#habs — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #habs, aggregated by home.social.
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[blogue] Chantons le hockey avec Jérôme Charlebois, opus 4
(Le hockey est partout dans la culture québécoise et canadienne. Les chansons sur ce sport ne manquent pas, plusieurs faisant usage de la…...
https://oreilletendue.com/2026/09/05/chantons-le-hockey-avec-jerome-charlebois-opus-4/
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#Algal #Toxins emerge as a new concern in #Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea
Locals who depend on the sea for food and culture are trying to understand the risks to traditional foods and wildlife populations in a region undergoing myriad changes
by Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon, May 31, 2026 via #ICTNews
Excerpt: "For countless generations, people of the #BeringStrait region have relied on the food they harvest from the sea without worrying about #HarmfulAlgalBlooms [#HABs] that threaten seafood eaters in warmer and more southern latitudes.
"Now, as the Northern Bering Sea undergoes cascading effects of a warming climate, algal risks pose a new challenge.
"The change has been dramatic.
"And it has prompted a change in the way #Nome youth grow up learning about collecting food from the waters around their home. In early April, Nome high school students traveled to Bethel with their science teacher, where they presented their research at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference held by Alaska Sea Grant.
"Algal toxins were present, at very low but detectable levels, in fish they eat.
"Sophomore Audrey Bruner-Alvanna was among the group of student researchers. She said young people are concerned about algal blooms, which proliferate in warmer conditions, and their potential effects on wild food resources.
" 'Because, you know, as the climate changes, as the world gets warmer and stuff, there’s going to be more of these toxins and stuff during summer,' she said. 'I feel like a lot of people that I’ve talked to have been wondering about how our subsistence is going to change in the future based on all of that.'
"The student research came about after one of the nation’s densest and biggest concentrations of toxin-producing Alexandrium algae ever documented burst forth in the waters of the Bering Strait region in 2022.
"Until the appearance of the 'massive bloom, the most toxic bloom, the longest-persisting bloom in the U.S.,' local people barely knew what harmful algal blooms or #Alexandrium are, said Emma Pate, president of the Nome Eskimo Community, the local tribal government.
" 'So we had to figure things out and learn really fast,' Pate said during an October 'Strait Science' presentation hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Nome campus."
Read more:
https://ictnews.org/news/algal-toxins-emerge-as-a-new-concern-in-alaskas-northern-bering-sea/#ClimateChange #ToxicAlgae #UniversityOfAlaska #TraditionalFoodSources #NativeAlaskans #WarmingOceans #AlexandriumAlgae
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@anne_twain FFS! Nuclear plant discharges of heated water can also increase #HABs! Very bad!
" 'It is possible that activities associated with the working [desalination] plant, such as brine discharge and entrainment in the intake structure, will change the ecology of the plankton in the region and may promote blooms of harmful/toxic algal species which have been identified as components of the plankton community off Port Stanvac. Further monitoring is required before the impact of the Adelaide desalination plant on the plankton community off Port Stanvac can be adequately assessed.' "
#DesalinizationPlants #HABs #AlgalBloom #KareniaMikimotoi #ToxicAlgae
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Atlantic coast and Hampton/Seabrook Harbor shellfishing closed due to red tide
New Hampshire Union Leader
May 21, 2025Officials from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, in coordination with the shellfish industry, have closed New Hampshire's Atlantic coastal waters
#AlgalBloom #HABs #ToxicAlgae
#Climate #OceanTemperature
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Why the #GulfOfMaine Surface Ocean Waters are Warming Faster than Elsewhere
Posted on July 23, 2024Written by Rob Moir, Ph.D. No Comments
"None of us are strangers to the reports of the Gulf of Maine heating 97% faster than the world’s oceans. However, the actual reasons for this can be lost in the constant headlines about global warming and rising greenhouse gases. To explain this extraordinary phenomenon, let’s look closely at four factors: surface seawater temperatures, heat severity, air temperature, and rainfall, monthly for five years."
#WarmingOceans #ClimateCatastrophe #Climate #Maine #NewEngland #AlgalBloom #HABs #ToxicAlgae
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So, the waters off the Maine coast have been warming up (it was very warm when I last waded in the waters in May). Seems
Karenia mikimotoi has appeared here as well. I expect to see it return with warming waters... Also, this article claims it's less toxic that Red Tide (a cousin) -- but from what I just read in the ABC News article, I would disagree with that! @anne_twain @ToodenFrom WHOI:
"Karenia mikimotoi
- Globally distributed, can cause mass die-offs of shellfish, crustaceans, echinoderms and fish
- Karenia mikimotoi produces several toxic compounds, blooms can also lead to anoxic conditions
- First bloom in Maine occurred in 2017, with a second bloom in 2019
- Karenia mikimotoi is also found in Massachusetts waters"What is Karenia mikimotoi?
"In recent years, the genus Karenia has made the news in the United States as a result of the massive #RedTides caused by #KareniaBrevis [That's the one I know about]. These blooms have caused widespread fish and wildlife mortalities and impacted public health in Florida leading to significantly disrupted tourism and fisheries industries which have cost local economies millions of dollars in damages on an almost annual basis.
