Scientists analyzing Antarctica's Blood Falls discovered a surviving, active community of ancient marine microorganisms trapped in subglacial brine beneath Taylor Glacier. Genetic profiling shows these microbes originate from an ancient sea cut off over a million years ago, proving life persists in extreme, dark, and oxygen-poor environments.

'Blood Falls' turns red with rust, colour not caused by algae 

A toxic algae bloom has spread across Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the UK and Ireland, posing serious risks to wildlife, public health, and local water supplies. Authorities are warning residents to avoid contact with the water as cleanup efforts begin.

Lough Neagh suffocates under toxic algae | Locals warn of ecological collapse 

UK and Ireland's largest lake turns toxic

Spanish La Liga club Real Betis has launched a unique kit made from invasive algae and recycled ocean plastic. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the ecological crisis affecting the Andalucian coast and Mediterranean biodiversity.

Real Betis unveils eco-friendly kit made from invasive algae

Real Betis unveils eco-friendly jersey made from invasive algae

NASA spotted an intense eerie green swirl developing on the Pyramid Lake in northeast Nevada from space. This mysterious green swirl is nothing but an algal bloom which develops across the 125,000-acre Pyramid Lake every year, however, 2024 has become a year of "one of the most active bloom events seen in years.

NASA spotted an intense eerie green swirl developing on the Pyramid Lake in northeast Nevada from space. This mysterious green swirl is nothing but an algal bloom which develops across the 125,000-acre Pyramid Lake every year, however, 2024 has become a year of "one of the most active bloom events seen in years." What is the green swirl in Nevada lake? NASA's Landsat 9 satellite took images of the green swirl and the Paiute Tribe said that the colouring was so deep because Nodularia spumigena was present at higher levels. Also Read: After over 4,000 years apart, Tibet's largest lake spills into nearby water body. Here's why Nodularia spumigena is a kind of cyanobacteria, which is also called as blue-green algae. It is commonly present in warm and brackish bodies of water and adds green hues to the water every year. Although, the algae appears pretty, it can release dangerous toxins like microcystin which cause irritation in the skin and also lead to damage in the kidney and liver if ingested. The algae levels of the lake are monitored by Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and people have now been warned that they should not come into contact with the water at any cost. Watch: Morocco: Torrential Rains Flood Lake Iriqui "We always want to make sure to make people aware of that, so that they would either not bring their animals out or they would restrict them and have their own safe drinking water," said Aaron Bill, water quality programme manager with the tribe's natural resources department, while speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle. "The bloom material is breaking down and is releasing the toxin microcystin into the water, which signals the turn towards normal conditions that may take 2-3 weeks to normalise," he added. Pyramid Lake is situated nearly 35 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada and attracts many kinds of fish and birds which makes it a popular place for wildlife enthusiasts. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA captures eerie green swirls from space on Nevada Lake. Here's what it is

Sea lions, rare marine mammals are stranding themselves on the California coast. Experts believe this is hinting towards the possibility of widespread poisoning by a harmful algae bloom that occurred this summer.

The incident of stranded sea lions has been happening since July 26, as the marine mammals were found lying along the shoreline in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, as per The Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute.

The institute&nbsp;in a statement said that marine mammals are suffering from domoic acid, a neurotoxin that affects the brain. The poisoning event is largely affecting adult female California sea lions, it added.

The team has rescued 23 such animals so far. Coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base released photos of sea lions being rescued from one of its beaches.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-larva-fossil-from-520-million-years-ago-is-so-well-preserved-scientists-could-see-its-brain-746526">This larva fossil from 520 million years ago is so well-preserved, scientists could see its brain</a>

“Rising ocean temperatures and excess nutrients are fueling these blooms, producing toxins that enter the food chain through small fish,”&nbsp;Coastal&nbsp;Vanderberg Space Force said in an Instagram caption that accompanied photos of a stranded seal being treated by wildlife officials.
<img alt="Sea lions" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aceafb3b-8952-4e3d-b5f3-669dc27c4275" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-08-02T181535.769.png" />
“Local efforts, including monitoring and rescue initiatives, are in place to mitigate the impact.”

