Is what photographer Kevin Baird has been calling the phenomenon taking over the beaches of San Diego.
About a month ago, San Diego beaches have been glowing a blue-green color at night, and turning a brown-red color during the day. This phenomenon has been attracting surfers and is something out of the movies. The glowing seems almost eerie.
An algal bloom is more commonly known as the "Red Tide", an event in which, given the right conditions, algae photosynthesize quickly, causing a bloom in population, discoloring the water. Lingulodinium polyedrum, the phytoplankton causing the scene, has been blooming since late August and has turned the water red during the day. When moved, for example, in a breaking wave, the phytoplankton release a flash of blue light, caused by a chemical reaction within the cell membrane when it is deformed.
The glowing deters grazers who eat the phytoplankton, but attract organisms who are sensitive to the bioluminescence, increasing predation for the grazer (Burglar Hypothesis).
The algae produces a mild toxin that can buid up in fish, but isn't harmful to humans.
Scientists don't have an exact idea of how these algal blooms occur, but they say that the Red Tide of San Diego will probably be there for a couple more weeks and maybe even months.
Biologists say that one can scoop this water into a jar and shake it to recreate the glow, and some even put vinegar into their jars of water, causing the phytoplankton to release all at once, causing a "4th of July fireworks show", but us Eastcoasters are just going to have to trust what they say.
A video of the Red Tide in San Diego will be here.
*Skip to 1:13, it looks really cool.
This has to be one of my favorite posts, its pretty cool how the algae release their light as a way to deter certain animals and beings
ReplyDeleteIf the ohytoplankton population continued to grow, would it have an adverse effect on the ecosystem? How?
ReplyDeleteI agree with steph! I never knew about any of that, or what caused it, though I'd heard of it before and always assumed it was a one-time phenomenon, and that it was due to some weird organic chemical or something in the water! That's so cool!
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool! What evolutionary benefit do you think this behavior provides the plankton?
ReplyDeleteWow, I really wish I could see glowing water and capture it in a jar. And when it stops glowing just shake it up again.
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