Latest news with #Kareniabrevis
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Researchers may finally be able to forecast dangerous red algae blooms
Scientists might soon be able to forecast when the see is gonna turn red - and don't worry, it has nothing to do with the apocalypse. For the first time, researchers identified nearly a dozen viruses associated with red tides off Florida's coast that are harmful and costly. Also known as harmful algae blooms, red tides — the massive growth of algae that is tied to multiple organisms — are driven by wind and water currents, nutrients that run into the water, extreme weather events and unusually high temperatures. They can kill birds, fish and other sea creatures and lead to health problems in humans, including shortness of breath and even death. Blooms can force health authorities to close beaches. 'We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, but we haven't known what viruses might be associated with Karenia brevis blooms,' Jean Lim, a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of Marine Science, said in a statement. 'Now that we've identified several viruses in red tide blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might have an influence on these events.' Identifying the viruses can help forecast when the blooms occur and better understand what causes them to stop. Red tide is a type of naturally occurring algae bloom that impacts the Sunshine State nearly every year: generally cropping up in the late summer or early fall, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which was a partner of the research. Lasting usually for between three and five months, they can result in losses estimated at millions of dollars and affect hundreds of square miles. A swath stretching more than 200 miles impacted areas from Tampa Bay to Key West last month, according to WUSF, and Argentina saw beaches turn a shocking crimson at around the same time. Karenia brevis is the organism that causes red tide. During red tide events, the researchers collected Karenia brevis bloom samples to analyze in a lab. They used a method called viral metagenomics, a process that determines the make-up of the sample's DNA, to find the viruses. They don't yet know how the viruses they found influence red tide blooms, but researchers say that because viruses target certain organisms, specific viruses may only infect Karenia brevis. The researchers are working to determine whether the viruses have an influence on that organism or others in red tide blooms. Finding a potential link between how blooms occur and the presence of viruses could help to predict these events in the future. 'For example, an increase in the number of viruses found in a sample might suggest that a red tide bloom is about to begin, or that it is going to end,' Lim, who is the lead author of the research published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSphere, explained.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
USF researchers among first to identify viruses linked to red tide, which could help predict future blooms
The Brief Researchers at USF are among the first to identify viruses associated with red tide, which could help experts predict future blooms. Just last month, Mote Marine Laboratory officials were monitoring red tide on Lido Beach where plenty of dead fish had washed ashore. With these viruses identified, researchers can study how these viruses influence or affect Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Researchers at the University of South Florida are among the first to identify viruses associated with red tide, which could help experts predict future blooms. The USF team partnered with experts from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) to collect water samples containing red tide off the coast of southwest Florida. RELATED: Dead fish washing ashore on Lido Beach as Mote Marine Laboratory confirms red tide "We process the seawater samples in the lab, and we extract RNA and DNA from them to identify viruses associated with red tide blooms," scientific researcher Dr. Jean Lim told FOX 13. Dig deeper Red tide can kill fish and make humans sick. Just last month, Mote Marine Laboratory officials were monitoring red tide on Lido Beach where plenty of dead fish had washed ashore. With these viruses now identified, researchers can study how these viruses influence or affect Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "So whether [the virus] inhibits the growth of Karenia brevis or even kills Karenia brevis. So that is the next very challenging step," Lim said. Right now, experts rely on satellite imagery, water samples, and ocean circulation models to forecast the movement of red tide blooms. But, they're always looking for more tools to add to the toolbox. "We know that it is a recurring problem that's not going to go away," Lim said of red tide. What's next Moving forward, Lim and her team will study the extent these viruses could control red tide. For example, whether an increased number of certain viruses could suggest a red tide bloom is about to begin. READ:Mote Marine Laboratory sees a 70% kill rate during mitigation field testing "Basically, the goal is to create better approaches to be able to forecast Karenia brevis blooms," Lim said. Lim and her colleagues' study identifying viruses was recently published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSphere. The Source The information in this story was gathered through an interview with Dr. Jean Lim as well as the study published mSphere. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The sea is turning red! Researchers make breakthrough discovery that could help forecast dangerous algae blooms
Scientists might soon be able to forecast when the see is gonna turn red - and don't worry, it has nothing to do with the apocalypse. For the first time, researchers identified nearly a dozen viruses associated with red tides off Florida's coast that are harmful and costly. Also known as harmful algae blooms, red tides — the massive growth of algae that is tied to multiple organisms — are driven by wind and water currents, nutrients that run into the water, extreme weather events and unusually high temperatures. They can kill birds, fish and other sea creatures and lead to health problems in humans, including shortness of breath and even death. Blooms can force health authorities to close beaches. 'We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, but we haven't known what viruses might be associated with Karenia brevis blooms,' Jean Lim, a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of Marine Science, said in a statement. 