Outbreaks of domoic acid poisoning are common along the California coast and have caused several mass sickening incidents in recent years.

The neurotoxin is produced by a microscopic alga that proceeds through the food chain by accumulating in smaller marine animals, such as crustaceans, fish and squid, and then gets transferred to larger animals such as sea lions, dolphins and birds.&nbsp;

Experts say people can also get sickened by this acid.

The symptoms for affected animals can include disorientation, head weaving, foaming at the mouth and seizures.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/did-dinosaurs-live-in-rainforests-as-shown-in-jurassic-park-films-no-because-of-this-reason-746242">Did dinosaurs live in rainforests as shown in Jurassic Park films? No, because of this reason</a>

Last year, hundreds of sea lions and dolphins died in the first weeks of June- it was termed a severe outbreak. At the time, marine mammal rescue workers reported receiving hundreds of calls a day about sickened animals.

While such events are naturally occurring, scientists have said that domoic acid outbreaks seem to increase in their severity, and are exploring its links to warming ocean temperatures.

“I’ve been studying domoic acid for 30 years and I have a feeling it’s getting worse based on the records we continue to break,” the executive director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, Clarissa Anderson, told the Guardian in an interview last year.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sea lions, rare marine mammals are stranding themselves on the California coast. Experts believe this is hinting towards the possibility of widespread poisoning by a harmful algae bloom that occurred this summer.

Sea lions, rare marine mammals are stranding themselves on the California coast. Experts believe this is hinting towards the possibility of widespread poisoning by a harmful algae bloom that occurred this summer. The incident of stranded sea lions has been happening since July 26, as the marine mammals were found lying along the shoreline in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, as per The Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute. The institute in a statement said that marine mammals are suffering from domoic acid, a neurotoxin that affects the brain. The poisoning event is largely affecting adult female California sea lions, it added. The team has rescued 23 such animals so far. Coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base released photos of sea lions being rescued from one of its beaches. Also Read | This larva fossil from 520 million years ago is so well-preserved, scientists could see its brain “Rising ocean temperatures and excess nutrients are fueling these blooms, producing toxins that enter the food chain through small fish,” Coastal Vanderberg Space Force said in an Instagram caption that accompanied photos of a stranded seal being treated by wildlife officials. “Local efforts, including monitoring and rescue initiatives, are in place to mitigate the impact.” Outbreaks of domoic acid poisoning are common along the California coast and have caused several mass sickening incidents in recent years. The neurotoxin is produced by a microscopic alga that proceeds through the food chain by accumulating in smaller marine animals, such as crustaceans, fish and squid, and then gets transferred to larger animals such as sea lions, dolphins and birds. Experts say people can also get sickened by this acid. The symptoms for affected animals can include disorientation, head weaving, foaming at the mouth and seizures. Also Read | Did dinosaurs live in rainforests as shown in Jurassic Park films? No, because of this reason Last year, hundreds of sea lions and dolphins died in the first weeks of June- it was termed a severe outbreak. At the time, marine mammal rescue workers reported receiving hundreds of calls a day about sickened animals. While such events are naturally occurring, scientists have said that domoic acid outbreaks seem to increase in their severity, and are exploring its links to warming ocean temperatures. “I’ve been studying domoic acid for 30 years and I have a feeling it’s getting worse based on the records we continue to break,” the executive director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, Clarissa Anderson, told the Guardian in an interview last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Sea lions are stranded on California's coast with signs of poisoning by harmful algae

Oil, aquatic trash, and toxic algae threaten life in Venezuela's lake Maracaibo.

Toxic algae engulfs Venezuela's largest lake

Hundreds of marine mammals on central coast beaches sickened by toxic algae bloom. These blooms can have a negative impact on human health and are also infecting the animals through food chain.

