Researchers Say Gulf of Mexico Red Tide Means Algae are Underfed Examiner.com
go to original March 15, 2013

A red tide bloom off the coast of Florida. Blooms of Karenia brevis algae become more toxic when access to phosphorus is limited. (Morning Rush)

A new study by scientists from North Carolina State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published in the March 12, 2013, issue of the open access peer reviewed journal Public Library of Science has found that red tide in the Gulf of Mexico is caused by a food shortage in the species of algae that produce the red tide phenomenon.

The researchers found that the Karenia brevis algae, which cause red tide blooms across the Gulf of Mexico, become two to seven times more toxic when levels of phosphorus are low. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for algae.

Read the whole story at Examiner.com

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