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?
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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/red
tide/page.do
?pid=18116&
tid=542&cid=
55970&ct=61
&article=330
66
http://www.
whoi.edu/red
tide/page.do
?pid=18116&
tid=542&cid=
55970&ct=61
&article=330
66
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.html
http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/photos
PSP: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
CFP: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
DSP: Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning
Impact of HABs on us!
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Food poisoning
Inner ear infections
No swimming at beaches/lakes/rivers
Economic impacts
– Fisheries
– Tourism
• Others?