Algae blooms triggering deaths of sea lions and dolphins

An algae sample known as "snow blood" is a phenomenon that accelerates Alpine thaw. It is believed to thrive in cold water and ice. Scientists probe link between 'Snow Blood' & Climate Change.

Scientists probe link between 'Snow Blood' & Climate Change

PC gamers are known to indulge in gaming for hours at an end. A nasty powercut may bring their winning streak to an abrupt, annoying end but if this technology becomes widely available, the gamers can just collect some algae and resume their game.

This may sound funny but engineers from University of Cambridge have actually done this. No, they didn't randomly collect algae and went "Splendid!" over tea as it generated electricity. Read on.

The engineers were able to successfully run a microprocessor for more than six months using a current generated by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Ultimately, these engineers want to provide power for more electric devices.

"The growing Internet of Things needs an increasing amount of power, and we think this will have to come from systems that can generate energy, rather than simply store it like batteries," says Christopher Howe, a biochemist.

Internet of Things is connecting a large number of appliances. But some of these are in such remote locations that costant power supply may be a problem. In such conditions, a solution like deriving energy from a living organism makes a lot of sense.

"Our photosynthetic device doesn't run down the way a battery does because it's continually using light as the energy source," says Howe.

The Bio-photovoltaic cell consists of aluminium wool. The biological part consists of blue-green algae.

An AA-battery-sized version of the cell was able to produce just over over four microwatts per square centimetre of power.

Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

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PC gamers are known to indulge in gaming for hours at an end. A nasty powercut may bring their winning streak to an abrupt, annoying end but if this technology becomes widely available, the gamers can just collect some algae and resume their game.

PC gamers are known to indulge in gaming for hours at an end. A nasty powercut may bring their winning streak to an abrupt, annoying end but if this technology becomes widely available, the gamers can just collect some algae and resume their game. This may sound funny but engineers from University of Cambridge have actually done this. No, they didn't randomly collect algae and went "Splendid!" over tea as it generated electricity. Read on. The engineers were able to successfully run a microprocessor for more than six months using a current generated by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Ultimately, these engineers want to provide power for more electric devices. "The growing Internet of Things needs an increasing amount of power, and we think this will have to come from systems that can generate energy, rather than simply store it like batteries," says Christopher Howe, a biochemist. Internet of Things is connecting a large number of appliances. But some of these are in such remote locations that costant power supply may be a problem. In such conditions, a solution like deriving energy from a living organism makes a lot of sense. "Our photosynthetic device doesn't run down the way a battery does because it's continually using light as the energy source," says Howe. The Bio-photovoltaic cell consists of aluminium wool. The biological part consists of blue-green algae. An AA-battery-sized version of the cell was able to produce just over over four microwatts per square centimetre of power. Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Engineers from Cambridge run computer on algae

In a shocking incident, a family of three who were found dead on a hiking trail in California may have been killed by poison algae. The investigators have confirmed the cause of death.

In a shocking incident, a family of three who were found dead on a hiking trail in California may have been killed by poison algae. The investigators have confirmed the cause of death. John Gerrish along with his wife, Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter, Muji, and their dog were found dead on a hiking trail in Mariposa county. The family was reported missing by a family friend on Monday evening. After the family friend was reported missing, the local police started a search and rescue mission to find the California family. Their vehicle was located near a gate of the Sierra national forest on Tuesday. Also read | Tissue paper used by Lionel Messi during Barcelona farewell is up for sale; check out the whopping price tag A little later the dead bodies of the family were found a mile away. The area the family was found in did not have any cellphone service and there was no obvious reason behind their death. Gerrish is known to be a software designer who "fell in love with the Mariposa area" and had also bought several homes in that area, said his friend. The couple loved hiking and were "a loving couple, they loved each other quite a bit".

Police reveals poison algae may have killed California family

The Andaman Islands' archipelago has yielded a new species of plant. Indian biologists discovered the marine green algae during a visit to the island in 2019.

