, Gary Jones, and Olav M. Skulberg (1999). "Chapter 1. Introduction", Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water: A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management. World Health Organization. ISBN 0-419-23930-8. Retrieved on 2007-06-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits
- ^ Black water status report. Florida Marine Research Institute (2002, May 4). Retrieved on 2007-06-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits
- ^ Mysterious Black Water in Florida Bay Astronomy Picture of the Day, NASA, 2002-04-02
- ^ Song, W. ; Teshiba T. , Rein K. , and O'Shea K. E. (2005). "Ultrasonically induced degradation and detoxification of microcystin-LR (cyanobacterial toxin)". Environmental Science & Technology 39 (16): 6300-6305. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.
External links
- Harmful Algal Bloom information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
- Harmful Algae and Red Tide Information from the Coastal Ocean Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Toxic Blooms: Understanding Red Tides, a seminar by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone and Red Tides
- Human Illness caused by Algae, an excellent summary. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI is a private nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI is a private nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and
- Red Tide Report A Compilation of citizen based, media and official reports of the locations and severity of current Red Tide Blooms.
- Florida Red Tide Coalition A citizen based group dedicated to raising awareness of Red Tide, debunking myths, educating the public and taking action to promote our oceans' health and help stop red tide.
- Red Tide updates for the Gulf Coast of Florida provided by Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL
- Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (HABSOS)
- The Belgian Blooms Monitoring project
- Social & Economic Costs of Harmful Algal Blooms from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative
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