Question

What is the difference between red tide and red sea? Which is caused by Gonaulax and which by Trichodesmium?

Answer 1

Dear Student

A red tide is caused by an increase in the population of toxic algae also called algal blooms. The growth of algae is explosive that they discolor coastal waters. The algal bloom deplete oxygen in the water and release toxins that may cause illness in humans and other animals. Gonyaulax commonly causes red tides.

The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. The Red sea occasionally becomes filled with blooms of cyanobacteria algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum, which upon dying turn the usually blue-green water, reddish-brown.

Regards