Researchers from the Punjab Central University have named the species Acetabularia jalakanyakae. After nearly four decades, a new species of algae has been discovered on the islands.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volcanic-eruption-under-sea-creates-new-crescent-shaped-island-in-japan-406290" hreflang="en">Volcanic eruption under sea creates new crescent-shaped island in Japan</a>

According to the scientists, the name "Jalakanyaka" which means mermaid in Sanskrit, is a reference to the story of Little Mermaid by Danish writer Hans Christian Anderson.&nbsp;

The scientists confirmed that they had discovered this species for the first time after nearly two years of the laborious identification process.

Over 18 months, the researchers sequenced the plant DNA and compared its form with that of other plants.

Dr Felix Bast, who led the study, said the newly discovered species is stunning. Its caps appear to be umbrellas of mermaids.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/researchers-calculate-constant-pi-to-a-new-record-628tn-figures-406286" hreflang="en">Researchers calculate&nbsp;constant&nbsp;pi to&nbsp;a&nbsp;new record 62.8tn figures</a>

The plant consists of a single gigantic cell with a nucleus, which is its main characteristic. This discovery was described in an article in the Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands contain some of the world's last healthy coral reefs, as well as a rich diversity of other organisms and algae.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The looming threat of climate change, as well as higher seawater temperatures and acidifying oceans, poses major stress to these ecosystems.

As per Dr Bast, seawater temperatures are rising, leading to a decrease in oxygen concentration in the water, a consequence dangerous to everything that needs oxygen to survive, including this species.

The Andaman Islands' archipelago has yielded a new species of plant. Indian biologists discovered the marine green algae during a visit to the island in 2019. Researchers from the Punjab Central University have named the species Acetabularia jalakanyakae.

The Andaman Islands' archipelago has yielded a new species of plant. Indian biologists discovered the marine green algae during a visit to the island in 2019. Researchers from the Punjab Central University have named the species Acetabularia jalakanyakae. After nearly four decades, a new species of algae has been discovered on the islands. Also read | Volcanic eruption under sea creates new crescent-shaped island in Japan According to the scientists, the name "Jalakanyaka" which means mermaid in Sanskrit, is a reference to the story of Little Mermaid by Danish writer Hans Christian Anderson. The scientists confirmed that they had discovered this species for the first time after nearly two years of the laborious identification process. Over 18 months, the researchers sequenced the plant DNA and compared its form with that of other plants. Dr Felix Bast, who led the study, said the newly discovered species is stunning. Its caps appear to be umbrellas of mermaids. Also read | Researchers calculate constant pi to a new record 62.8tn figures The plant consists of a single gigantic cell with a nucleus, which is its main characteristic. This discovery was described in an article in the Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences. Andaman and Nicobar Islands contain some of the world's last healthy coral reefs, as well as a rich diversity of other organisms and algae. The looming threat of climate change, as well as higher seawater temperatures and acidifying oceans, poses major stress to these ecosystems. As per Dr Bast, seawater temperatures are rising, leading to a decrease in oxygen concentration in the water, a consequence dangerous to everything that needs oxygen to survive, including this species.

A 'mermaid' species of algae discovered on Andaman and Nicobar islands

Russia said on Friday the mass death of marine life off the coast of its far eastern Kamchatka region had been caused by toxic algae and was not a man-made disaster, but Greenpeace said it was still too early to say for sure.

The environmental group warned of an ecological catastrophe earlier this month after surfers who got into waters off the Kamchatka peninsula fell ill and marine life washed up dead on the shore.

The group`s activists who travelled there said they had found yellowish foam on the ocean`s surface in some places.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) conservation group said the damage appeared to be caused by a highly soluble substance.

On Friday, Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin said the environmental damage had been caused by algae.

"What caused this to happen? It was the toxicity of the algae at this period of time," Kobylkin was quoted as saying by TASS news agency. He added that the situation at the site was improving.

"But what the algae was responding to is probably what is most interesting and important... I don`t have an answer to this yet," he said.

Greenpeace activist Elena Sakirko told Reuters the full results of samples taken from the site were not yet known and that it was premature to put the cause down to algae blooms known as "red tides".

