Latest news with #ClarissaAnderson
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists reveal troubling satellite data on vanishing ocean life: 'We're just trying to make this seamless'
Ocean scientists have been utilizing satellite technology to provide a clearer look at the plankton that form the foundation of aquatic ecosystems. What they're finding, according to The New York Times, is that the changing environment is threatening these tiny organisms, and therefore threatening the entire food chain. Phytoplankton are microscopic marine organisms that use photosynthesis to create energy. They produce a significant amount of the planet's oxygen, and they also serve as the primary food source for zooplankton, the ocean's tiniest animals. Zooplankton are a critical marine food source themselves, feeding everything from shrimp to fish to seabirds — all the way up to blue whales, the biggest animals on the planet. Because plankton are so foundational to the food chain, tracking them is crucial for understanding the state of the ocean's ecosystems. With the help of NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem satellite, researchers can now do that more effectively and more efficiently, per the Times. The PACE satellite measures the entire spectrum of visible light (and a bit beyond), allowing scientists to observe the density and diversity of the ocean's phytoplankton. Combining this information with local observations, they're able to accurately track phytoplankton like never before. "We're just trying to make this seamless," University of California, San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography biological oceanographer Clarissa Anderson said, "so you can go from that satellite view and drill down all the way to the very near shore: What's happening at my pier? What's happening at my dock?" PACE satellite observations have featured a few alarming trends. Open-ocean phytoplankton seem to be declining, while huge blooms of the organisms in certain areas are disrupting ecosystems and economies. It's believed that these shifting plankton patterns are connected to rising ocean temperatures. Phytoplankton are among the most abundant organisms on the planet. They essentially provide food to every ocean animal. A crisis with them could spell disaster for ecosystems around the planet. The connection between life on dry land and the state of the ocean is a lot stronger than many realize. Not only do more than 3 billion people depend on seafood for sustenance, according to the World Wildlife Fund, but EarthSky also reported that the ocean creates 50-80% of the planet's oxygen. The main producer of that oxygen? Phytoplankton. Tracking phytoplankton allows researchers to see the impacts of the changing environment on the world's oceans. It also allows scientists and others to better predict the activity of marine life, as it tends to follow plankton. Research to track phytoplankton is just one example of human efforts to protect the oceans. There are many more. Should taxpayers help pay to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? We should pay for all of it We should pay some but not all Corporations should foot the bill Charities should pay for it Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For example, Netherlands-based nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup has removed 17 million pounds of plastic trash and counting from the Pacific Ocean. The company is utilizing drone technology to improve its methods, too. If you want to protect the oceans, reducing plastic use is a great start. Upgrading to solar in your home is another option. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump administration cuts to NOAA threaten efforts to save sea lions from toxic plankton
The Trump administration's targeting of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will jeopardize efforts to save sea lions, dolphins, sea birds and other wildlife stricken by poisons lurking offshore, say marine scientists, public health officials and animal rescuers. Federal research and funding plays a crucial role in enabling scientists to monitor ocean conditions — including the domoic acid outbreak that is now killing hundreds of marine mammals up and down the California coast. The data provided by NOAA, and other federally supported efforts, help scientists figure out when and how these outbreaks happen; provide help and aid to the sickened animals that are seizing and convulsing on area beaches; and test and examine their bodies once they have died to see if it was the toxin that killed them, and how it killed them. State and local public health officials also use the data gathered by NOAA and its funded partners to determine algal outbreaks that could affect human health — such as a current advisory urging people to avoid consuming oysters, mussels and clams off the Santa Barbara coast for another toxin, paralytic shellfish poisoning. "Everything we do — all that data we collect — it couldn't be done without the federal government," said Clarissa Anderson, the director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "We wouldn't have any of that information without them." NOAA didn't respond to a request for