The Destruction Of Red Tides

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"heavy rains might have helped the red tides develop by pouring fresh water and nutrients into surrounding sea waters," (New York Times: Sept. 19, 1996) Fast growing algae quickly strip away nutrients in the upper layer, leaving nitrogen and phosphorus only below the interface of the layers, called the pycnocline. Many swim at speeds of 10 meters a day, and some go through vertical migration rising to the top of the water to get sun and then swimming down to the pycnocline to take up nutrients at night. Another cause of red tides is from human pollution. "nutrient runoff from human development, the heavy use of fertilizer and livestock farms is feeding the growth of marauding swarms." (New York Times: Aug. 27, 1996) Dr. Jane Lubchenco, a prominent ecologist at Oregon State University said, "There is a correlation between increased nutrients in coastal waters and increased frequency of photoplankton blooms." One bloom of the red tide can kill millions of fish at a ...

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