A harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a biological process in which certain phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, or macroalgae proliferate rapidly and reach high biomass, producing adverse ecological or health effects via toxin production, hypoxia, or habitat alteration. HABs are driven by interactions among nutrient enrichment (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), light, temperature, hydrography, and species-specific physiology, often resulting in dominance of toxin-producing taxa such as some dinoflagellates, diatoms, or cyanobacteria. These blooms can disrupt food webs, cause mass mortalities of aquatic organisms, and generate bioaccumulated toxins that affect higher trophic levels, including humans, through consumption or exposure.
NASA scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool to take on a longstanding challenge in ocean waters. In a study recently published in the Earth and Space Science journal, researchers reported the tool was able ...
Earth Sciences
May 20, 2026
0
19
Scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have uncovered new insights into the bioluminescence of a unique species of marine plankton that feeds on other plankton, including the harmful algae responsible ...
Ecology
Apr 29, 2026
0
14
Changes in nutrient dynamics caused by rising water temperatures and altered stratification patterns due to climate change are promoting the growth of harmful algal blooms. This is the outcome of a new long-term study led ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 27, 2026
0
8
Ocean temperatures are rising around the world—and marine wildlife are feeling the heat. New research reveals that almost two-thirds of a million seabirds were killed by a marine heat wave off the coast of Australia in 2023 ...
Ecology
Apr 23, 2026
0
18
As climate change intensifies harmful algal blooms worldwide, an international team led by Hiroshima University has developed a hybrid modeling approach that combines algal movement simulations, AI, and long-term monitoring ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 9, 2026
0
8
With its striking San Francisco Bay settings, director Alfred Hitchcock's iconic horror film "The Birds" has captivated audiences for more than 60 years. For Hitchcock, the film—set in an ocean-side town terrorized by swarming, ...
Environment
Apr 6, 2026
0
13
Algae blooms make a pond's surface shine in mesmerizing green hues. But if the microorganisms responsible are cyanobacteria, they can also release toxins that harm humans and wildlife alike. A team reporting in ACS ES&T Water ...
Cell & Microbiology
Apr 5, 2026
0
95
Villagers on a remote island in Papua New Guinea have been warned not to eat fish until scientists can identify the cause of thousands of deaths of marine creatures and hundreds of cases of illness.
Ecology
Mar 19, 2026
0
17
The coastline of South Australia has been affected for nearly a year by an unprecedented harmful algal bloom which has led to the deaths of millions of fish and sharks, impacted marine mammals and birds and affected the health ...
Ecology
Mar 5, 2026
0
30
Scores of sea lions continue to beach themselves along the Southern California coastline, stricken with sickness. Toxic algae blooms are to blame, though a mechanical engineering innovation could shift the tide in favor of ...
Biotechnology
Feb 25, 2026
0
28
