Toxic Algae Killing California Marine Life
Posted on: Friday, 27 April 2007, 15:00 CDT
California researchers say a virulent outbreak of domoic acid is killing hundreds of marine animals and birds off the Pacific coast.
Jay Holcomb, director of the International Bird Rescue Research Center in San Pedro, Calif., said local beaches have been littered with sick and dead pelicans, sea lions and dolphins, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
Scientists say domoic acid is produced by microscopic algae that have flourished in recent years because of overfishing, destruction of wetlands and pollution.
While the toxin has not been definitively linked to all the recent deaths, many of the dead animals tested positive for domoic acid poisoning, the newspaper said.
Domoic acid accumulates in shellfish and fish and is then passed on to the birds and animals that eat them.
Dave A. Caron, director of the Caron Laboratory at the University of Southern California, told the newspaper this year's algae bloom is the largest he has seen in five years.
Source: United Press International
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