"Compared to this notorious HAB species, its sister species, Karenia mikimotoi, is less toxic [!!! Ummmm....] but more globally widespread with blooms reported in Ireland, Norway, India, Japan, Korea Australia, South Africa, Alaska, Texas, and the east coast of the U.S. The blooms of this species can stretch many kilometers, persist for multiple months, and reach concentrations of several million algal cells per liter.
"There have not been confirmed reports of direct impacts to human health by #KareniaMikimotoi, but blooms of this species can cause large-scale mortality events of marine fauna such as shellfish, echinoderms, crustaceans, and fish. Karenia mikimotoi has been shown to produce several toxic compounds as well as reactive oxygen species, but toxicity is highly variable by strain and the factors contributing to mortality events are still not entirely understood. Although overall concentrations of toxins in K. mikimotoi appear to be relatively low, there is evidence that their effect may be enhanced when the cells come into direct contact with fish gills. Anoxic conditions can also occur when K. mikimotoi cells die in large numbers and subsequent breakdown by bacteria deplete oxygen in the surrounding waters. These anoxic events have also contributed to die-offs."
What is the history of Karenia in the Northeast?
"Karenia mikimotoi was first isolated from a coastal lagoon near Woods Hole, MA in 1957 and classified at that time as Gyrodinium aureolum. Since this time, large scale blooms of K. mikimotoi appear to be an emerging problem in New England, with the first occurrence in Maine reported in August, 2017. This bloom was concentrated in the Fore River, Portland Harbor, and parts of the Harpswell coastal waters, and coincided with a die-off of softshell clams in Brunswick, ME. This mortality event cost fishermen $250,000, but a direct causal link between the bloom and shellfish mortality was not established. In August 2019 another bloom occurred in Casco Bay, with no mortalities recorded. Karenia mikimotoi is periodically found in Massachusetts waters, usually in the summer and early fall."
https://northeasthab.whoi.edu/habs/karenia-mikimotoi/
#AlgalBloom #HABs #ToxicAlgae
#Climate #OceanTemperature
#Extinction #ClimateCatastrophe
#ELE #ExtinctionLevelEvent -
#ToxicAlgae off Southern California kills hundreds of sea lions, dolphins, birds
This is the earliest the algae has appeared with its most severe accumulations between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, according to NOAA Fisheries.
By Sheri Walsh, UPI
Published Apr 1, 2025March 31 (UPI) -- "An early toxic algae bloom off the coast of Southern California is killing or sickening hundreds of sea lions, dolphins and seabirds, while forcing rescuers to make tough choices about 'which animals to save.'
"The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network says it is receiving more than 100 calls a day about sea lions having seizures, acting erratically or lying dead on beaches, as dolphins are discovered swimming circles in shallow waters.
"'We are having to do triage on the beach as we try to identify those animals where we have the greatest chance of making a difference,' said John Warner, chief executive officer of the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles.
"#DomoicAcid, released by algae blooms, is harmless to fish but can be deadly if consumed by sea mammals or birds. The toxin causes seizures, coma or even death.
"This is the earliest the algae has appeared with its most severe accumulations between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, according to NOAA Fisheries. Impacted marine life was first observed around Feb. 20, near Malibu. Some scientists believe runoff from this year's wildfires in Los Angeles may have contributed as earlier studies have found elevated nutrients offshore following previous fires.
"'What is unique about this event is that this bloom is very early in the season and doesn't appear to be associated with strong winds or a thick marine layer like we have seen in the past,' said Michelle Herman Kowalewski, founder and director at the Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit.
"In addition to the early bloom, researchers also report finding higher concentrations of the toxin.
"'We've been seeing more toxin both in the organism itself and then also in the animals that are acquiring it,' said Clarissa Anderson, director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System.
"'They seem to have more toxin in their tissues. So it may be that the naturally occurring plankton is starting to produce more toxin over time, and that might be why we see more impacts,' Anderson added.
"This is the fourth consecutive year an algae bloom has impacted Southern California marine life. While there is little that can be done to help dolphins, veterinarians say sea lions can be brought into rehabilitation facilities where the domoic acid can be flushed from their systems."
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/toxic-algae-off-southern-california-kills-hundreds-of-sea-lions-dolphins-birds/1761408
#ToxicAlgalBlooms #HABs #ClimateChange -
#ClimateChange Contributes to Shift in #LakeErie’s Harmful #AlgalBlooms
Blooms over the past decade have started earlier in July and had longer peaks, according to #NOAA researchers.
By Kathiann M. Kowalski
July 26, 2024"Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms have started sooner and had longer peak periods over the past decade compared to earlier years, newly released data shows. Warming temperatures linked to climate change are a cause, according to researchers for NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, with interactions among species likely playing a role as well.
"The NOAA scientists discussed the shift and forecast a moderate to above-moderate algal bloom for the lake’s western basin this summer during a briefing last month at Ohio State University and Ohio Sea Grant’s Stone Laboratory, off the coast of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie.
