Month: September 2022

TOUGH TOXIN. "New research has found that domoic acid is a heat resistant and very stable toxin which can damage kidneys at concentrations that are 100 times lower than what causes neurological effects." https://lnkd.in/eysn5Z5 View in LinkedIn

FUNCTION OF DOMOIC ACID. It is well known that iron is a rate-limiting oceanic nutrient for diatom growth ("iron stress"). Domoic acid is a structural relative of iron binding molecules, such as mugineic acid, in terrestrial plants. It appears that domoic acid chelates this scarce micronutrient as a survival technique. https://lnkd.in/ex75rxA View in LinkedIn

IRON SEEDING ENCOURAGES RED TIDE. "During the natural progression of a diatom bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia, a phytoplankton species shown to be preferentially selected for under iron addition experiments." Not a good idea. https://lnkd.in/ex75rxA View in LinkedIn

DIATOMS are known to be copper sensitive ("copper stress"). Domoic acid also detoxifies ambient coastal copper by the same chelation mechanism that it accumulates scarce iron micronutrients. A second survival technique, and a second biological function for domoic acid. https://lnkd.in/ex75rxA View in LinkedIn

"TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS are increasing because of pollution of coastal waters and worldwide shipping." https://lnkd.in/e8RtJht View in LinkedIn

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. "While many people call these blooms 'red tides,' scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. One of the best known HABs in the nation occurs nearly every summer along Florida’s Gulf Coast." https://lnkd.in/eiixYfT View in LinkedIn

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS are "caused by microscopic algae that produce toxins that kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat. The toxins may also make the surrounding air difficult to breathe. As the name suggests, the bloom of algae often turns the water red." https://lnkd.in/eiixYfT View in LinkedIn

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. "Several decades ago relatively few countries appeared to be affected by HABs, but now most coastal countries are threatened, in many cases over large geographic areas and by more than one harmful or toxic species." https://lnkd.in/eWsTQBZ View in LinkedIn

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. "Many countries are faced with a bewildering array of toxic or harmful species and impacts, as well as disturbing trends of increasing bloom incidence, larger areas affected, more fisheries resources impacted, and higher economic losses." https://lnkd.in/eWsTQBZ View in LinkedIn

THE BIRDS. "On August 18, 1961, in Capitola and Santa Cruz, California there was an invasion of what people described as chaotic seabirds. These birds were believed to be under the influence of domoic acid, and it inspired a scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s feature film The Birds (1963)." Think glutamate receptor flooding by domoic acid toxin. https://lnkd.in/ea6_24c View in LinkedIn