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Phys.org
Jul 8
An iron-driven chain reaction may trigger mass death of harmful algae blooms
Over recent decades, harmful algal blooms have become increasingly common. These blooms often consist of bacteria called "cyanobacteria" in freshwater ecosystems. They can produce debilitating toxins, suffocate marine life by depleting oxygen in the water, and make water unsafe for drinking.
When cyanobacteria die off, it is usually en masse and within a few days. Scientists weren't sure why they experience such sudden die-offs. But now, a new study, published in Science, may have pinned down the series of events that create these mass deaths of algal blooms. These insights may help researchers find innovative strategies to mitigate the dangers associated with the bacteria.
