#ToxicAlgae off Southern California kills hundreds of sea lions, dolphins, birds

This is the earliest the algae has appeared with its most severe accumulations between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, according to NOAA Fisheries.

By Sheri Walsh, UPI
Published Apr 1, 2025

March 31 (UPI) -- "An early toxic algae bloom off the coast of Southern California is killing or sickening hundreds of sea lions, dolphins and seabirds, while forcing rescuers to make tough choices about 'which animals to save.'

"The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network says it is receiving more than 100 calls a day about sea lions having seizures, acting erratically or lying dead on beaches, as dolphins are discovered swimming circles in shallow waters.

"'We are having to do triage on the beach as we try to identify those animals where we have the greatest chance of making a difference,' said John Warner, chief executive officer of the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles.

"#DomoicAcid, released by algae blooms, is harmless to fish but can be deadly if consumed by sea mammals or birds. The toxin causes seizures, coma or even death.

"This is the earliest the algae has appeared with its most severe accumulations between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, according to NOAA Fisheries. Impacted marine life was first observed around Feb. 20, near Malibu. Some scientists believe runoff from this year's wildfires in Los Angeles may have contributed as earlier studies have found elevated nutrients offshore following previous fires.

"'What is unique about this event is that this bloom is very early in the season and doesn't appear to be associated with strong winds or a thick marine layer like we have seen in the past,' said Michelle Herman Kowalewski, founder and director at the Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit.

"In addition to the early bloom, researchers also report finding higher concentrations of the toxin.

"'We've been seeing more toxin both in the organism itself and then also in the animals that are acquiring it,' said Clarissa Anderson, director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System.

"'They seem to have more toxin in their tissues. So it may be that the naturally occurring plankton is starting to produce more toxin over time, and that might be why we see more impacts,' Anderson added.

"This is the fourth consecutive year an algae bloom has impacted Southern California marine life. While there is little that can be done to help dolphins, veterinarians say sea lions can be brought into rehabilitation facilities where the domoic acid can be flushed from their systems."

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/toxic-algae-off-southern-california-kills-hundreds-of-sea-lions-dolphins-birds/1761408
#ToxicAlgalBlooms #HABs #ClimateChange

#DomoicAcid can also accumulate in #shellfish & small #fish that feed on the #algae, leading to poisoning in larger #marine animals & humans who consume contaminated #seafood.

Addressing the urgent need to monitor the impact of harmful #AlgalBlooms on #MarineSpecies requires collective strategies. The destructive #California #wildfires, which have contaminated our #oceans & are threatening #MarineLife, serve as a critical call to action for collaborative efforts to protect marine environments….

When #marine animals ingest #DomoicAcid, they endure severe neurological symptoms such as seizures, disorientation, &, ultimately, death. These incidents often necessitate euthanasia due to the high mortality rates associated w/this toxin. This alarming rise in domoic acid poisoning cases not only threatens individual #MarineSpecies but also highlights the broader impacts #humans have on marine #ecosystems.

#ClimateCrisis #climate #MarineLife #ocean #wildfires #science #wildlife #MarineMammals

#Wildfires, including the #EatonFire & #PalisadesFire, have significant repercussions on #marine #ecosystems. The ash & debris from these fires can enter waterways & eventually the #ocean, altering nutrient levels & fostering conditions favorable to the growth of harmful #AlgalBlooms. The #toxic byproducts from these fires can exacerbate #OceanWarming, further promoting the frequency of these toxic blooms. This can lead to increased production of #DomoicAcid.

#ClimateCrisis #MarineLife #science

#DomoicAcid is a potent neurotoxin produced by certain phytoplankton species, which are significant contributors to harmful #AlgalBlooms. These toxins accumulate in the tissues of #MarineMammals & other #wildlife consuming contaminated prey. Recent changes in #ocean conditions,…intensified by #environmental factors such as the #EatonFire & #PalisadesFire, have accelerated the proliferation of these harmful algal blooms.

#ClimateCrisis #climate #MarineLife #wildfires #ecosystems #science

#Crisis On The Coast: #DomoicAcid Poisoning Strands 140 #SeaLions & 50 #Dolphins On #California Beaches
The recent influx of #marine #wildlife affected by domoic acid poisoning off the coast of Southern California underscores a critical #environmental crisis, w/≧140 sea lions suffering from this debilitating poison & reports of at least 50 stranded dolphins along local beaches.
#ClimateCrisis #climate #MarineLife #ocean #wildfires #ecosystems #algae #OceanWarming #science
https://worldanimalnews.com/crisis-on-the-coast-domoic-acid-poisoning-strands-140-sea-lions-and-50-dolphins-on-california-beaches/

Something is stressing out the algae and causing a release of #DomoicAcid. Could it be #Radioactive #Fukushima wastewater? Radiation is known to cause oxidative stress in algae (I've read the studies and have posted them for years).

ROS is what changes some algae to #ToxicAlgae. It has a number of triggers. #Radiation is one of them...!

Paper from 2016: Sensitivity of the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to gamma #radiation: photosynthetic performance and ROS formation

"The aquatic environment is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from both natural and anthropogenic sources, making the characterization of ecological and health risks associated with radiation of large importance. Microalgae represent the main source of biomass production in the aquatic ecosystem, thus becoming a highly relevant biological model to assess the impacts of gamma radiation. However, little information is available on the effects of gamma radiation on microalgae species, making environmental radioprotection of this group of species challenging. In this context, the present study aimed to improve the understanding of the effects and toxic mechanisms of gamma radiation in the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii focusing on the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and ROS formation.

"Algae cells were exposed for 6 hrs to gamma radiation (0.49-
1677 mGy/h) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters obtained by PAM fluorometry, while two fluorescent probes carboxy-H2DFFDA and DHR 123 were used for the quantification of ROS. The alterations seen in C. reinhardtii PSII functional parameters after 6 hrs of exposure to gamma radiation showed modifications of PSII energy transfer associated with electron transport and energy dissipation pathways, especially at the higher dose rates used. Results
also showed that gamma radiation induced ROS in a dose-dependent manner under both light and dark conditions.

Results:

"The exposure of C. reinhardtii cells to gamma radiation resulted in a significant production of ROS over time for both the H2DFFDA and DHR 123 probes (Supplementary Figure A5), where 6 hrs exposure provided the best response, as seen in previous experiments (Almeida, 2015)."

https://nmbu.brage.unit.no/nmbu-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2572806/1422512.pdf?sequence=1

cc: @bsmall2

California wildlife center dealing with toxic algae bloom needs help #LosAngelesTimes #California #SeaLions #ToxicAlgae #DomoicAcid #Neurotoxin
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-07/as-toxic-algae-bloom-afflicts-california-coast-wildlife-care-center-calls-for-aid

“Sea lions are basically a canary in the coal mine,” said Dan Costa, ... UC Santa Cruz, “They show us that what we’re starting to see are environmental perturbations, more frequently and at much higher magnitudes.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/28/california-beaches-sea-lions-dolphins-dead

#DomoicAcid #ToxicBloom #Algae #Dolphin #SeaLion