A "red tide" off the coast of La Jolla, California.

"Red Tide" is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom, an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column, or "bloom". These algae, more specifically phytoplankton, are microscopic, single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water's surface. Certain species of phytoplankton contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red, and when the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discolored or murky, varying in color from white to almost black, normally being red or brown. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discoloration, and not all discolored waters associated with algal blooms are red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with tidal movement of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom. Image File history File links La-Jolla-Red-Tide. ... Image File history File links La-Jolla-Red-Tide. ... One of the beaches at La Jolla Cove La Jolla, California, is a seaside resort community comprised of 42,808[1] residents within the city of San Diego. ... Algal blooms can present problems for ecosystems and human society An algal bloom is a relatively rapid increase in the population of (usually) phytoplankton algae in an aquatic system. ... Diagrams of some typical phytoplankton Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of plankton. ... Diagrams of some typical phytoplankton Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of plankton. ... Algal blooms can present problems for ecosystems and human society An algal bloom is a relatively rapid increase in the population of (usually) phytoplankton algae in an aquatic system. ...

The most conspicuous effects of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities among marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals and other organisms. In the case of Florida red tides, these mortalities are caused by exposure to a potent neurotoxin produced naturally by Karenia brevis, called brevetoxin. Karenia brevis (formerly known as Gymnodinium breve and Ptychodiscus brevis) is a marine dinoflagellate common in Gulf of Mexico waters, and is the organism responsible for Florida red tide. ... Brevetoxin, or brevetoxins, are a suite of cyclic polyether compounds produced naturally by a species of dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis. ...

Usage

The term "red tide" is often used in the United States of America to describe a particular type of algal bloom common to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and is also called "Florida red tide". This type of bloom is caused by a species of dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis, and these blooms occur almost annually along Florida waters. The density of these organisms during a bloom can exceed tens of millions of cells per liter of seawater, and often discolor the water a deep reddish-brown hue. Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Classes Dinophyceae Noctiluciphyceae Syndiniophyceae The dinoflagella are a large group of flagellate protists. ... Karenia brevis (formerly known as Gymnodinium breve and Ptychodiscus brevis) is a marine dinoflagellate common in Gulf of Mexico waters, and is the organism responsible for Florida red tide. ...

The term "Red tide" is also commonly used on the northern east coast of the United States, and particularly in the Gulf of Maine. This type of bloom is caused by another species of dinoflagellate known as Alexandrium fundyense. These blooms of organisms cause severe disruptions in fisheries of these waters as the toxins in these organism cause filter-feeding shellfish in affected waters to become poisonous for human consumption due to saxitoxin. Classes Dinophyceae Noctiluciphyceae Syndiniophyceae The dinoflagella are a large group of flagellate protists. ... A fishery (plural: fisheries) is an organized effort by humans to catch fish or other aquatic species, an activity known as fishing. ... Cooked mussels Shellfish is a term used to describe shelled molluscs and crustaceans used as food. ... Saxitoxin (STX) is a neurotoxin found in marine dinoflagellates (algae). ...

Causes

It is unclear what causes red tides; their occurrence in some locations appears to be entirely natural^[1], while in others they appear to be a result of human activities^[2] The frequency and severity of algal blooms in some parts of the world have been linked to increased nutrient loading from human activities. In other areas, algal blooms are a seasonal occurrence resulting from coastal upwelling, a natural result of the movement of certain ocean currents^[3]. The growth of marine phytoplankton is generally limited by the availability of nitrates and phosphates, which can be abundant in agricultural run-off as well as coastal upwelling zones. Coastal water pollution produced by humans and systematic increase in sea water temperature have also been implicated as contributing factors in red tides. Other factors such as iron-rich dust influx from large desert areas such as the Saharan desert are thought to play a major role in causing red tides^[4]. Some algal blooms on the Pacific coast have also been linked to occurrences of large-scale climatic oscillations such as El Niño events. While red tides in the Gulf of Mexico have been occurring since the time of early explorers such as Cabeza de Vaca^[5]. it is unclear what initiates these blooms, and how large a role anthropogenic and natural factors play in their development. It is also debated whether the apparent increase in frequency and severity of algal blooms in various parts of the world is in fact a real increase or is due to increased observation effort and advances in species identification methods ^{[6] [7]}. Raw sewage and industrial waste flows into the U.S. from Mexico as the New River passes from Mexicali, Baja California to Calexico, California Water pollution is a large set of adverse effects upon water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities. ... Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ... Chart of ocean surface temperature anomaly [°C] during the last strong El Niño in December 1997 El Niño and La Niña (also written in English as El Nino and La Nina) are major temperature fluctuations in surface waters of the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. ... Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (c. ... Look up anthropogenic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Associated illnesses

