Algal Bloom
Algal Bloom
Algal Bloom
Contents
Bloom characterization
Freshwater algal blooms
Marine algal blooms
Harmful algal blooms
See also
References
External links
Bloom characterization
The term algal bloom is defined inconsistently depending on the scientific field and can range from a
"minibloom" of harmless algae to a large, harmful bloom event.[4] Since algae is a broad term including
organisms of widely varying sizes, growth rates, and nutrient requirements, there is no officially recognized
threshold level as to what is defined as a bloom. Because there is no scientific consensus, blooms can be
characterized and quantified in several ways: measurements of new algal biomass, the concentration of
photosynthetic pigment, quantification of the bloom's negative effect, or relative concentration of the algae
compared to the rest of the microbial community.[4] For example, definitions of blooms have included
when the concentration of chlorophyll exceeds 100 ug/L,[5] when the concentration of chlorophyll exceeds
5 ug/L,[6] when the species considered to be blooming exceeds concentrations of 1000 cells/mL,[7] and
when the algae species concentration simply deviates from its normal growth.[8][9]
Blooms are the result of a nutrient needed by the particular algae being
introduced to the local aquatic system. This growth-limiting nutrient is
typically nitrogen or phosphorus, but can also be iron, vitamins, or amino
acids.[3] There are several mechanisms for the addition of these nutrients in
water. In the open ocean and along coastlines, upwelling from both winds
and topographical ocean floor features can draw nutrients to the photic, or
sunlit zone of the ocean.[10] Along coastal regions and in freshwater
systems, agricultural, city, and sewage runoff can cause algal blooms.[11]
Algal blooms, especially large algal bloom events, can reduce the
transparency of the water and can discolor the water.[3] The photosynthetic
pigments in the algal cells, like chlorophyll and photoprotective pigments,
determine the color of the algal bloom. Depending on the organism, its
Algal blooms can present
pigments, and the depth in the water column, algal blooms can be green,
problems for ecosystems
and human society. red, brown, golden, and purple.[3] Bright green blooms in freshwater
Example from a small systems are frequently a result of cyanobacteria (colloquially known as
mountain village near "blue-green algae") such as Microcystis.[3][12] Blooms may also consist of
Chengdu, China, in 2005 macroalgal (non-phytoplanktonic) species. These blooms are recognizable
by large blades of algae that may wash up onto the shoreline.[13]
Once the nutrient is present in the water, the algae begin to grow at a much faster rate than usual. In a mini
bloom, this fast growth benefits the whole ecosystem by providing food and nutrients for other
organisms.[9]
Of particular note are the harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are algal bloom events involving toxic or
otherwise harmful phytoplankton. Many species can cause harmful algal blooms. For example,
Gymnodinium nagasakiense can cause harmful red tides, dinoflagellates Gonyaulax polygramma can
cause oxygen depletion and result in large fish kills, cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa can make
poisonous toxins, and diatom Chaetoceros convolutus can damage fish gills.[14]
The reduction of phosphorus inputs is required to mitigate blooms that contain cyanobacteria.[18] In lakes
that are stratified in the summer, autumn turnover can release substantial quantities of bio-available
phosphorus potentially triggering algal blooms as soon as sufficient photosynthetic light is available.[19]
Excess nutrients can enter watersheds through water runoff.[20] Excess carbon and nitrogen have also been
suspected as causes. Presence of residual sodium carbonate acts as
catalyst for the algae to bloom by providing dissolved carbon
dioxide for enhanced photosynthesis in the presence of nutrients.
Blooms may be observed in freshwater aquariums when fish are overfed and excess nutrients are not
absorbed by plants. These are generally harmful for fish, and the situation can be corrected by changing the
water in the tank and then reducing the amount of food given.
The NAAMES study was a five-year scientific research program conducted between 2015 and 2019 by
scientists from Oregon State University and NASA to investigated aspects of phytoplankton dynamics in
ocean ecosystems, and how such dynamics influence atmospheric aerosols, clouds, and climate (NAAMES
stands for the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study). The study focused on the sub-arctic
region of the North Atlantic Ocean, which is the site of one of Earth's largest recurring phytoplankton
blooms. The long history of research in this location, as well as relative ease of accessibility, made the
North Atlantic an ideal location to test prevailing scientific hypotheses[21] in an effort to better understand
the role of phytoplankton aerosol emissions on Earth's energy budget.[25]
NAAMES was designed to target specific phases of the annual phytoplankton cycle: minimum, climax and
the intermediary decreasing and increasing biomass, in order to resolve debates on the timing of bloom
formations and the patterns driving annual bloom re-creation.[25] The NAAMES project also investigated
the quantity, size, and composition of aerosols generated by primary production in order to understand how
phytoplankton bloom cycles affect cloud formations and climate.[26]
In France, citizens are requested to report coloured waters through the project PHENOMER.[27] This helps
to understand the occurrence of marine blooms.
Wildfires can cause phytoplankton blooms via oceanic deposition of wildfire aerosols.[28]
HAB has been proved to be harmful to humans. Humans may be exposed to toxic algae by direct
consuming seafood containing toxins, swimming or other activities in water, and breathing tiny droplets in
the air that contain toxins. [33]
If the HAB event results in a high enough concentration of algae
the water may become discoloured or murky, varying in colour
from purple to almost pink, normally being red or green. Not all
algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discolouration.
See also
Amnesic shellfish poisoning – Syndrome of shellfish
poisoning An algae bloom off the southern
Anatoxin-a coast of Devon and Cornwall in
England, in 1999
Chironomus Annularius – A species of nonbiting midges
that act as a natural algae control.
Ciguatera fish poisoning – Foodborne illness
Dinocyst
Dinoflagellate – Unicellular algae with two flagella
Domoic acid
Emiliania huxleyi – Unicellular algae responsible for the
formation of chalk
Milky seas effect – Luminous phenomenon in the ocean
Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning – Syndrome of shellfish
poisoning
Paralytic shellfish poisoning – Syndrome of shellfish
poisoning
Pfiesteria – Genus of single-celled organisms Satellite image of phytoplankton
Pseudi-nitzschia – Genus of marine planktonic diatoms swirling around the Swedish island of
Gotland in the Baltic Sea, in 2005
Raphidophyte – A class of aquatic algae
Saxitoxin – Paralytic shellfish toxin
Spring bloom – Strong increase in phytoplankton
abundance that typically occurs in the early spring
Thin layers (oceanography)
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External links
FAQ about Harmful Algal Blooms (http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/hab/) (NOAA)