"The second point is that if this definitely was algae and we see evidence of this then the question arises: what caused such algae activity."

"As a rule these red tides happen in the waters that are the most polluted," she said.

Russia`s Investigative Committee, a law enforcement agency which opened a criminal case over the pollution, said they were treating algae as the most likely cause.

It said in a statement that elevated levels of phenols - an oil product - in water were not critical and had been found in the Avacha Bay on Kamchatka`s southern coast since 1970.

Russia said on Friday the mass death of marine life off the coast of its far eastern Kamchatka region had been caused by toxic algae and was not a man-made disaster, but Greenpeace said it was still too early to say for sure.

Russia said on Friday the mass death of marine life off the coast of its far eastern Kamchatka region had been caused by toxic algae and was not a man-made disaster, but Greenpeace said it was still too early to say for sure. The environmental group warned of an ecological catastrophe earlier this month after surfers who got into waters off the Kamchatka peninsula fell ill and marine life washed up dead on the shore. The group`s activists who travelled there said they had found yellowish foam on the ocean`s surface in some places. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) conservation group said the damage appeared to be caused by a highly soluble substance. On Friday, Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin said the environmental damage had been caused by algae. "What caused this to happen? It was the toxicity of the algae at this period of time," Kobylkin was quoted as saying by TASS news agency. He added that the situation at the site was improving. "But what the algae was responding to is probably what is most interesting and important... I don`t have an answer to this yet," he said. Greenpeace activist Elena Sakirko told Reuters the full results of samples taken from the site were not yet known and that it was premature to put the cause down to algae blooms known as "red tides". "The second point is that if this definitely was algae and we see evidence of this then the question arises: what caused such algae activity." "As a rule these red tides happen in the waters that are the most polluted," she said. Russia`s Investigative Committee, a law enforcement agency which opened a criminal case over the pollution, said they were treating algae as the most likely cause. It said in a statement that elevated levels of phenols - an oil product - in water were not critical and had been found in the Avacha Bay on Kamchatka`s southern coast since 1970.

Russia says algae killed marine life off far eastern coast

Scientists in Italy are investigating the mysterious appearance of pink glacial ice in the Alps, caused by algae that accelerate the effects of climate change. There is debate about where the algae come from, but Biagio Di Mauro of Italy's National Research Council said the pink snow observed on parts of the Presena glacier is likely caused by the same plant found in Greenland.

Scientists in Italy are investigating the mysterious appearance of pink glacial ice in the Alps, caused by algae that accelerate the effects of climate change. There is debate about where the algae come from, but Biagio Di Mauro of Italy's National Research Council said the pink snow observed on parts of the Presena glacier is likely caused by the same plant found in Greenland. "The alga is not dangerous, it is a natural phenomenon that occurs during the spring and summer periods in the middle latitudes but also at the Poles," said Di Mauro, who had previously studied the algae at the Morteratsch glacier in Switzerland. The plant, known as Ancylonema nordenskioeldii, is present in Greenland's so-called Dark Zone, where the ice is also melting. Normally ice reflects more than 80 per cent of the sun's radiation back into the atmosphere, but as algae appear, they darken the ice so that it absorbs the heat and melts more quickly. More algae appear as the ice melts more rapidly, giving them vital water and air and adding red hues to the white ice at the Passo Gavia, altitude 2,618 metres (8,590 feet). "Everything that darkens the snow causes it to melt because it accelerates the absorption of radiation," said Di Mauro. "We are trying to quantify the effect of other phenomena besides the human one on the overheating of the Earth," said Di Mauro, noting that the presence of hikers and ski lifts could also have an impact on the algae. Tourists at the glacier lament the impact of climate change. "Overheating of the planet is a problem, the last thing we needed was algae," said tourist Marta Durante. "Unfortunately we are doing irreversible damage. We are already at the point of no return, I think." Elisa Pongini from Florence said she felt the Earth was "giving us back everything we have done to it". "2020 is a special year: terrible things have happened," she said. "In my opinion, atmospheric phenomena are worsening. Climate change is increasingly evident."

