Author: John Collins Rudolf
Publication Date: 2/22/11
Link: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/genetic-code-of-brown-tides-cracked/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Summary: In this article, scientists analyzed a certain type of algal bloom and the genome, or biological source code, to find the parts that make up this organism. Algal blooms can have deadly effects on marine ecosystems by reducing the amount of light and oxygen available. The specific bloom that scientists did a study on was the Aureococcus anophagefferens, a nontoxic bloom that thrives in polluted areas. Although the certain type of algal bloom is not toxic to humans, it poisons marine life and blocks sunlight from underwater vegetation and organisms. These blooms create something known as brown tides which are caused because of human activity and the pollutants that we put in the water. All in all, we must all be aware of what we put in our water or else it could result in algal blooms growing all along the east coast, wiping out marine ecosystems and fish populations for good.
Opinion/Reflection: I think that it is a bad thing that we have algal blooms at all. Algal blooms do not grow naturally , but are a result of nutrient pollution. We are the reason that these algal blooms are forming and wiping out fish populations and vegetation. Although we do not realize it, we are actually hurting ourselves. If we put in all these nutrients into the waterways and there is no fish, our economy will fall even lower and there will be no more marine animals to eat, trade, or sell. The way that these blooms connect with my own life is that my family and I usually go to the beach twice a year. If one day I walk onto the beach and I see a sign that says sorry beach closed-algal blooms, I would not be able to swim. These algal blooms do not have one positive effect on animals or humans and we need to quickly raise awareness and and eradicate algal blooms.
Questions:
1. What are some ways we can prevent nutrient pollution?
2. How do algal blooms create dead zones?
3. What would happen if all our seas were covered with mats of algal blooms?
4. How can we raise awareness of the dangers o0f algal blooms and their devastating effects?
Graphic: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110221163128.htm This is the link to a picture of a bay in New York where there is a brown tide and you can clearly see the discoloring of the water and can only imagine the effects of what is underneath that brown water.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a very interesting topic because we just learned about this in class. Algal blooms are very bad because humans caused them, and I think that we should be able to stop them. It is amazing to see that nutrient pollution can cause all of this. I hope that in the near future we find a way to stop this. This relates to me because I kind of remember when I was REALLY young we went on vacation, and some random guy was talking about how he thinks that there is an algal bloom nearby. Of course I had no idea what that was at the time, but I'm glad that I do now. I think that these blooms are horrible because they are devistating to marine life.
Answers To Questions:
1) We can prevent nutrient pollution by creating buffer zones near waterways. I think that we should build wetlands to filter our nutrient pollutents.
2) Algal blooms create dead zones because bactieria starts to decompose of the algea which absorbs oxygen out of the water creating a dead zone.
3)If all of our seas were covered in algal blooms I think that there would be a lack of sunlight in the water, and almost all marine life would die.
4) I think that if we inform people with flyers and on the news about this topic people will be well aware of agal blooms's devastating effects
My Questions:
1) How many algal blooms are in the world now?
2) Is there a way to stop algal blooms?
3) Can animals protect themselves from these disasters?
Expantion:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/algal_bloom.htm
This article explains algal blooms in great detail. I think that it is a good starting point for begginers to learn about the topic.
Opinion: I think this is a problem. In class, we learned algal blooms were very toxic and could kill fish and make humans ill. However, in this article, there was a nontoxic algal bloom. Even though it's not toxic, it still can cause many problems as stated like reducing the amount of light for marine life. I'm sure it also has many other downsides. I remember when I was in cub scouts, I went to the Green Lane Reservoir and when you stuck your hand in the water, all that came out was a green slimy coat. I’m not sure if it was exactly an algal bloom, but it could have been.
