It is late in the year and in South Florida, this is when red tide begins to show up off the Gulf coast. Ill cormorants have been found and are being tested at a rehabilitation center in Sanibel, (Gillis, 2017). News Press published an article on red tide coming off the Gulf of Mexico written by Chad Gillis. It discusses birds that have already been identified as suffering ill effects of the toxic algae. The article explains what red tide is as the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis is a cause of the algal bloom. Karenia brevis is a microscopic organism that produces brevetoxins that can be fatal when concentrations are elevated, (Gillis, 2017). Commissions have been observing increased concentration of red tide off the coast of Sarasota and Manatee
One of the most damaging algae species known to Florida along the south-west coast is the Karenia brevis, also known as Florida red tide. These microscopic algae bloom all year around in the Gulf of Mexico producing brevetoxins, which contains a suite of neurotoxic polyether compound. These blooms can last as long as 18 months fluctuating between insignificant blooms to critical, impacting both the marine ecosystems and humans health (Pierce and Henry, 2008). The Florida red tide will continue to be the cause of unexplained fish and other animal deaths, along with human illnesses unless more research and observations is done to find a way of controlling these algae blooms.
Oxygen depletion will create stress which can take years to recover. These HABs can also suppress mammalian immune functions which results in mass mortalities of dolphins and manatees. This can be seen by a significant reduction in manatee lymphocytes in cell culture that are exposed to these toxins. With all of this evidence of the negative impacts of these toxins, it shows the need to recognize these biotoxins as significant stressors within south-west Florida coastal ecosystems.
There are several environmental concerns affecting the community of Lusby, Maryland, but of main concern is the cyanobacteria growing in the Chesapeake Bay. The blue-green algae called cyanobacteria is infesting the waterways in and around Lusby causing a hazard to the community. According to National Geographic (n.d.), the Chesapeake Bay was one of the first waterways recognized in the 1970s having overgrowth of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria contains both an algae and a bacteria and when growth exceeds space and the algae begins to die, two issues occur: toxins are produced and released which are harmful to both humans and animals and hypoxia follows as oxygen is consumed in excessive creating a dead zone in the water for all other living
There are several environmental concerns affecting the community of Lusby, Maryland, but of main concern is the cyanobacteria growing in the Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River surrounded the peninsula town on Lusby and numerous lakes and creeks are embedded in the town as well, creating breeding ground for the blue-green algae, cyanobacteria and a hazard for the community. According to National Geographic, the Chesapeake Bay was one of the first waterways recognized in the 1970s that had overgrowth of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria contains both an algae and a bacteria and when growth exceeds space and the algae begins to die, two issues occur: toxins are produced and released which are harmful to both humans and animals and hypoxia follows as oxygen is consumed in excessive creating a dead zone in the water for all other living organisms in the bay (“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health and Ecological Effects, Nutrient Pollution Policy and Data,” n.d.).
Fresh cell homogenate of G. semen collected from Lake Jelino (“FH” treatments) with chl-a range: 894 – 3576 mg m-3, caused distinct negative effect on Daphnia survival (Fig. 2.). It increased with the increasing biomass of alga and time of exposure. At lower chl-a concentrations (894 and 1778 mg m-3) the survival rate averaged 40% – 70 % after 24 h and 20 % – 30 % after 48 and 72 h of exposure. However, the addition of the most concentrated and fresh G.semen homogenized biomass (chl-a: 3576 mg m-3) caused 100% Daphnia mortality already after
When talking about the term Toxin, they are the substances having poisons and causing effects on the
A voltage-gated sodium ion channel opens when there is a change in the voltage of the membrane and allows sodium ions to flow across its electrochemical gradient. These voltage-gated channels are made up of amino acids and they aid in generating and moving an action potential down a membrane or axon (Brooker, Robert, 106).
As the water and the flocs particles progress through the treatment process, the move into sedimentation basin where the water moves slowly causing the heavy flocs particles to settle to the bottom of the sedimentation of the basin this is called sludge and is piped to drying lagoons in direct filtration the sedimentation step is not included and the floc is only removed by filtration system
When there are excessive loads of Nitrogen and Phosphorous in the water, Alage can “bloom” to harmful levels, changing water color, and eventually stripping dissolved oxygen from the water when they die, fall to the bottom, and decay. This dissolved oxygen is critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay’s critters and
hb2 is a new law ongoing in North carolina. It removes protections for gay and lesbian workers. Permitting an employer to fire them for their love interest. And also requires transgender individuals to use their assigned birth sex bathrooms. Cities in North Carolina are also now not allowed to enforce their own anti discrimination protection laws.
Algae blooms have been an issue in the Chesapeake Bay, especially in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Algae is a natural and critical part of the ecosystem, however in large doses it is harmful to the plants and organisms within the ecosystem. Algae blooms can block out sunlight and kill other plants in the water. Algae depends on various factors such as water, nutrients and carbon dioxide to grow. Eutrophication of the Inner Harbor has lead to algae blooms that have caused large fish kills in the past. When there is an over abundance of certain chemical nutrients eutrophication can occur. Runoff from land and farms is the main cause of excess nutrients into the water. The most common nutrients that are related to algae outbreaks are nitrate nitrogen and phosphate. In addition, a lack of dissolved oxygen can also be an indicator for the process of eutrophication and risk of an algae outbreak. A particular type of algae commonly found in Maryland is known as Prorocentrum minimum. Prorocentrum tends to cause “mahogany tides” causing water to be brown and have an odor. There has been a campaign launched by the Healthy Harbor
To ensure that the Animas River returns to its original state and the drainage from the Gold King Mine is cleaned up, we believe that a high density sludge process should be used. We believe the most effective high density sludge process is the health steele process. This process works by first mixing the sludge with lime in a tank so that the water can return to it’s original ph. Once the water reaches a safe ph for drinking, it reaches the lime reactor where air is added to ensure the water doesn’t change when exposed to air. Once the water leaves the lime reactor it is transported to the floc tank, where the remaining contaminated particles are removed from the drinking water. The final step is when the water reaches the clarifier and is sent back out to the river, as a healthy drinking water.
This red tide outbreak affects anyone and everyone who enjoys a day at the beach as well as Florida's marine life. If severe enough, it may negatively impact tourism in the area, thus denting Florida's tourist-dependent economy. In addition to targeting the local tourism industry, the seafood industry may suffer as well, as fish caught during red tide are typically inedible. If eaten, the infected organisms can pass along illnesses to those who consume them. As far as sewage exasperating the problem, it is important for the companies responsible to recognize and solve the issue, finding alternate ways to dispose of wastes.
Bt [proteins] have been tested against a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates including earthworms, collembola, daphnids, insect predators and parasites, spiders, and honeybees and have been shown to have a high degree of safety for these non-target organisms. In most cases, no adverse effects were observed even though test populations were exposed to levels of toxin in excess of 500-1,000-fold concentrations than they would be expected to encounter under field conditions.