HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS HABS What are Harmful Algal

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-1000 w. jpg

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

Phosphorous Cycle http: //media 1. 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/red tide/page. do? pid=18116&ti d=542&cid=5 5970&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. html http: //www. whoi. edu/redtide/photos