Chapter 34, Problem 1CA

Under certain environmental conditions, the microscopic alga Karenia brevis grows quickly, creating blooms that can make the ocean appear red or brown. K. brevis produces powerful toxins called brevetoxins, which have killed millions of fish. In addition to killing fish, brevetoxins can become concentrated in the tissues of mollusks that feed on K. brevis. People who eat these bivalves (e.g., clams, mussels, and oysters) may suffer from paralytic shellfish poisoning, a food poisoning that can cause severe gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, such as tingling in the fingers or toes. Use your results to explain why these so-called “red tides” occur in coastal water.