Scientists probe mysterious appearance of pink glacial ice in Alps

Tourists looking for sun and sand in Mexican resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum have been disgusted by foul-smelling mounds of sargassum, a seaweed-like algae, piling up on beaches and turning turquoise waters brown, and experts are warning that it may be the new normal.

Mexican beaches threatened by algae invasion

Every night Tim Robinson sleeps in his boat, which floats atop a blanket of foul-smelling bright green slime. 
 
For houseboat dwellers like Robinson, the toxic algae bloom spreading through Florida&#39;s Lake Okeechobee, the nations second-largest freshwater lake, &nbsp;is more than just unpleasant.&nbsp;Its alarming. 
 
&quot;We dont know if we should be breathing this,&quot; the 53-year-old Stuart resident told AFP. &quot;I sleep on top of it every night.&quot; 
 
Robinsons two teenage boys havent stayed with their father in two weeks for fear of the algaes effects. &quot;Its so depressing,&quot; he said. 
&quot;Everything we do is in the water and on the water.&quot; 
 
Stuart, a town on East Floridas Treasure Coast, is about 175 kilometres (110 miles) North of Miami. It&#39;s often cited as one of Americas best small tourist towns, particularly for its tropical climate and proximity to the St Lucie River. 
 
The turquoise canals, streams and lakes that zigzag among Stuarts islands make this small town a nirvana for beachcombers and water sport lovers. 
 
But the thick layer of slimy blue-green algae,also called cyanobacteria, coating the water and smelling of sewage has dampened the towns appeal. 
 
Robinsons leathery, weathered skin glistens with sweat as he cleans the driveway of one of the areas many marina hotels. &quot;I&#39;ve got to do something to get extra money,&quot; he said, to offset the plunge in boat rentals that are his main source of income. 
 
The putrid algal blooms, which appear mornings and evenings with the rising tide, are toxic and can cause rashes and respiratory problems. 
 
&quot;The economic consequences are grave and ongoing,&quot; said Sarah Heard, the commissioner of Martin County, the district that includes Stuart. 
 
This past weekend several beaches in the county closed during the Fourth of July celebrations. 
 
The bacterias proliferation has already started hurting businesses that rent kayaks, paddles and water skis, though its still too early to have hard figures. 
 
&quot;Marine-dependent businesses have failed, and more will collapse in this emergency,&quot; said the commissioner. 
 
US Senator Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that impacted small businesses will be eligible for disaster loan assistance until November 17 of this year. 
 
&quot;I have seen firsthand how this algae crisis has affected far too many people and their livelihoods,&quot; Rubio said in his statement. 
 
Last week the state&#39;s governor, Rick Scott, declared a state of emergency in the counties of St Lucie, Palm Beach and Martin in East Florida, and Lee on the states west coast, all counties with waterways that take excess drainwater from the central Lake Okeechobee. 
 
Much of the problem in area rivers stems from the fact that the lakes aging dike is too weak to manage high lake water levels. 
 
During the rainy summer season authorities must therefore pump water out of the lake into nearby rivers, ensuring that the algae will spread, as it has been doing since mid-May. 
 
Scott has also urged President Barack Obama to declare a federal emergency over the spread of the algae blooms, blaming federal authorities for the condition of the dike. 
 
According to studies by the states Department of Environmental Protection, some affected areas have 38 times the maximum limit of cyanobacteria accepted by the World Health Organization, 10 micrograms per litre. 
 
The organism occurs naturally, but its growth is exacerbated by an influx of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, commonly found in agricultural fertilizers. 
 
&quot;When you supply phosphorus and nitrogen, algae grows and reproduces exponentially, causing a bloom,&quot; said Henry Briceno, a geologist at Florida International University. 
 
Briceno told AFP that the fertilizer used in the area for farming, gardens and golf courses are to blame for an excess of phosphorus in the lake. 
 