Some red tide organisms naturally produce potent toxins, such as saxitoxin, domoic acid, or brevetoxin, and red tides composed of toxic phytoplankton are commonly referred to as "harmful algal blooms" or "HABs". The various red tide toxins each have different modes of action, such as disruption the proper function of ion channels in neurons, mimicking of neurotransmitters, or inhibition of enzymatic activity^[8]. Domoic acid, a toxin produced by diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, has been linked to neurological damage in certain marine mammals, and is frequently found in algal blooms on the U.S. West Coast^[9]. Some red tide toxins can become highly concentrated in various marine organisms that have the ability to filter and consume large quantities of toxic plankton directly from seawater. These include shellfish, finfish, baleen whales, and benthic crustaceans. Frequently, shellfish collected in areas affected by algal blooms can be potentially dangerous for human consumption, leading to closures of shellfish beds for harvesting. For other uses, see Toxin (disambiguation). ... Saxitoxin (STX) is a neurotoxin found in marine dinoflagellates (algae). ... Chemical structure of Domoic acid Domoic acid, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is an amino acid phycotoxin (algal toxin) found associated with certain algal blooms [1]. In 1958, domoic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called doumoi or hanayanagi (Chondria armata[2]) in Japan. ... Brevetoxin, or brevetoxins, are a suite of cyclic polyether compounds produced naturally by a species of dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis. ... Ion channels are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells. ... Neurons (also called nerve cells) are the primary cells of the nervous system. ... Chemical structure of Domoic acid Domoic acid, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is an amino acid phycotoxin (algal toxin) found associated with certain algal blooms [1]. In 1958, domoic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called doumoi or hanayanagi (Chondria armata[2]) in Japan. ... Orders Centrales Pennales Diatoms (Greek: (dia) = through + (temnein) = to cut, i. ... A Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), a member of Order Cetacea A Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), a member of infrafamily Pinnipedia A West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), a member of Order Sirenia A pair of Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris), a member of family Mustelidae yeahh boii ♥ A marine mammal is a...

Brevetoxin, or brevetoxins, are a suite of cyclic polyether compounds produced naturally by a species of dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis. ... Saxitoxin (STX) is a neurotoxin found in marine dinoflagellates (algae). ... 4 distinct shellfish-poisoning syndromes have been identified: Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) Neurologic shellfish poisoning (NSP) Diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP) Amnestic shellfish poisoning (ASP) All 4 syndromes share some common features and primarily are associated with bivalve mollusks (eg, mussels, clams, oysters, scallops). ... Chemical structure of Domoic acid Domoic acid, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is an amino acid phycotoxin (algal toxin) found associated with certain algal blooms [1]. In 1958, domoic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called doumoi or hanayanagi (Chondria armata[2]) in Japan. ... Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is one of the four recognised syndromes of shellfish poisoning (the others being neurotoxic shellfish poisoning [1], diarrhetic shellfish poisoning [2] and paralytic shellfish poisoning). ... Okadaic acid is a toxin that accumulates in bivalves and causes diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. ... Diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP) is one of the four recognised symptom types of shellfish poisoning, the others being paralytic shellfish poisoning, neurologic shellfish poisoning and amnesic shellfish poisoning. ... Ciguatera is a foodborne illness poisoning in humans caused by eating marine species whose flesh is contaminated with a toxin known as ciguatoxin, which is present in many micro-organisms (particularly, the micro-algae Gambierdiscus toxicus) living in tropical waters. ... Ciguatera fish poisoning (or ciguatera) is an illness caused by eating fish that contain toxins produced by a marine microalgae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. ...

Notable Occurrences

• On August 30, 2007, Japanese music producer N-Kei Enzaki was reported as being found dead in his hotel room in Osaka, Japan after eating mussels contaminated with red tide toxin. The story was later revealed to be a hoax propagated by TV Tokyo staff. An apology statement was aired shortly after.^{[citation needed]}

• On August 23, 2007, 5 year-old boy was killed and 12 others were hospitalized after eating mussels shellfish contaminated with red tide toxin in Sorsogon, Philippines. The BFAR also raised red tide alerts in the coastal waters of Milagros Bay in Masbate; Juag Lagoon in Matnog; Bislig Bay in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur; Hinatuan Bay in Surigao del Sur; and Dumanguilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur.^{[citation needed]}

• In June, 2 children were killed and 5 others were hospitalized in Casiguran, Sorsogon, after eating red tide-contaminated mussels.^[10]

• In 1972 a red tide was caused in New England by a toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium (Gonyaulax) tamarense.^{[citation needed]}

Osaka )   is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of HonshÅ«. The city is the capital of Osaka Prefecture. ... The logo of TV Tokyo. ... Mussels A mussel is a bivalve shellfish that can be found in lakes, rivers, creeks, intertidal areas, and throughout the ocean. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Sorsogon Region: Bicol Region (Region V) Capital: Sorsogon City Founded: — Population: 2000 census—650,535 (37th largest) Density—304 per km² (19th highest) Area: 2,141. ... Masbate is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. ... Surigao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. ... Zamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. ... Classes Dinophyceae Noctiluciphyceae Syndiniophyceae The dinoflagella are a large group of flagellate protists. ...

See also

• Algal bloom (see "toxic chemicals" in paragraph 2)
• Ciguatera
• Dinoflagellate (see "neurotoxins" and "red tide" under Ecology and fossils and see "phosphate" under Cautions)
• Domoic acid
• The Marine Mammal Center
• Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)
• Pfiesteria
• Phytoplankton

Algal blooms can present problems for ecosystems and human society An algal bloom is a relatively rapid increase in the population of (usually) phytoplankton algae in an aquatic system. ... Chemical structure of the ciguatoxin CTX1B Ciguatera is a foodborne illness poisoning in humans caused by eating marine species whose flesh is contaminated with a toxin known as ciguatoxin, which is present in many micro-organisms (particularly, the micro-algae Gambierdiscus toxicus) living in tropical waters. ... Classes Dinophyceae Noctiluciphyceae Syndiniophyceae The dinoflagella are a large group of flagellate protists. ... Classes Dinophyceae Noctiluciphyceae Syndiniophyceae The dinoflagella are a large group of flagellate protists. ... Classes Dinophyceae Noctiluciphyceae Syndiniophyceae The dinoflagella are a large group of flagellate protists. ... Chemical structure of Domoic acid Domoic acid, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is an amino acid phycotoxin (algal toxin) found associated with certain algal blooms [1]. In 1958, domoic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called doumoi or hanayanagi (Chondria armata[2]) in Japan. ... Release of rehabilitated pinnipeds into the Pacific Ocean The Marine Mammal Center is a private non-profit organization centered on rescue, rehabilitation, environmental research and education pertaining to certain species within the pinnipedia, carnivora and cetacea biological orders. ... 4 distinct shellfish-poisoning syndromes have been identified: Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) Neurologic shellfish poisoning (NSP) Diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP) Amnestic shellfish poisoning (ASP) All 4 syndromes share some common features and primarily are associated with bivalve mollusks (eg, mussels, clams, oysters, scallops). ... Species Pfiesteria piscicida Pfiesteria shumwayae Pfiesteria is a genus of dinoflagellates. ... Diagrams of some typical phytoplankton Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of plankton. ...

External links

• Harmful Algae and Red Tide Information from the Coastal Ocean Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Toxic Blooms: Understanding Red Tides, a seminar by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone and Red Tides
• Red Tide updates for the Gulf Coast of Florida provided by Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL
• California Program for Regional Enhanced Monitoring for PhycoToxins, California Department of Health Services and the University of California, Santa Cruz
• Red Tide FAQ, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
• Florida's Red Tide Report A Compilation of citizen based, media and official reports of the locations and severity of current Red Tide Blooms.
• Florida Red Tide Coalition A citizen based group dedicated to raising awareness of Red Tide, debunking myths, educating the public and taking action to promote or oceans health and help stop red tide.
• NIEHS study of airborne impacts of Florida red tide
• Washington State Shellfish Biotoxin Program

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and to the education of marine researchers. ... The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and to the education of marine researchers. ... Mote Marine Laboratory (and aquarium) is a marine rescue organization and marine research lab in the United States. ... Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County, Florida. ... “UCSC” redirects here. ...

References

1. ^ Adams NG, Lesoing M, Trainer VL (2000) Environmental conditions associated with domoic acid in razor clams on the Washington coast. J Shellfish Res 19:1007–1015
2. ^ Lam CWY, Ho KC (1989) Red tides in Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong. In: Okaichi T, Anderson DM, Nemoto T (eds) Red tides. biology, environmental science and toxicology. Elsevier, New York, pp 49–52.
3. ^ Trainer VL, Adams NG, Bill BD, Stehr CM, Wekell JC, Moeller P, Busman M, Woodruff D (2000) Domoic acid production near California coastal upwelling zones, June (1998). Limnol Oceanogr 45:1818–1833
4. ^ Walsh et al (2006). Red tides in the Gulf of Mexico: Where, when, and why? Journal of Geophysical Research 111, C11003, doi:10.1029/2004JC002813
5. ^ Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar Núnez. La Relación (1542). Translated by Martin A. Favata and José B. Fernández. Arte Público Press, Houston, Texas (1993)
6. ^ Sellner, K.G.; Doucette G.J., and Kirkpatrick G.J. (2003). "Harmful Algal blooms: causes, impacts and detection". Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 30 (7): 383-406. DOI:10.1007/s10295-003-0074-9. ISSN 1367-5435. 
7. ^ Van Dolah, F.M. (2000). "Marine Algal Toxins: Origins, Health Effects, and Their Increased Occurrence". Environmental Health Perspectives 108 (suppl.1): 133-141. ISSN 0091-6765. 
8. ^ Landsberg JH (2002). The effects of harmful algal blooms on aquatic organisms. Reviews in Fisheries Science 10(2):113-390
9. ^ Scholin et al (2000). Mortality of sea lions along the central California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom. Nature 403(6):80-84
10. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Red tide kills 5-yr-old boy, downs 12 others in Sorsogon