Question

What types of toxins can be released by harmful algal blooms?

Answer 1

Algae:

1. The group of aquatic, photosynthetic, nucleus-bearing eukaryotic organisms lacks true stem, leaves, and roots are known as algae.
2. Algae come under Kingdom Protista.
3. Algae have a specialized reproductive system that is multicellular.
4. There are two types of algae: Chlorophyta (Green algae) and Rhodophyta ( Red algae).
5. Examples of algae: Volvox and Spirogyra.

Toxins released by harmful algal blooms:

1. Algal blooms are rapidly multiplied algae in the water.
2. Algal blooms are produced when water is rich in nutrients.
3. Some algal blooms release toxins which affect shellfish, organisms eating shellfish and human beings.
4. Toxins released by algal blooms are brevetoxin, saxitoxin, micricystin, etc.
5. These toxins affect the liver, nervous system, respiratory system, etc.
6. Example: Algae Pseudo nitzschia produces a toxin known as domoic acid. Domoic acid causes diarrhea, seizures, short term memory loss, or death at high levels.