Question

Are red tides protists or fungi?

Answer 1

Red tides

1. This phenomenon is due to algal blooms which result in the discoloration of coastal water.
2. Algal blooms occur due to abundant sunlight and nutrients, stable wind speed, and warm temperature.
3. They are caused due to protists like diatoms and dinoflagellates.
4. They deplete oxygen and release various toxins harming living organisms.
5. They can cause allergy, breathing trouble, skin irritation, food poisoning, etc.
6. Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate, produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin. They affect the nervous system and respiratory system.