[Killietalk] Red tide

["Robert Goldstein" <rgoldstein at rjgaCarolina_com>]

Sheepshead Minnows Exposed to Red Tide Died Quickly
AP
Posted: 2007-09-07 17:52:37
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Sheepshead minnows exposed to samples of red tide from 
waters in southeastern Virginia and the lower Chesapeake Bay died within 
hours, scientists report.

The findings are the first indication the burgundy-hued algae blooms could 
cause serious aquatic harm.

Scientists stressed Thursday that the widespread algae blooms, which smell 
of rotten eggs, are not harmful to humans. Still, state health and 
environmental officials caution against swimming through the discolored 
waters.

At Old Dominion University, 12 sheepshead minnows were put into a lab tank 
filled with algae species thought to be responsible for the red tide. The 
algae came from the lower James River, at the mouth of the Nansemond River 
in Suffolk.

Within hours, the fish died - one after 37 minutes, said Margaret 
Mulholland, an ODU associate professor and expert in harmful algae blooms.

The algae species, called Cochlodinium polykrikoides, appeared to secrete a 
mucous that clogged fish gills and killed the 2-week-old juveniles.

Over the past 30 years, algae blooms have become common occurrences in the 
Chesapeake Bay, the result of summer heat, spring rains and excessive 
nutrient pollution. It is the bay's No. 1 pollutant.

Too much nitrogen and phosphorus are entering the bay from sewage plants, 
lawn fertilizers, and other sources in the bay's vast watershed.

Mulholland and a team of scientists and students on Thursday sampled more 
algae blooms in Hampton Roads. Chris Gobler, a scientist from the State 
University of New York at Stony Brook, joined the scientists to compare 
blooms here to those off Long Island.

A similar algae species has begun to crop up each summer for the past three 
or four years in coastal New York, he said. Lab tests involving the New York 
red tide also found that juvenile fish routinely died when exposed to dense 
concentrations of the algae.

Roger Everton, a water quality specialist with the Virginia Department of 
Environmental Quality, said new reports of blooms have begun to taper off 
the past week.

Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://www.pilotonline.com


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <killifish777 at comcast_net>
To: <killietalk at aka_org>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 2:52 PM
Subject: [Killietalk] Minnesota Killie Keepers Show


> The MKKA annual Show & Auction is this coming weekend. September 15th & 
> 16th.
> It's not too late to send show and/or auction only fish, eggs, plants, or 
> any killie
> related items. We have a generous 70% split going to the seller. We hope 
> you can
> attend and celebrate killifish with us for the weekend.
> See the AKA BNL or www.mkka.net for details.
>
> Craig
> Join the AKA at http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=9.
> Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
> Modify your subscription at 
> http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk
> 

Join the AKA at http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=9.
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
Modify your subscription at http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk