Algal foam and seabirds
Following on the heels of the article about plastic and its effect on Albatross, I am reminded to write of the recent event off the Oregon coast. There was an algae bloom and the aftermath included a foam which had the effect of stripping lubricant coatings off the feathers of seabirds who landed in the water. Lacking the coatings, the birds lost buoyancy and also the ability to stay warm. And died. Tens of thousands of them.
Algae blooms are not an unusual phenomenon. Another form of bloom in streams around the state this past summer left toxic chemicals by the streams which sickened and killed dogs and other animals. A similar bloom byproduct has become common in coastal regions around the world. A different article this summer described great mats of poisonous chemical on the beaches of Brittany, again killing dogs, and if I recall, a horse as well.
Back to the birds though. The report from biologists studying the phenomenon quoted them as saying the size and character of the bloom was very unusual and they were struggling to understand the conditions that had led to it. The report also said that the number of estimated birds who died was estimated at slightly more than 5% of some of those populations. That took me aback. It's a large attrition to hit a single population from one cause.
We are so complacent about our coast and ocean. It's vast and seemingly impervious. Seemingly.
Friday the 13th---an update! Wow is this timely.
Algae responsible for planetary die offs?
Algae blooms are not an unusual phenomenon. Another form of bloom in streams around the state this past summer left toxic chemicals by the streams which sickened and killed dogs and other animals. A similar bloom byproduct has become common in coastal regions around the world. A different article this summer described great mats of poisonous chemical on the beaches of Brittany, again killing dogs, and if I recall, a horse as well.
Back to the birds though. The report from biologists studying the phenomenon quoted them as saying the size and character of the bloom was very unusual and they were struggling to understand the conditions that had led to it. The report also said that the number of estimated birds who died was estimated at slightly more than 5% of some of those populations. That took me aback. It's a large attrition to hit a single population from one cause.
We are so complacent about our coast and ocean. It's vast and seemingly impervious. Seemingly.
Friday the 13th---an update! Wow is this timely.
Algae responsible for planetary die offs?
Comments