'Now that we've identified several viruses in red tide blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might have an influence on these events.' Identifying the viruses can help forecast when the blooms occur and better understand what causes them to stop. Red tide is a type of naturally occurring algae bloom that impacts the Sunshine State nearly every year: generally cropping up in the late summer or early fall, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which was a partner of the research. Lasting usually for between three and five months, they can result in losses estimated at millions of dollars and affect hundreds of square miles. A swath stretching more than 200 miles impacted areas from Tampa Bay to Key West last month, according to WUSF, and Argentina saw beaches turn a shocking crimson at around the same time. Karenia brevis is the organism that causes red tide. During red tide events, the researchers collected Karenia brevis bloom samples to analyze in a lab. They used a method called viral metagenomics, a process that determines the make-up of the sample's DNA, to find the viruses. They don't yet know how the viruses they found influence red tide blooms, but researchers say that because viruses target certain organisms, specific viruses may only infect Karenia brevis. The researchers are working to determine whether the viruses have an influence on that organism or others in red tide blooms. Finding a potential link between how blooms occur and the presence of viruses could help to predict these events in the future. 'For example, an increase in the number of viruses found in a sample might suggest that a red tide bloom is about to begin, or that it is going to end,' Lim, who is the lead author of the research published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSphere, explained.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The sea is turning red! Researchers make breakthrough discovery that could help forecast dangerous algae blooms
Scientists might soon be able to forecast when the see is gonna turn red - and don't worry, it has nothing to do with the apocalypse. For the first time, researchers identified nearly a dozen viruses associated with red tides off Florida's coast that are harmful and costly. Also known as harmful algae blooms, red tides — the massive growth of algae that is tied to multiple organisms — are driven by wind and water currents, nutrients that run into the water, extreme weather events and unusually high temperatures. They can kill birds, fish and other sea creatures and lead to health problems in humans, including shortness of breath and even death. Blooms can force health authorities to close beaches. 'We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, but we haven't known what viruses might be associated with Karenia brevis blooms,' Jean Lim, a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of Marine Science, said in a statement. 'Now that we've identified several viruses in red tide blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might have an influence on these events.' Identifying the viruses can help forecast when the blooms occur and better understand what causes them to stop. Red tide is a type of naturally occurring algae bloom that impacts the Sunshine State nearly every year: generally cropping up in the late summer or early fall, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which was a partner of the research. Lasting usually for between three and five months, they can result in losses estimated at millions of dollars and affect hundreds of square miles. A swath stretching more than 200 miles impacted areas from Tampa Bay to Key West last month, according to WUSF, and Argentina saw beaches turn a shocking crimson at around the same time. Karenia brevis is the organism that causes red tide. During red tide events, the researchers collected Karenia brevis bloom samples to analyze in a lab. They used a method called viral metagenomics, a process that determines the make-up of the sample's DNA, to find the viruses. They don't yet know how the viruses they found influence red tide blooms, but researchers say that because viruses target certain organisms, specific viruses may only infect Karenia brevis. The researchers are working to determine whether the viruses have an influence on that organism or others in red tide blooms. Finding a potential link between how blooms occur and the presence of viruses could help to predict these events in the future. 'For example, an increase in the number of viruses found in a sample might suggest that a red tide bloom is about to begin, or that it is going to end,' Lim, who is the lead author of the research published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSphere, explained.
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
The sea is turning red! Researchers make breakthrough discovery that could help forecast dangerous algae blooms
Scientists might soon be able to forecast when the see is gonna turn red - and don't worry, it has nothing to do with the apocalypse. For the first time, researchers identified nearly a dozen viruses associated with red tides off Florida's coast that are harmful and costly. Also known as harmful algae blooms, red tides — the massive growth of algae that is tied to multiple organisms — are driven by wind and water currents, nutrients that run into the water, extreme weather events and unusually high temperatures. They can kill birds, fish and other sea creatures and lead to health problems in humans, including shortness of breath and even death. Blooms can force health authorities to close beaches. 'We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, but we haven't known what viruses might be associated with Karenia brevis blooms,' Jean Lim, a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of Marine Science, said in a statement. 'Now that we've identified several viruses in red tide blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might have an influence on these events.' Identifying the viruses can help forecast when the blooms occur and better understand what causes them to stop. Red tide is a type of naturally occurring algae bloom that impacts the Sunshine State nearly every year: generally cropping up in the late summer or early fall, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which was a partner of the research. Lasting usually for between three and five months, they can result in losses estimated at millions of dollars and affect hundreds of square miles. A swath stretching more than 200 miles impacted areas from Tampa Bay to Key West last month, according to WUSF, and Argentina saw beaches turn a shocking crimson at around the same time. Karenia brevis is the organism that causes red tide. During red tide events, the researchers collected Karenia brevis bloom samples to analyze in a lab. They used a method called viral metagenomics, a process that determines the make-up of the sample's DNA, to find the viruses. They don't yet know how the viruses they found influence red tide blooms, but researchers say that because viruses target certain organisms, specific viruses may only infect Karenia brevis. The researchers are working to determine whether the viruses have an influence on that organism or others in red tide blooms. Finding a potential link between how blooms occur and the presence of viruses could help to predict these events in the future. 'For example, an increase in the number of viruses found in a sample might suggest that a red tide bloom is about to begin, or that it is going to end,' Lim, who is the lead author of the research published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal mSphere, explained.
