Are extreme Algal blooms about to become a common occurrence?An algal bloom is the rapid accumulatio

Are extreme Algal blooms about to become a common occurrence?An algal bloom is the rapid accumulation of (usually microscopic) algae in an aquatic system. This can be either marine of freshwater based. Usually only 1 species is involved in an algal bloom, and many blooms are recognised due to the discolouration of large areas of water. There’s no recognised number for what constitutes an algal bloom, but typically blooms occur when cells reach thousands to hundred of thousands per millilitre, although, some blooms have recorded up to millions of cells per millilitre. Depending on species the colour of blooms can differ, but typically they are a bright green. Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) are responsible for bright green blooms, and those blooms that are harmful, known as “red tides” are caused by the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium and Karenia or diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia.Freshwater algal blooms are usually the result of an excess of nutrients (normally phosphorous) entering the system. The origins of the excess nutrients vary, but common culprits include pesticides (from agriculture) and run off water containing chemicals from house hold cleaning products. Excess amounts of nitrogen and carbon have also been implicated in various studies.The excess of nutrients causes increased growth in algae, and when the algal dies, conditions can be anoxic and levels of oxygen can become to low for normal aquatic life to survive.In 2011 Lake Erie (located in North America) experienced a record breaking algal bloom, caused by the algae microcystis aeruginosa. This algae can be harmful to mammals, and produces a liver toxin that can be fatal to dogs that have swum in affected waters. The cause of the bloom is complex and not fully understood, but some causes cited are increased rainfall in Spring (increasing run off) and an invasive species of mussel that was found in the lake. After the bloom began, several days of low surface winds across the lake coupled with increased temperatures caused the algae to “boom” and their numbers increased on the surface.New research conducted by the Carnegie institutes Anna Michalak has concluded that unless agricultural practices are reviewed, the algal bloom seen at Lake Erie in 2011 may not longer become a record breaking rare occurrence, but rather a common “normal” event. Research has also suggests that wind patterns, and the overall amount of wind is decreasing across the United States. This is turn will effect the amount of mixing occurring in the water column, and will see conditions optimal for algal blooms likely to increase.-LLLinks;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401151026.htmhttp://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=76127http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/algal_bloom.htmhttp://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/water/blue_green/Image; NASA -- source link

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