Algal Blooms

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Algal Blooms

• General Science 7
• Mrs. Kerstetter

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Algal Blooms

• 14 Humpback Whales on the beach over 5 weeks
• Stomachs full of food
• Lots of blubber
• Looked healthy on the outside
• Dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense
• Whales fed on them and fish that ate it

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Algal Blooms

• Rapid growth of a population of algae is called
  an algal bloom
• Salt water blooms
• Usually called red tides
• Produce a red pigment
• Sometimes look brown or green or colorless
• Usually caused by diatoms and dinoflagellates

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Red Tides

• Dangerous
• When toxins that algae produce become
  concentrated in the bodies of organisms
• Higher temperature put areas at risk for Red Tide

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Freshwater Blooms

• In fresh bodies of water
• Lakes, streams, ponds
• Lakes and ponds undergo EUTROPHICATION
• Nutrients such Nitrogen and Phosphorus build up
  in the water
• Causes increase in algal growth

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Eutrophication

• Causes
• Fertilizers from farmers fields
• Leaky septic systems
• Consequences
• -layer of algae prevents sunlight from reaching
  plants below the surface
• -decomposers break down dead plants
• -bacteria use all oxygen
• -fish and other organisms die without oxygen

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Eutrophication

• Can be controlled
• Find source and eliminate the contamination
• Use up excess nutrients