ReplyDeleteGraphic Extension: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/1733077253_48c9561190.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/spikyone/page76/&usg=__0j0RM6fc0nPKWIkoT_ltbgfOkgg=&h=375&w=500&sz=146&hl=en&start=0&sig2=Vg2dITVhVUam-temyM7tig&zoom=1&tbnid=pWUwq1gP00sfiM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=168&ei=xcqDTf2OE6O80QHXwfDMCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreen%2Blane%2Breservoir%2Bmontgomery%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26biw%3D1005%26bih%3D558%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=481&vpy=231&dur=921&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=141&ty=116&oei=xcqDTf2OE6O80QHXwfDMCA&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0
This picture I believe is of the Green Lane Reservoir and as you can see, it is a very green looking lake.
Answers:
1) We could cut back on the use of fertilizers, put a berm where fertilizer is used most or (I know this is Mrs. DeLuca's favorite...) add a buffer zone!
2) By the bacteria decomposing the algae and depleting the oxygen source around the water the algae is.
3) Our ocean would be 100% toxic, eventually, all the fish would die and land organisms around it, then dead zones would form and whatever in the ocean wasn't killed by the algae, would lose it oxygen.
4) Inform the public that "fertilizers give growth to the weed of the sea, algae" (even made a slogan for it)
Questions:
1) Is there a version of algal blooms happening on land?
2) Who else is indirectly impacted by these algal blooms?
3) If algal blooms are happening more frequently, how long will it be before we have nothing but algae?
Opinion: This article helped me learn more about algae blooms. I did not realize how much algae blooms were increasing and taking affect on the world. This is a very serious matter that needs to be stoppped soon. If algae blooms increase then water will be no good for animals and humans. I have a stream right near my house, that looks very dirty. The other day walking home from school I noticed it had algae on the surface of the water. I wonder if algae blooms could be happening to the stream near me?
ReplyDeleteAnswer to Questions:
1) We can prevent nutrient pollution by not fertilizing lawns, making sure our sewage gets to a treatment plant or whatever place it needs to be to be cleaned. Decrease the amount of fossel fuels burned from cars and factories would also prevent nutrient pollution.
2) The bacteria starts to decompose and this absorbs all oxygen in the area, creating a dead zone.
3) Animals living in the sea would decrease or die because there would be very little places in the ocean that would have oxygen for the animals to survive.
4) We can advertise it on the internet and T.V. to get people's attention. Telling them and showing what algae blooms cause will make them realize that something needs to be done to keep our waters healthy.
Expansion: This article talks about brown tides first occuring and whether or not we did not notice or just didn't care.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/mar/20/scientists-crack-code/?partner=RSS
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteOkay well this is not good. I absolutely agree with Ben. Obviously we all need to do something about these algal blooms, and I don't mean just scientists and researchers, I mean everyone. Like Ben said, algal blooms almost NEVER happen naturally and are just here because of the pollution and danger we cause to bodies of water. We need to definitely use less fertilizer or else there will be algal blooms everywhere we go. There is a golf course behind my house, and whenever I see the ponds and lakes there is ALWAYS algal blooms, and I think about how disgusting it is, and I wish people would try harder to stop it.
Answers to Questions:
1. Obviously we could use a lot less fertilizer in our golf courses and around our homes.
3. This would be terrible. It would kill all living things in the ocean and then the biodiversity would get completely screwed up and there would be a black hole in the center of the earth, sucking everyone in and killing everyone. (just kidding) but it would be really bad, and not good... at all.
4. This would be really difficult. Barely anyone even knows what algal blooms are, so we would have to stop the production of all pesticide fertilizers.
Questions I ask:
1. Are owners of golf courses and such doing anything about algal blooms?
2. Are fertilizer companies aware of what is happening with the algal blooms?
Graphic:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/images/wsci_01_img0017.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-in-Fresh-Water.html&usg=__qCzzontP_ZPP6DmqIUZwrti-zBs=&h=304&w=336&sz=29&hl=en&start=0&sig2=ISoGzUiH3G2ZhWRsvKE_Hg&zoom=1&tbnid=LVxCgicRpOntJM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=161&ei=-nuGTbGMK-ef0AGPtrzGDw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalgal%2Bbloom%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1045%26bih%3D484%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=240&oei=-nuGTbGMK-ef0AGPtrzGDw&page=1&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=73&ty=20
This poor geese can't even swim in a clean area because of these gosh darn algal blooms.