Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 30 views

    Algal Blooms

    Uploaded by

    Aroma Mangaoang
    Algal blooms are rapid increases in algal populations that can harm aquatic environments. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are composed of toxin-producing algae and threaten various organisms. HABs are caused by excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from farming, sewage, and other human activities. They can cause fish kills by depleting oxygen, and produce toxins that biomagnify up the food chain, potentially poisoning humans through contaminated shellfish. Responses include avoiding discolored waters and washing thoroughly after contact with blooms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Algal Blooms

    Uploaded by

    Aroma Mangaoang
    30 views3 pages
    Algal blooms are rapid increases in algal populations that can harm aquatic environments. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are composed of toxin-producing algae and threaten various organisms. HABs are caused by excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from farming, sewage, and other human activities. They can cause fish kills by depleting oxygen, and produce toxins that biomagnify up the food chain, potentially poisoning humans through contaminated shellfish. Responses include avoiding discolored waters and washing thoroughly after contact with blooms.

    Original Description:

    STS

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Algal blooms are rapid increases in algal populations that can harm aquatic environments. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are composed of toxin-producing algae and threaten various organisms. HABs are caused by excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from farming, sewage, and other human activities. They can cause fish kills by depleting oxygen, and produce toxins that biomagnify up the food chain, potentially poisoning humans through contaminated shellfish. Responses include avoiding discolored waters and washing thoroughly after contact with blooms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    30 views3 pages

    Algal Blooms

    Uploaded by

    Aroma Mangaoang
    Algal blooms are rapid increases in algal populations that can harm aquatic environments. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are composed of toxin-producing algae and threaten various organisms. HABs are caused by excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from farming, sewage, and other human activities. They can cause fish kills by depleting oxygen, and produce toxins that biomagnify up the food chain, potentially poisoning humans through contaminated shellfish. Responses include avoiding discolored waters and washing thoroughly after contact with blooms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    26/11/2019

    Algae

    • Algae are very tiny, often microscopic, plants or


    Algal Blooms plantlike organisms that live in water or damp areas

    Ex: Cyanobacteria aka blue-green algae


    • look reddish-brown, bright green
    or blue-green.
    • large quantities of algae are
    produced to create a “Bloom”.

    Algal Bloom Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)


    • It is a rapid increase in the population of algae in an
    aquatic system • Also known as red tide
    – Green, yellowish-brown, red • Definition
    • It may occur in freshwater as well as marine – composed of phytoplankton known to naturally
    environments. produce biotoxins
    • Result of an excess of nutrients • Occurrence
    – phosphorus and nitrogen – Occur when certain types of microscopic algae grow
    – Called as eutrophication quickly in water, forming visible patches that may
    harm the health of the environment, plants, or
    • Their growth cause the death of other plants. animals
    – occur in marine, estuarine, and fresh waters.
    • Direct effect
    – can deplete the oxygen and block the sunlight
    – some HAB-causing algae release toxins

    Location
    Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs)
    • It is an algal bloom that causes negative impacts
    to aquatic organisms via:
    – production of natural toxins
    – mechanical damage to aquatic organism Lakes
    Rivers and streams
    Wetlands

    • HABs are often associated with large-scale


    marine mortality events and have been
    associated with various types of shellfish
    poisonings and also fin fishes and other aquatic
    organisms .
    Estuaries Marine waters

    1
    26/11/2019

    Causes of Algal Bloom


    Causes of Algal Bloom
    A. Abiotic Factors B. Biotic Factors
    1. Sunlight
    2. Hot temperatures
    3. Slow-moving water 1. Cyanobacteria
    4. Nutrients (nitrogen • formerly called blue-green algae
    and phosphorus) • Occur in most waterbodies -
    5. Nutrient pollution fresh, brackish, marine
    from human activities • Potentially result to harmful algal
    • Farming bloom
    • Human sewage
    • Pesticides
    • Eutrophication

    Causes of Algal Bloom


    Effects of Algal Bloom
    2. Microcystis 1. Fish kill
    • Most common toxic – Hypoxic (low oxygen)
    cyanobacteria – Anoxic (no oxygen)
    • E.g. Mississippi Nutrient
    • Produces microcystins
    Run off  massive blooms
    (O2 used up from Zooplankton)

    2. Poisonings
    - toxin ingestion

    Effects of Algal Bloom PSP: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning


    • 3. Planktonic production of toxins
    – Biomagnified food chain
    – i.e. (secondary metabolites), e.g. marine natural
    products chemistry
    Dinoflagellate –Paralytic Shellfish poisoning (PSP) Diatom –Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP)
    Alexandrium tamarense Pseudonitzschia australis.
    • Toxins Ingested (as poisons)  biomagnify up Food
    Chain
    – Zooplankton  / mussel / anchovie  fish  bird
    – Two FAMOUS Cases -

    Saxitoxin Domoic acid

    2
    26/11/2019

    DSP: Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning Impact of HABs to Human


    • Food poisoning
    • Inner ear infections
    • No swimming at beaches/lakes/rivers
    • Economic impacts
    – Fisheries
    – Tourism

    Possible Response to Algal Bloom Possible Response to Algal Bloom


    1. Keep yourself, children and pets away from 4. Do not use scummy water for cleaning or
    waters that appear discolored or scummy irrigation

    2. Do not handle or touch large accumulations 5. If you accidently come into contact with an
    algal bloom, wash thoroughly with hot soapy
    ("scums" or mats) of algae water

    3. Do not boat, water ski or jet ski over algal 6. If you are unsure whether or not a bloom is
    mats present, it is best to stay out of the water

    -End-

    You might also like