comment. A NOAA spokesperson previously said the agency "remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public." Although how much of the agency's budget will be slashed, and how many researchers will be axed, is still not clear. Researchers that work with the agency have been told to expect at least a 20% reduction in the agency's workforce and a 30% reduction in the budget. The domoic acid outbreak currently hitting the Southern and Central coast of California, from San Diego to Monterey, has led to hundreds of animals washing up on the shore dead. Sea lions and dolphins have been observed rigid with seizures, acting dazed and confused. Many of the sea lions show aggression, or swivel their heads and necks in wild and disorienting circles. A Times reporter this week witnessed a sea lion pulling itself out of the surf and onto the beach just south of the Hermosa Beach pier. Its head bobbed up and down and side to side, its snub nose tracing arcs in the morning sky. Over and over, its head arched up as if to take in the sun, and then flopped backward as if its bones had liquified. A few feet from the animal, a dead western grebe — a sea bird — lay motionless in the sand, its head resting on a gnarl of wood. Just a few yards away, another bird, possibly another grebe, its belly and head obscured by the sand, also lay still. Near it lay the body of a dead sea lion. The animals may have been poisoned by ingesting fish contaminated by domoic acid, a toxin released by the common coastal phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia. The fish eat the toxic plankton, and the marine mammals and birds eat the poisonous fish, say experts. Scientists know there's a domoic acid event happening offshore because they have been able to detect blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia via NOAA and National Aeronautic and Space Agency satellites, and have sampled the plankton directly through technology, tests and protocols designed or funded by NOAA. They use robotic gliders that can go far offshore and sample below the water's surface. They also use shore stations up and down the coast, where they can monitor whats happening right offshore. And they use robotic microscopes that can sample and see the plankton, algae and other microscopic creatures spinning, floating and swimming in the water column (California has the largest network of these "flow cytobots," said Anderson). They also piggyback on NOAA research vessels — or the vessels of NOAA research partners, such as Los Angeles Waterkeeper — or coordinate with NOAA scientists who can collect and test samples, to get even further out to sea. And as the frequency and severity of these events increase, the need for these services also grows. In the last four years, at least four domoic acid events have occurred along the Central and Southern California coasts. In the past, such events were sporadic, occurring once every four or five years. The most publicly obvious impacts are the animals on the beaches, but they affect coastal shellfish farms and other aquaculture entities too. Daniele Bianchi, an assistant professor in UCLA's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, has been studying what causes this normally benign plankton species to start secreting lethal toxins. Bianchi said he and the graduate students in his laboratory — many of whom get funding from NOAA — still don't understand all the factors. But their work shows a correlation between increased levels of nitrogen in the water (a byproduct of storm and wastewater runoff) and domoic acid production. "Understanding to what extent these might become more frequent in the future, or is there anything that we can do to better manage coastal waters? These are the questions that NOAA was supporting," said Bianchi. Researchers have also learned that the plankton blooms — both poisonous and benign — tend to coincide with upwelling events, when deep, cold water is churned up toward the surface, providing an infusion of nutrients and energy to the plants, algae and invertebrates hanging around in the water column. When these upwelling events occur and plankton and algae start appearing in large numbers, other creatures — such as anchovies and sardines — move in to feed, which then brings the sea lions, sea birds and dolphins. And as those animals feed and become sick, such as the sea lion observed on Hermosa Beach, a network of stranding organizations rush in to care for the sick and dying animals. These organizations, which include the Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Center, and the Santa Barbara-based Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute, are mostly funded by foundations and private donations, but many also receive some federal funding. And as these events become more frequent and increase in severity, so too do these organizations' financial needs. For instance, Sam Dover, the director of the Channel Islands rescue organization, said that he typically buys one 40,000 pound load of frozen fish per year to feed the sickened and injured animals he and his team rescue and rehabilitate. This year? "We already had to refill it. Oh my god. So, it's things like that." These organizations also rely on NOAA's scientists and researchers who are stationed up and down the Pacific coast, from San Diego to Alaska, who help the stranding network understand what's happening in the wider ocean to fish stocks, ocean temperatures, seasonal feeding sites, etc. This knowledge enables these rescue organizations to prepare for crisis events, such as domoic acid outbreaks, and coordinate their responses. "Whether it be consulting with their scientists around what approach to use when there is an unusual presentation of an animal in waters that we're not expecting — be it a whale, often, or a seal or a sea lion — or a decision on how or whether and where to release an animal that's been in our care, or whether to place satellite tags on animals that may warrant long term monitoring," said Jeffrey Boehm, the director of the Marine Mammal Center. "A lot of practical decisions are made week in, week out, day in, day out." "So when you ask what it would look like without NOAA? You remove any one of the many vital services they provide, and it's like that child's game — that one where you start removing the pieces, and you know eventually it's going to fall," he said. And for the animals who die? It's NOAA scientists and laboratories that perform necropsies to determine the cause of death — Was it domoic acid poisoning? Or did they ingest a hard piece of plastic? — and what organs the toxins targeted. The role the agency plays in the well-being of Californians, its wild ocean creatures and its economy are undersold, said Anderson. "We all know the importance of the agency when it comes to forecasting the weather," she said. "But it's the same for their work in the ocean — we cannot have any future knowledge of any earth system without these kinds of data and models." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
26-03-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Trump administration cuts to NOAA threaten efforts to save sea lions from toxic plankton
Redondo Beach — The Trump administration's targeting of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will jeopardize efforts to save sea lions, dolphins, sea birds and other wildlife stricken by poisons lurking offshore, say marine scientists, public health officials and animal rescuers. Federal research and funding plays a crucial role in enabling scientists to monitor ocean conditions — including the domoic acid outbreak that is now killing hundreds of marine mammals up and down the California coast. The data provided by NOAA, and other federally supported efforts, help scientists figure out when and how these outbreaks happen; provide help and aid to the sickened animals that are seizing and convulsing on area beaches; and test and examine their bodies once they have died to see if it was the toxin that killed them, and how it killed them. State and local public health officials also use the data gathered by NOAA and its funded partners to determine algal outbreaks that could affect human health — such as a current advisory urging people to avoid consuming oysters, mussels and clams off the Santa Barbara coast for another toxin, paralytic shellfish poisoning. 'Everything we do — all that data we collect — it couldn't be done without the federal government,' said Clarissa Anderson, the director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 'We wouldn't have any of that information without them.' NOAA didn't respond to a request for comment. A NOAA spokesperson previously said the agency 'remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public.' Although how much of the agency's budget will be slashed, and how many researchers will be axed, is still not clear. Researchers that work with the agency have been told to expect at least a 20% reduction in the agency's workforce and a 30% reduction in the budget. The domoic acid outbreak currently hitting the Southern and Central coast of California, from San Diego to Monterey, has led to hundreds of animals washing up on the shore dead. Sea lions and dolphins have been observed rigid with seizures, acting dazed and confused. Many of the sea lions show aggression, or swivel their heads and necks in wild and disorienting circles. A Times reporter this week witnessed a sea lion pulling itself out of the surf and onto the beach just south of the Hermosa Beach pier. Its head bobbed up and down and side to side, its snub nose tracing arcs in the morning sky. Over and over, its head arched up as if to take in the sun, and then flopped backward as if its bones had liquified. A few feet from the animal, a dead western grebe — a sea bird — lay motionless in the sand, its head resting on a gnarl of wood. Just a few yards away, another bird, possibly another grebe, its belly and head obscured by the sand, also lay still. Near it lay the body of a dead sea lion. The animals may have been poisoned by ingesting fish contaminated by domoic acid, a toxin released by the common coastal phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia. The fish eat the toxic plankton, and the marine mammals and birds eat the poisonous fish, say experts. Scientists know there's a domoic acid event happening offshore because they have been able to detect blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia via NOAA and National Aeronautic and Space Agency satellites, and have sampled the plankton directly through technology, tests and protocols designed or funded by NOAA. They use robotic gliders that can go far offshore and sample below the water's surface. They also use shore stations up and down the coast, where they can monitor whats happening right offshore. And they use robotic microscopes that can sample and see the plankton, algae and other microscopic creatures spinning, floating and swimming in the water column (California has the largest network of these 'flow cytobots,' said Anderson). They also piggyback on NOAA research vessels — or the vessels of NOAA research partners, such as Los Angeles Waterkeeper — or coordinate with NOAA scientists who can collect and test samples, to get even further out to sea. And as the frequency and severity of these events increase, the need for these services also grows. In the last four years, at least four domoic acid events have occurred along the Central and Southern California coasts. In the past, such events were sporadic, occurring once every four or five years. The most publicly obvious impacts are the animals on the beaches, but they affect coastal shellfish farms and other aquaculture entities too. Daniele Bianchi, an assistant professor in UCLA's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, has been studying what causes this normally benign plankton species to start secreting lethal toxins. Bianchi said he and the graduate students in his laboratory — many of whom get funding from NOAA — still don't understand all the factors. But their work shows a correlation between increased levels of nitrogen in the water (a byproduct of storm and wastewater runoff) and domoic acid production. 'Understanding to what extent these might become more frequent in the future, or is there anything that we can do to better manage coastal waters? These are the questions that NOAA was supporting,' said Bianchi. Researchers have also learned that the plankton blooms — both poisonous and benign — tend to coincide with upwelling events, when deep, cold water is churned up toward the surface, providing an infusion of nutrients and energy to the plants, algae and invertebrates hanging around in the water column. When these upwelling events occur and plankton and algae start appearing in large numbers, other creatures — such as anchovies and sardines — move in to feed, which then brings the sea lions, sea birds and dolphins. And as those animals feed and become sick, such as the sea lion observed on Hermosa Beach, a network of stranding organizations rush in to care for the sick and dying animals. These organizations, which include the Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Center, and the Santa Barbara-based Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute, are mostly funded by foundations and private donations, but many also receive some federal funding. And as these events become more frequent and increase in severity, so too do these organizations' financial needs. For instance, Sam Dover, the director of the Channel Islands rescue organization, said that he typically buys one 40,000 pound load of frozen fish per year to feed the sickened and injured animals he and his team rescue and rehabilitate. This year? 'We already had to refill it. Oh my god. So, it's things like that.' These organizations also rely on NOAA's scientists and researchers who are stationed up and down the Pacific coast, from San Diego to Alaska, who help the stranding network understand what's happening in the wider ocean to fish stocks, ocean temperatures, seasonal feeding sites, etc. This knowledge enables these rescue organizations to prepare for crisis events, such as domoic acid outbreaks, and coordinate their responses. 'Whether it be consulting with their scientists around what approach to use when there is an unusual presentation of an animal in waters that we're not expecting — be it a whale, often, or a seal or a sea lion — or a decision on how or whether and where to release an animal that's been in our care, or whether to place satellite tags on animals that may warrant long term monitoring,' said Jeffrey Boehm, the director of the Marine Mammal Center. 'A lot of practical decisions are made week in, week out, day in, day out.' 'So when you ask what it would look like without NOAA? You remove any one of the many vital services they provide, and it's like that child's game — that one where you start removing the pieces, and you know eventually it's going to fall,' he said. And for the animals who die? It's NOAA scientists and laboratories that perform necropsies to determine the cause of death — Was it domoic acid poisoning? Or did they ingest a hard piece of plastic? — and what organs the toxins targeted. The role the agency plays in the well-being of Californians, its wild ocean creatures and its economy are undersold, said Anderson. 'We all know the importance of the agency when it comes to forecasting the weather,' she said. 'But it's the same for their work in the ocean — we cannot have any future knowledge of any earth system without these kinds of data and models.'
