Large blooms of toxic algae in Monterey Bay are affecting marine animals

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Phytoplankton in this sample from Monterey Bay include both toxin-producing diatoms (needle-shaped cells) and harmless red tide algae (orange cells). Photo by Susan Coale.
Phytoplankton in this sample from Monterey Bay include both toxin-producing diatoms (needle-shaped cells) and harmless "red tide" algae (orange cells). Photo by Susan Coale.

Researchers have detected large blooms of toxin-producing algae in Monterey Bay that appear to be poisoning marine mammals and seabirds. Blooms of the algae, which produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid, first appeared in southern California earlier this spring and are now occurring along the Central Coast.


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