"Algal blooms occur when #cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, grow out of control due to a combination of excess #nutrients, #weather patterns and other #ecological factors. The blooms can be a serious public health problem because some types of cyanobacteria produce toxins. #Microcystin, for example, can lead to skin rashes, gut problems and liver and kidney issues. Relatively high levels of it in August 2014 prompted a two-day shutdown of #Toledo’s public #WaterSupply, which comes from Lake Erie."
Read more:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26072024/lake-erie-harmful-algal-blooms-climate-change/#HABs #ToxicAlgae
#Fish #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #WaterIsLife
#WaterTemperatures -
It seems I was right about #GambierdiscusToxicus being the cause of #sawfish deaths in #Florida. Not sure why they aren't announcing it (tourism?).
Scientists continue to search for answers as #Florida sawfish continue to die
By Heather Walker, Diana Reed
July 12, 2024"The FGCU scientists said that once again, their samples showed high levels of a microscopic algae called Gambierdiscus. It is a naturally occurring toxin that is normally harmless but can be dangerous at high levels."
#HABs #HarmfulAlgaeBlooms
#Florida #Extinction
#ToxicAlgae
#Fish #ClimateChange -
Algal Toxins and Wildlife Health
By National Wildlife Health Center September 30, 2019
"Harmful #AlgalBlooms (#HABs) have the potential to harm fish and wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans through toxin production or ecological disturbances such as oxygen depletion and blockage of sunlight.
"To investigate the effects of algal toxins on wildlife, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) has examined over 300 dead animals collected during freshwater and marine #HAB events since 2000. Varying levels of algal toxins were found in over 100 of these animals. In some cases, the history, clinical signs, and high toxin levels have allowed scientists to attribute mortality to algal toxicosis. Recent events have included Kittlitz’s #murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris) in Alaska that died after consuming sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) high in #saxitoxin (Shearn-Bochsler et al. 2014), #GreenTreeFrogs (Hyla cinerea) in Texas with suspected #brevetoxicosis in association with a #RedTide event (Buttke et al. 2018), and #LittleBrownBats (Myotis lucifugus carissima) in Utah found dead during a HAB event at a reservoir commonly used for recreation and as a source of municipal #DrinkingWater (Isidoro-Ayza et al. 2019).
"In other cases, algal toxins have been detected in wildlife, but their contribution to mortality remains unclear. Part of the reason these detections have been difficult to interpret is that the toxic dose of many algal toxins in wildlife species is unknown and the microscopic lesions (if any) particularly in birds, have not been well described. To better understand the effects of these toxins the NWHC is conducting laboratory exposure trials to determine the lethal dose of toxin in birds and to examine the repeated exposure of waterfowl to sub-lethal toxin ingestion. In addition to exposure trials, NWHC is undergoing a retrospective review of previous detections of algal toxin from NWHC’s case archives to examine demographic, spatiotemporal, and diagnostic features associated with wildlife exposure to algal toxins."
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/algal-toxins-and-wildlife-health
#AlgaeBlooms #WaterIsLife
#Cyanobacteria
#ToxicAlgae #Wildlife -
I wonder if #Gambierdiscus is the cause? They have been testing for #RedTide, but have they been testing for Gambierdiscus?
Disoriented pelican found on Marco Island may have red tide poisoning, experts say
By CNN
May 23, 2024A brown #pelican discovered on #MarcoIsland last week is presumed to have red tide poisoning, according to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
"'Typically, we first get the notion that red tide is around when birds are sick,' said Dr. Michael Parsons, of the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University.
"The seabird was spotted disoriented on the beach, according to a release. Despite those symptoms, which are common with the #neurotoxic algae, no red tide has been detected in our area, per the Florida Department of Health in Collier County.
"'We have no signs of red tide around, FWC is aware of this situation and will be monitoring it more closely,' Parsons said."
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Watch for Harmful Algal Blooms in MI Recreational Waters
By Farah Siddiqi/ Michigan News Connection
Published July 17, 2023"The #Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is advising people on what to do if they encounter the algae. One environmental group is convinced it's being caused by thermal discharge from #NuclearPlants.
"Jesse Deer in Water, community organizer for the watchdog group Citizens' Resistance at #FermiTwo, the nuclear plant in Monroe County, said the plant's discharge is full of toxins but people rarely hear about it, because the data comes from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC].
"'The thermal discharge is the heat from the process of the cooling that's left over in the water,' Deer in Water explained. 'It comes out at temperatures well above the average, and damages the #ecosystems and fish, and the heat from it helps harmful algal blooms [#HABs] dominate the waters there locally.'
"The group is demanding more regulation and cleaner energy sources, saying nuclear power is neither 'clean' nor 'emission-free.'"
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And the #SaintLucie #NuclearPlant happens to be nearby! Hmmmm...
#ToxicAlgae in St. Lucie river and canal are in dangerous concentrations, DEP confirms
"Algae in the St. Lucie canal and river is toxic in concentrations that are dangerous for people, pets and wildlife to touch, ingest or inhale, but the Army Corps of Engineers has not said it will stop Lake Okeechobee discharges."
#ToxicAlgae #HABs #HarmfulAlgaeBlooms #Florida #Extinction #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #WaterIsLife #WaterTemperatures