HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABS)

What are Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)?• Harmful algal blooms or HABs are algal blooms

composed of phytoplankton known to naturally produce biotoxins, they can occur when certain types of microscopic algae grow quickly in water, forming visible patches that may harm the health of the environment, plants, or animals.

• HABs can deplete the oxygen and block the sunlight that other organisms need to live, and some HAB-causing algae release toxins that are dangerous to animals and humans.

• HAB can occur in marine, estuarine, and fresh waters.

www.marbef.org/wiki/harmful_algal_bloom

What causes HABs?

• Eutrophication• Warm temperatures• Lots of sunlight• Runoff• Farming• Human sewage• Pesticides

http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/files/2012/05/Harmful-Algal-Bloom-illustration-1000w.jpg

Nitrogen Cycle

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/nitrogencycle.jpg

Phosphorous Cycle

http://media1.shmoop.com/images/biology/biobook_eco_13.png

http://products.coastalscience.noaa.gov/pmn/_images/habdiagramlg.gif

HABs in the United States

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/regions/us-distribution

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/page.do?pid=18116&tid=542&cid=55970&ct=61&article=33066

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/page.do?pid=18116&tid=542&cid=55970&ct=61&article=33066

Toxic Diatom and Dinoflagellate HABs

• Diatoms– ASP: Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning

• Dinoflagellate– PSP: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning– NSP: Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning– CFP: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning– DSP: Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning

www.whoi.edu/science/B/redtide/illness/illness.htmlhttp://www.whoi.edu/redtide/photos

PSP: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

CFP:

Ciguatera

Fish

Poisoning

DSP:

Diarrhetic

Shellfish

Poisoning

Impact of HABs on us!

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

• Others?