What's going on with Red Tides?

Running head: RED TIDES IN FLORIDA 1

RED TIDES IN FLORIDA 4

Red tides in Florida

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Red tide is a phenomenon that occurs when algae clusters develop extensively, causing detrimental or poisonous effects on birds, marine animals, and people. While rare, human diseases caused by red tides can be harmful or even fatal. The phenomenon has been frequently experienced in Florida, USA.

Pierce et al. (2004) note that Karenia brevis, a toxic species of algae, is responsible for the toxic tides in Florida. If environmental conditions are right, such as wind, nutrient levels, and temperature, the algae population will explode, and huge blooms will form. These orchids release enormous amounts of brevotoxin into the water. This phenomenon impacts Florida, with its distinctive red color. Kuhar et al. (2009) observe that red tides are natural phenomena because three key natural factors play a significant role in the bloom, including wind, temperature, and salinity.

One environmental pollutant triggering the red tide outbreak in the region is the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, found mainly on the Florida shelf (Larkin & Adams 2007). Dinoflagellate Karenia brevis originates typically from the Gulf of Mexico, where it exists in background concentrations throughout the year. During the development of Karenia brevis, changes in the nutrient cycle play a significant role in the frequency of red tide occurrence. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two primary nutrients that trigger the growth of the toxic algae. An increase in phosphorus and nitrogen in the nutrient cycle increases the growth of the toxic algae species in the ocean that results in red tide. The increase of nitrogen and phosphorus in the nutrient cycle is caused by pollutants such as agricultural runoff from agricultural farms and wastewater from industries. Karenia brevis transforms nitrogen and phosphorus in water into more useful forms and creating nutrients from natural compounds dissolved in water, such as tannins. Clusters can form at deeper levels in water bodies before they protrude to the water surface. Wind and ocean currents can push the cluster nearer to the coast. Since it initiates and grows blooms, the blooms also retain in a nutrient-poor setting, by recycling or regenerating nutrients.

According to Bown et al. (2013), measures should be put in place to remove, neutralize, or kill the red tide from the water bodies or to use technologies such as satellite monitoring and weather-tracking systems, would make it possible to better forecast conditions likely to stimulate blooms. Different ways can be employed in managing, destroying, and eliminating Karenia brevis cells from the water column or predicting the occurrence of red tide. In a small, enclosed setting like a laboratory, it is simple to do this. However, it is complex to monitor them when they occur. Open-water systems pose the most daunting control technology challenges, and scientific solutions for large-scale clusters would continue to continue being a slight probability over the short to the intermediate-term. To do this, however, policymakers need to consider using the five stages to evaluate the possible mitigation technologies that could be implemented against the phenomenon.

Hu et al. (2005) assert that policymakers should evaluate whether the technology employed will contain Karenia brevis cells. For example, the research should be conducted to see whether the required biological materials and chemicals can accomplish the task. In this case, both biological and chemical materials are available.

Is the technology being deemed less of an environmental threat than allowing the red tide to occur? In doing this, for instance, are we not going to damage other marine life? Red tides can drastically change aquatic environments, and the verdict not to effectively control it is embracing higher levels of risk (Kuhar et al. 2009).

Is it realistic to employ the deliberated technique to ensure it is successful? Hu et al.(2005) reserve that this principle undercuts the practicability of several possible technologies performing well in laboratory environments. For example, the deepness question is explained by the wind and ocean currents that can carry new Karenia brevis cells treated lately shortly after a fresh bloom is launched. This problem is tackled by implementing the technology at an acceptable depth.

Another criterion that needs to be considered is an economical cost (Hu et al. 2005). It is essential to consider the cost of deploying a control technology concerning the possible economic losses that the control technology seeks to avoid. For example, although policymakers may seriously consider investing $500,000 to avoid damage of $2 million, investing $2 million to defend against damage of $500,000 makes no sense. Hence cost should be an essential factor when considering the appropriate technology to be deployed.

According to Kuhar et al. (2009), the final criterion which should be taken into account is public opinion. The public should be consulted to avoid protests during the deployment of the technology. For example, their perception of the cost of technology to be used should be put into consideration to eliminate Karenia brevis or the one to be used in the prediction of the red tide occurrence.

In conclusion, red tide in Florida poses adverse impacts in the ecosystem; hence there is a need to evaluate possible ways to mitigate it or predict its occurrence. However, the problem can be eliminated by containing the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which is the source of the hazardous chemicals that destroy marine life when consumed.

References

Brown, M., Leary, R., Langenberg, N., McMurray, M., & Stafford, H. (2013). results of the Florida department of environmental protection, charlotte harbor aquatic preserves'seagrass monitoring program from 1999–2009. Florida Scientist, 92-106.

Hu, C., Muller-Karger, F. E., Taylor, C. J., Carder, K. L., Kelble, C., Johns, E., & Heil, C. A. (2005). Red tide detection and tracing using MODIS fluorescence data: A regional example in SW Florida coastal waters. Remote Sensing of Environment, 97(3), 311-321.

Kuhar, S. E., Nierenberg, K., Kirkpatrick, B., & Tobin, G. A. (2009). Public perceptions of Florida red tide risks. Risk Analysis: An International Journal, 29(7), 963-969.

Larkin, S. L., & Adams, C. M. (2007). Harmful algal blooms and coastal business: economic consequences in Florida. Society and Natural Resources, 20(9), 849-859.

Pierce, R. H., Henry, M. S., Higham, C. J., Blum, P., Sengco, M. R., & Anderson, D. M. (2004). Removal of harmful algal cells (Karenia brevis) and toxins from seawater culture by clay flocculation. Harmful Algae, 3(2), 141-148.