Red Tide Research Paper

There are many destructive ways that the Florida red tide harms the living things along the Gulf Coast. Documented evidence in the past decade indicates that Karenia brevis red tide blooms exposures of brevetoxins were responsible for massive deaths among sea mammals, fishes, birds and sea turtles. These poisonous chemicals transferred through the food chain and all

Studies have repeatedly shown that as oxygen concentrations decrease, the abundance and diversity of fish decrease (Breitburg). Fish kills, in which large numbers of dead and dying fish float to the surface or wash onto shore, are probably the most dramatic and publicly visible manifestation of hypoxia and nutrient over-enrichment of coastal waters(Breitburg). In addition to mass mortalities that are easily observed, high mortality of fish lacking a swim bladder can occur leaving little or no visible evidence of fish at the surface or littering beaches (Breitburg). With no fish, shrimp, or crabs the Louisiana fishing market takes a huge hit that the economy feels in a major way. The gulf accounts for almost one-fifth of the countries fishing landings, which total to be three billion dollars (Petrolia). Fishing is not only a major part of Louisiana’s economy but also its culture. Without wildlife in our waters microorganism are given more opportunity to grow leading to bacteria infected waters. These bacteria infected waters could cause major health risks for those who come in contact with

The main intention of this experiment is to distinguish whether the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) has effects on Atlantic Croaker fish. Samples from Atlantic Croaker were taken from both tributaries, one being a Bisphenol A (BPA) free tributary, and the other being filled with Bisphenol A (BPA). In which data was recorded, analyzed, and had astonishing results. The results displayed that when the female Atlantic Croaker hepatic system were exposed to high dosages of Bisphenol A they showed physical abnormalities

Ruth Francis-Floyd, professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (College of Veterinary Medicine) and Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

U.S. Geological Survey’s Sirenia Project has been monitoring welfare biomarkers in manatees over several years in Kings Bay, Florida. Dr. Bob Bonde, a research biologist with the Sirenia Project, is granting the use of these samples for my proposed project. Identification and documentation of age classes of manatees at Kings Bay will account for manatees adapting to human interactions at these study sites over time. Thus, age may be positively correlated with lower welfare biomarker concentrations in samples. Fecal and blood samples will also be collected from captive manatees in swim programs at Isla Mujeres’s Dolphin Discovery Center with cooperation from staff members. Hypothesis 1: Human interaction induces negative physiological responses in the West Indian manatee, as indicated by welfare biomarker concentrations from fecal and blood

Red tide is the common name for a large concentration of certain species of dinoflagellates. This event accumulates harmful algal blooms quickly, resulting in discoloration near the surface water. Dense enough algal blooms cause harmful toxins strong enough to affect people and the oceans ecosystem as a whole. Karenia brevis is the most troublesome species of dinoflagellate in the Gulf of Mexico. This species reproduces by asexual cell division, therefore, given the right conditions, the population can rapidly increase in size. K. brevis needs large amounts of the correct nutrients to reproduce at toxic speed. The nutrients responsible for supporting Florida's red tide are nitrogen and phosphorus.

Upon coming into contact with a manatee, the powerboat produces many complications. When manatees are struck by powerboats the damage that is done runs deeper than just the injury that the eye can see. Lacerations caused by boat propellers can kill the manatee, however, what most do not realize is that a laceration from a propeller can also seriously affect the manatee long term. One collision with a powerboat could possibly destroy the opportunity the manatee had to reproduce (Reynolds 25). Alongside of these two factors, is the deadly bacteria that the open wound on the manatee is introduced to.

While the Animas disaster avoided immediate and catastrophic results, the ultimate ecological price tag will take longer to figure. The river moves so fast that it swept obvious toxins downstream quickly. Yet the long-term toxicity reached hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of times over what is considered safe for the life beneath the river’s surface. That price will be silently calculated over months and years—by the trout.

Toxic algal blooms are occasions of excess reproduction of toxin-producing algae, making damage to the ecosystems and humans. Among the toxic algal blooms are ones caused by Pseudo-nitzschia species, producing a toxin called domoic acid (DA) (Tatters, Fu & Hutchins, 2012). These microalgae belong to diatoms and are spread within the Northwestern Atlantic region, causing sporadic issues in the Gulf of Maine (Fernandes et al., 2013), Chesapeake Bay and along the west coast since 2006 (Pistocchi et al., 2012).

The causes that the ocean near Florida has turned into a guacamole, gunky sea is because of the algae and chemicals. The thick algae from Lake Okeechobee is making the manatees in the Atlantic Ocean struggling to breathe. The manatees are Native there and they are being affected from this man made disaster. There was a recent study, where scientists collected samples and tested it. The result was that twelve toxins that are health risking, according to Laura Parker from National Georgraphic.

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.).

Red tide, by definition, is a toxic algae bloom in seawater that causes discoloration of the water, illness or death to many coastal animals, and can make people sick (Raloff, 2005). To be more specific, red tide is a more common name for “high concentrations of harmful marine alga, Karenia brevis” (Pierce & Henry, 2008). The Karenia Brevis toxin, named after Dr. Karen Steidinger, makes itself into mostly fish, but sometimes other vertebrates and can affects their central nervous system (Raloff, 2005).

First of all, ROVs are capable of much more than divers are capable of doing underwater.

Red coral have separate male and female colonies, these groups of females internally fertilize. They rely on male red coral to release sperm from their colonies and hope for it to land on the polyps of the female colonies. In the polyps, fertilized eggs become larvae and they take thirty days to develop in the body cavity. They are released about July or August then they quickly establish and attach close to the parent colony. Corallium do not grow very rapidly, they will mature in about seven to twelve years but can live up to one hundred years or more.