Mote Marine Aquarium's Red Tide Study Helps with Sea Turtle and Sea Bird Treatment
By Matt J. Weiss, February 27, 2009 @ 02:00 AM (EST)
Source: Zandavisitor.com
An ongoing Mote study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation about the effects of red tide on sea birds and sea turtles has uncovered new information that should lead to more refined treatment for animals exposed to Florida’s red tide.
Karenia brevis, the organism that causes Florida’s red tide, produces brevetoxins that affect humans and marine species, including sea turtles, dolphins, fish, manatees and sea birds. The brevetoxins can cause acute respiratory and neurological symptoms, as well as death, when they are inhaled or ingested. Clinical signs of red tide intoxication include swimming in circles, paralysis and seizures.
All species of sea turtles in U.S. waters, and many sea bird species, are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Understanding the risks to populations is vital to their recovery.
Comments
Be the first to add a comment to this article.
You must be logged in to comment.
Related Content
September 14, 2009, 6:35PM
Conservation geneticists who study sea turtles have a new tool to help track this highly migratory and endangered group of marine more
June 14, 2009, 1:57PM
Endangered leatherback turtles are being "hammered" worldwide with massive reductions of up to 90 percent in some populations, but more
November 26, 2008, 2:00AM
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on Topsail Island will be feeding a lot of mouths, in fact a record more
October 17, 2008, 2:00AM
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) World Conservation Congress this week adopted a resolution urging more
October 15, 2008, 2:00AM
Along the southern coast of Baja California, Mexico, scientists have been counting the carcasses of endangered sea turtles for a more
Sponsors
What's New
