What causes red tides?
A red tide is the rapid accumulation of a mass of aquatic algae
made up of mobile single-celled micro-organisms known as
dinoflagellates – which means ‘whirling whip’ due to the nature
of the tail-like projections that propel them through the water. The
algae grows, or blooms, more rapidly than usual in order to consume
nutrients that have suddenly risen up from the colder depths of the
ocean below. The red hue is down to the presence of a certain species
of dinoflagellate, or phytoplankton. Together with the more abundant
diatom algae, dinoflagellates make up the majority of ocean plankton.
Despite the rather startling appearance of a sea that has been turned
red, many algal blooms are actually completely harmless. However,
you shouldn’t consume seafood following a red tide as certain
phytoplankton can release harmful substances into the water. Some
dinoflagellates can produce toxins when eaten by other creatures and
the harmful substances then concentrate inside the creatures that
feed on them, and subsequently any humans who go on to dine on
the contaminated seafood. The billions of microscopic dinoflagellates
in a red tide can also cause spectacular bioluminescence at night. One
species in particular – the lingulodinium polyedrum – can create its
own light from within. When the organism is jostled or collides with
something in the ocean, a chemical reaction occurs when an enzyme
called luciferase and a substrate called luciferin, both contained within
the organism, combine. This is the catalyst for a chemical reaction
that releases a flash of blue light. When this occurs millions of times
simultaneously, the effect is quite remarkable for onlookers.
made up of mobile single-celled micro-organisms known as
dinoflagellates – which means ‘whirling whip’ due to the nature
of the tail-like projections that propel them through the water. The
algae grows, or blooms, more rapidly than usual in order to consume
nutrients that have suddenly risen up from the colder depths of the
ocean below. The red hue is down to the presence of a certain species
of dinoflagellate, or phytoplankton. Together with the more abundant
diatom algae, dinoflagellates make up the majority of ocean plankton.
Despite the rather startling appearance of a sea that has been turned
red, many algal blooms are actually completely harmless. However,
you shouldn’t consume seafood following a red tide as certain
phytoplankton can release harmful substances into the water. Some
dinoflagellates can produce toxins when eaten by other creatures and
the harmful substances then concentrate inside the creatures that
feed on them, and subsequently any humans who go on to dine on
the contaminated seafood. The billions of microscopic dinoflagellates
in a red tide can also cause spectacular bioluminescence at night. One
species in particular – the lingulodinium polyedrum – can create its
own light from within. When the organism is jostled or collides with
something in the ocean, a chemical reaction occurs when an enzyme
called luciferase and a substrate called luciferin, both contained within
the organism, combine. This is the catalyst for a chemical reaction
that releases a flash of blue light. When this occurs millions of times
simultaneously, the effect is quite remarkable for onlookers.
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