Toxic Algal Blooms Kill Northern Fur Seals in Warming Arctic

Govind Tekale 

Scientists confirm deadly neurotoxin from harmful algal blooms killed northern fur seals in Alaska's Bering Sea.

Photo Source: Andrey Korzun (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The August 2024 discovery began when an Aleut community member found several dead fur seals and hundreds of fish washed ashore on St. Paul Island.

Photo Source: NOAA's (PDM 1.0)

"As the Arctic Ocean ecosystem gets warmer, harmful algal blooms are becoming more frequent, getting stronger, and spreading further," warns NOAA scientist Dr. Kathi Lefebvre.

Photo Source: Colorado State University  (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The colony places resin throughout their nests after treating it with formic acid spray to fight bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Photo Source: Tom Wilberding (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

These microscopic algae, called Alexandrium catenella, produce potent neurotoxins that can be deadly when concentrated in marine animals.

Photo Source: Dima From Crimea (Pexels)

The toxins enter the food web when small marine animals eat the toxic algae, then larger animals eat the contaminated ones—a deadly chain reaction.

Photo Source: Diego F. Parra  (Pexels)

Acid sprays from these nests help Eurasian jays eliminate parasites like mites and lice from their feathers.

Photo Source: Mike van Schoonderwalt (Pexels)

Several European countries, including Germany, protect these ants as logging, urbanization and climate change reduce their numbers.

Photo Source: Hugo Sykes (Pexels)

Each nest combines above and below-ground networks built with needles, leaves, bark, and twigs through burrowing.

Photo Source:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Red wood ant colonies influence forest health through their defensive tactics and relationships with various species.

Photo Source: Adam Searcy

Next Story

5 Million Seahorses Seized in $29M Global Smuggling Operation