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toxic algae bloom causes surge in sick sea lions along San Diego coast
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As a harmful algae bloom continues to spread along California's coastline, more animals are falling ill in San Diego. Weekly monitoring stations operated by Scripps and NOAA have recorded significant concentrations of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia (specifically the P-n seriata group) at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara (66,880 cells/Liter as of last week) and Santa Monica Pier, where levels were extremely high at 1,528,442 cells/L, according to a spokesperson for Scripps Institution of Oceanography. They also noted that anything above 10,000 c/L is considered concerning. Pseudo-nitzschia has been detected at Scripps Pier, but not at the elevated concentrations observed at sites further north. Pseudo-nitzschia is a type of plankton that can produce a neurotoxin known as domoic acid. When these plankton are consumed, domoic acid can accumulate in tissues of shellfish and fish. When consumed by larger mammals, like sea lions or even humans, domoic acid can cause memory loss, seizures, and even death, although the risk to humans is low. Dr. Clarissa Anderson, a biological oceanographer and the director of Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System at Scripps, said the bloom likely started offshore, so researchers didn't see many domoic acid-producing diatoms in any of their coastal phytoplankton monitoring stations. In the last 2-3 weeks, however, they have recorded a substantial increase, likely because the bloom is finally making its way to the coast. 'I saw a sick sea lion down at the beach around 9th Street and it didn't look very good and then on the way back I saw another one by 18th,' said Del Mar resident, Maris Laipenieks. A few times this week he's spotted sea lions on the beach and he's not alone. 'We're getting hundreds of calls. Concerned citizens, lifeguards, sheriff's department,' said Jeni Smith, Rescue Program Curator, SeaWorld San Diego. Smith said she and her team are seeing sea lions with symptoms from domoic acid poisoning. 'You could see these animals on the coastline exhibiting behaviors like having seizures, looking dazed, stargazing, lethargic. They can be abnormally aggressive. They can also be in areas that are not their natural habitat,' Smith said. SeaWorld San Diego has so far treated 15 sea lions for suspected domoic acid poisoning and has seen one death. 'Our veterinarians will take a look at them and some of the animals that are having seizures they may prescribe some anti-seizure medication,' Smith said. Lifeguard Sgt. Scott Henson said it's not unusual to run into sea lions on the beach from time to time, but he offered advice for anyone that does. 'Just stay away and give us a call. Give SeaWorld a call. Let us know that there's an animal on the beach and we can come investigate and see if there's further action that needs to be taken,' Henson said. SeaWorld recommends people keep the distance of a school bus, or about 50 feet, away from a sea lion if you see one. If you have seen an animal in distress or in need of help, please contact their rescue team. Phone: 1-800-541-SEAL (7325) Email: Helpful information to give the Rescue Team: Date animal was last seen Time animal was last seen Location (name of beach, address, landmark etc.) Size of the animal compared to a dog breed Is the animal thin? Can you see its ribs, hips or spine? Is the animal entangled in fishing gear? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Marine mammals in California getting sick from algae: Care center
(NewsNation) — The number of current marine animals that are likely affected by toxic algae bloom has gone up noticeably, one California care center said last week. 'Over the last week, the number of current MMCC patients likely impacted by the toxic algal bloom has more than tripled,' the Marine Mammal Care Center said last Wednesday on Instagram. Marine Mammal Care Center said it does not know how long the domoic acid outbreak will last, but if it continues to bring in 3 to 5 animals per day, 'these numbers will add up quickly.' The organization, based in San Pedro, California, warned that because it is also the time of year when starving young elephant seal pups start to strand along the Los Angeles County Coastline, the MMCC's hospital could see capacity issues. Brain's immune system could treat Alzheimer's: Study In 2023, the Marine Mammal Care Center had 70 sea lions in its care by July, KNBC reported. Now, the center is already half full. John Warner, CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center, said in an interview with KNBC that they have room for about 120 animals and are now at more than 50. 'While we are concerned about the long-term health of marine mammals and the ocean environment due to the toxic chemical runoff from the recent fires, we believe the current situation on our coast is due solely to domoic acid toxicosis (DA) and the confirmed prevalence of Pseudo-nitzschia australis (the type of algae that produces DA) along the Southern California Coast,' the Marine Mammal Care Center said. Domoic acid, according to the center, is a neurotoxin that accumulates in small fish, which are eaten by marine mammals. Eating the toxin attacks the brain and heart, which can cause seizures, heart failure and, if left untreated, permanent brain damage. Clarissa Anderson, a biological oceanographer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told The Guardian that scientists have seen a 'steep change' in how intense toxic algae blooms are and how long they last. 'In the last four years, the impacts have been really heavy on the marine mammal side, both sea lions, some fur seals, and quite a few long-beaked common dolphins,' Anderson said. However, heavy rains and nitrate-rich organic runoff do feed these algae blooms and can contribute to their size and severity. These acidic blooms used to occur every 4 to 7 years. The frequency of these blooms has increased in recent years, exacerbated by climate change, warming ocean temperatures and other human activities. If people see a stranded animal, they can report it to the Marine Mammal Care Center by calling 1-800-39-WHALE. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