The toxic bacteria outbreak poses threats to human health and the area&#39;s economy, but for aquatic life, cyanobacteria can prove fatal. 
 
The thick sludge suffocates seagrasses by blocking sunlight from penetrating the water. 
 
Algae also kills sponges, oysters and other sea creatures integral to water filtration. 
 
&quot;There comes a time when the water can no longer sustain life,&quot; said Briceno. 
 
(AFP)

Once a paradise for beachcombers and water sports lovers, Florida's lakes succumb to algae

Every night Tim Robinson sleeps in his boat, which floats atop a blanket of foul-smelling bright green slime. For houseboat dwellers like Robinson, the toxic algae bloom spreading through Florida's Lake Okeechobee, the nations second-largest freshwater lake, is more than just unpleasant. Its alarming. "We dont know if we should be breathing this," the 53-year-old Stuart resident told AFP. "I sleep on top of it every night." Robinsons two teenage boys havent stayed with their father in two weeks for fear of the algaes effects. "Its so depressing," he said. "Everything we do is in the water and on the water." Stuart, a town on East Floridas Treasure Coast, is about 175 kilometres (110 miles) North of Miami. It's often cited as one of Americas best small tourist towns, particularly for its tropical climate and proximity to the St Lucie River. The turquoise canals, streams and lakes that zigzag among Stuarts islands make this small town a nirvana for beachcombers and water sport lovers. But the thick layer of slimy blue-green algae,also called cyanobacteria, coating the water and smelling of sewage has dampened the towns appeal. Robinsons leathery, weathered skin glistens with sweat as he cleans the driveway of one of the areas many marina hotels. "I've got to do something to get extra money," he said, to offset the plunge in boat rentals that are his main source of income. The putrid algal blooms, which appear mornings and evenings with the rising tide, are toxic and can cause rashes and respiratory problems. "The economic consequences are grave and ongoing," said Sarah Heard, the commissioner of Martin County, the district that includes Stuart. This past weekend several beaches in the county closed during the Fourth of July celebrations. The bacterias proliferation has already started hurting businesses that rent kayaks, paddles and water skis, though its still too early to have hard figures. "Marine-dependent businesses have failed, and more will collapse in this emergency," said the commissioner. US Senator Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that impacted small businesses will be eligible for disaster loan assistance until November 17 of this year. "I have seen firsthand how this algae crisis has affected far too many people and their livelihoods," Rubio said in his statement. Last week the state's governor, Rick Scott, declared a state of emergency in the counties of St Lucie, Palm Beach and Martin in East Florida, and Lee on the states west coast, all counties with waterways that take excess drainwater from the central Lake Okeechobee. Much of the problem in area rivers stems from the fact that the lakes aging dike is too weak to manage high lake water levels. During the rainy summer season authorities must therefore pump water out of the lake into nearby rivers, ensuring that the algae will spread, as it has been doing since mid-May. Scott has also urged President Barack Obama to declare a federal emergency over the spread of the algae blooms, blaming federal authorities for the condition of the dike. According to studies by the states Department of Environmental Protection, some affected areas have 38 times the maximum limit of cyanobacteria accepted by the World Health Organization, 10 micrograms per litre. The organism occurs naturally, but its growth is exacerbated by an influx of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, commonly found in agricultural fertilizers. "When you supply phosphorus and nitrogen, algae grows and reproduces exponentially, causing a bloom," said Henry Briceno, a geologist at Florida International University. Briceno told AFP that the fertilizer used in the area for farming, gardens and golf courses are to blame for an excess of phosphorus in the lake. The toxic bacteria outbreak poses threats to human health and the area's economy, but for aquatic life, cyanobacteria can prove fatal. The thick sludge suffocates seagrasses by blocking sunlight from penetrating the water. Algae also kills sponges, oysters and other sea creatures integral to water filtration. "There comes a time when the water can no longer sustain life," said Briceno. (AFP)

Florida's putrid algae bloom afflicts economy, sea life

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