Question

'Red tide' is caused by

• A. Gonyaulax
• B. Ceratium
• C. Taceratium
• D. All of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A Gonyaulax

• A red tide occurs when the population of certain kinds of algae known as dinoflagellates explodes, creating an "algal bloom."
  
• The name “red tide” comes from the fact that the overgrowth of algae can cause the color of the water to turn red.
  
• The red tides caused by the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax (unicellular algae) are serious because this organism produces powerful toxins (saxitoxin and gonyautoxins) that can kill aquatic organisms.

So, the correct answer is option A.