Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

hatrack

(59,436 posts)
Mon Feb 8, 2021, 07:23 AM Feb 2021

Sea Otters Dying In Prime Of Life; Toxic Algae Blooms Produce Domoic Acid Which Causes Heart Attacks

Heart disease isn’t just the leading cause of death for humans in the United States. It’s also increasingly killing sea otters, especially adults in their prime — and now scientists know why. Long-term exposure to domoic acid, which leaches from algae during toxic blooms commonly known as “red tides” and accumulates in sea otters’ favorite seafoods, is to blame, the researchers say. Algae blooms are becoming more frequent as climate change drives ocean temperatures up.

It’s long been known that domoic acid poisoning can cause neurologic disease in marine wildlife, like epilepsy or disorientation, often leading to death. Eating contaminated shellfish can do the same for humans, causing the severe illness amnesic shellfish poisoning that can result in permanent brain damage. But scientists are now concerned about the other health impacts of chronic exposure — to otters and people.

In a study published in January, researchers from UC Davis, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the U.S. Geological Survey, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Public Health, and UC Santa Cruz found that long-term domoic acid exposure increases the risk of fatal heart disease in sea otters off California’s Central Coast.

“Domoic acid exposure has more widespread health effects than we were aware of,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian and lead author of the new study. “The biggest finding of this study pertains to sea otters, but it also goes on to include potentially other marine species, and even potentially humans.” The study, published in the journal Harmful Algae, sheds light on an environmental toxin that’s threatening an important keystone species. Sea otters, which play a crucial role in keeping kelp forests and other areas near the coastline in ecological balance, are not only “sentinels for ecosystem health, but also for human health,” Moriarity said. That’s because they eat much of the same seafood as people do, like crabs, clams, and abalone.

EDIT

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/02/07/heart-disease-linked-to-toxic-algae-blooms-is-killing-sea-otters-in-their-prime-a-new-study-finds/

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Sea Otters Dying In Prime...