Harmful Algae in Indonesia: Small in Size, Big in Effect

Sometimes the waters of seas, rivers, or lakes turn an odd color, becoming brown, red, or green. These colors are actually those of tiny algae that are invisible to the naked eye—but those algae are reproducing so fast that they stain the water. These events are called algal blooms, and they can be...

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Published inFrontiers for young minds Vol. 11
Main Authors Muawanah, Bayu Intan, Mariana D., Boudin, Elyse, Thoha, Hikmah, Rachman, Arief, Sianturi, Oksto Ridho, Sidabutar, Tumpak, Iwataki, Mitsunori, Takahashi, Kazuya, Avarre, Jean-Christophe, Carcaillet, Frédérique, Masseret, Estelle
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Frontiers Media 24.02.2023
Subjects
Biodiversity and Ecology
Earth Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Life Sciences
Microbiology and Parasitology
Oceanography
Sciences of the Universe
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Summary:Sometimes the waters of seas, rivers, or lakes turn an odd color, becoming brown, red, or green. These colors are actually those of tiny algae that are invisible to the naked eye—but those algae are reproducing so fast that they stain the water. These events are called algal blooms, and they can be harmful because they produce toxins that kill aquatic animals and can cause poisoning in humans. Our group investigated the harmful algal blooms that have been occurring regularly in Lampung Bay, Indonesia, since 2012. We tracked down the algal species responsible for these blooms by analyzing seawater and the seabed sediments of the bay. We identified one species of algae, a dinoflagellate called Margalefidinium polykrikoides , as the culprit. This species can take on multiple shapes, which makes its identification particularly difficult. Improving our knowledge about this algal species will eventually help us understand what triggers harmful algal blooms and how to prevent them.
ISSN:2296-6846
2296-6846
DOI:10.3389/frym.2023.858326