America: Algae blooms and flowers damage the sea lion's brain

Scientists are studying the effects of "poisonous blooms of algae" that currently make hundreds of sea lions along the Pacific coast of the United States, especially Northern California waters, sick and dead this year.

"Toxic algae blooms" are not unusual, but this year is the largest outbreak of algae blooms in history, lasting throughout the summer, across a wide range - from Santa Barbara to Alaska. Usually, this phenomenon usually occurs in the spring and only lasts a few weeks.

Sea lions can damage the brain's poison.(Source: Flickr).

It has long been known that a poison called domoic acid , produced from the pseudo-nitzschia seaweed , can kill brain cells. But a new finding by researchers at the University of Santa Cruz in California sheds light on the link between brain damage due to this toxin and the loss of memory and orientation skills by sea lions. .

In recent years, biologists have observed a large number of California sea lions struggling, weak and trembling on the beach.

"They have a lot of difficulties in navigating and finding food. They don't sense the direction," said Peter Cook, who presented the findings at a recent San Francisco conference on animals. Marine mammals, said.

This year, the toxic algal blooms cause unprecedented effects on commercial crabs in California. The toxins produced by algae also affect other marine species, namely the food chain from clams, anchovies and other small fish to sea lions, one of the predators. Leading in coastal waters.

This is the first time, the phenomenon of sick sea lions has been recorded not only in California but also in Oregon and Washington.