Navigation Links
A thirst for blood sparks toxic algal blooms
Date:6/30/2009

The blooming of toxic algae that occurs during the summer conceal a fight for life and death. Scientists at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, propose in an article published in the journal PNAS that algal blooms are created when aggressive algae kill and injure their competitors in order to absorb the nutrients they contain.

"The behaviour of the algae can be compared to that of blood-sucking insects", says Per Jonsson of the Department of Marine Ecology.

The blooming of toxic algae in the oceans and lakes is a familiar health risk and causes problems every summer, leading to increased costs for water cleaning, water consumption and the tourist industry. Scientists still do not know why algal blooms arise, and what it is that causes certain species of microalgae to multiply and form dense blooms.

New explanation

Scientists within the research platform MARICE (Marine Chemical Ecology) at the Faculty of Science, the University of Gothenburg, present a new possible explanation of why algal blooms arise in a study published in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Other factors

Current theory postulates that the algae produce toxins not only in order to inhibit the growth of competing species, but also to protect themselves from predators. The strategy of inhibiting competitors, however, is difficult to explain from an evolutionary perspective. The turbulent ocean surface means, quite simply, that it is difficult for one algal species to obtain exclusive rights on the effect of a toxin that inhibits competitors. The production of the toxin must be explained by other factors.

Kills competators

Marine ecologist Per Jonsson and his colleagues suggest that the inhibition of competitors that previous research had found is only a side-effect of a considerably more aggressive behaviour: toxic algae injure or kill competing algae in ord
'/>"/>

Contact: Krister Svahn
krister.svahn@science.gu.se
46-031-786-4912
University of Gothenburg
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Iowa student engineers develop hand-held water sanitizer for a thirsty world
2. Zoologists: Sea snakes seek out freshwater to slake thirst
3. Sex is thirst-quenching for female beetles
4. Trans fats hinder multiple steps in blood flow regulation pathways
5. Chemical in blood may explain susceptibility to bladder pain
6. Genetically corrected blood cells obtained from skin cells from Fanconi anemia patients
7. New device detects heart disease using less than one drop of blood
8. Liver disease shrunk by blood-pressure drug
9. American College of Medical Genetics affirms importance of newborn screening dried blood spots
10. New evidence of how high glucose damages blood vessels could lead to new treatments
11. Heart protein regulates blood vessel maintenance
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
A thirst for blood sparks toxic algal blooms
(Date:5/20/2013)... to the antibiotic colistin are also commonly resistant ... according to a study in mBio , ... for Microbiology. Cross-resistance to colistin and host antimicrobials ... against bacterial attack, could mean that patients with ... a crippled immune response. Colistin is a last-line ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... the effect of physical education (PE) on child weight, ... increasing the amount of time that elementary schoolchildren spent ... The study represents some of the first evidence of ... is forthcoming in the Journal of Health Economics ... can be viewed at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629613000556 , The ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... a compound abundant in the Mediterranean diet takes away ... altering a very specific step in gene regulation, this ... die as scheduled. , One way that cancer cells ... them to die on a regular cycle that is ... by Ohio State University researchers, found that a compound ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system 2Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system 3Gym class reduces probability of obesity, study finds for first time 2The compound in the Mediterranean diet that makes cancer cells 'mortal' 2The compound in the Mediterranean diet that makes cancer cells 'mortal' 3
... The development of a new cell-culture system that ... become coated with protective myelin opens up new avenues ... myelin regulates a key protein involved in sending long-distance ... characterized by damage to the myelin sheath surrounding nerve ...
... 2011 -- Surface water quality is important for the ... needs and recreation. Pasturelands have been found to be ... surface water resources. While poor grazing management may lead ... specific amount of pollution in pasture streams that can ...
... Exonhit (Alternext: ALEHT), a biotech company focused on ... are pleased to announce the successful completion of a ... to an additional strategic preclinical animal model species. ... gene deregulation and the expanding interest in developing biomarkers ...
Cached Biology News:MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals 2MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals 3MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals 4Grazing management effects on stream pollutants 2
(Date:5/20/2013)... With bed bugs' presence come problems in ... bugs need to be eliminated, one must make sure that ... health. And so to help bed bug sufferers get that ... of bed bugs without using harmful pesticides. In it, ... called Bed Bug Bully. , According to My Cleaning Products, ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... , May 20, 2013 Cempra, ... on developing differentiated antibiotics to meet critical medical ... announced that it presented data at the American ... Philadelphia demonstrating the antibacterial and ... Cempra,s prior Phase 2 clinical trial in outpatients ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 2013 Rhythm announced today the results of ... company,s novel ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic ... that RM-131 significantly accelerates early gastric emptying and reduces ... with diabetic gastroparesis. The findings were presented at the ... and recently published in Clinical Gastroenterology ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Researchers from the Southern University of ... back pain, and the acne causing P.acnes bacteria. Researchers believe ... bacteria seek out oxygen deprived location to seek shelter and ... P.acnes has the ability to live in the open joint ... spokesman for “ The best acne treatment ” explains why ...
Breaking Biology Technology:New Non Pesticide Discovery on How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Tipped by My Cleaning Products 2Cempra Presents Post-Phase 2 Analysis of Solithromycin's Efficacy and Safety Results from Patients with Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) 2Rhythm Announces Phase 1b Results for Ghrelin Prokinetic RM-131 for Gastroparesis in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes 2Rhythm Announces Phase 1b Results for Ghrelin Prokinetic RM-131 for Gastroparesis in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes 3Adult Acne Treatment, Probiotic Action Shares New Insight How Treating Acne May Help Reduce Body Pain 2
... ... best available tool for the analysis of metabolites in plants , ... Amsterdam, The Netherlands (PRWEB) June 28, 2010 -- Genedata, ... demo the new Refiner MS at the 6th Metabolomics Conference 2010. Part of ...
... India , June 28, 2010 Shivsu Canadian Clear,International Ltd, a ... from the private organizations and,Government of Africa to set up ... Ethiopia . The company will be involved in design,manufacture, supply and installation of ... ...
... ... Leads the Way as First in Arizona ,with State of the Art 3D Dedicated ... ... Center is the first institution in the state of Arizona to adopt TrueVision® 3D ...
Cached Biology Technology:Genedata's Refiner MS Used by Max Planck Institute will Demo at Metabolomics Conference 2010 2Genedata's Refiner MS Used by Max Planck Institute will Demo at Metabolomics Conference 2010 3Genedata's Refiner MS Used by Max Planck Institute will Demo at Metabolomics Conference 2010 4Indian Multinational Company Confirms USD 6 Million Order to Set up Industrial Waste Water Treatment Plants in Africa 2Indian Multinational Company Confirms USD 6 Million Order to Set up Industrial Waste Water Treatment Plants in Africa 3Cardon Children's Medical Center Adopts TrueVision 3D Surgical Visualization Platform for Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery 2
... G|2 Doublestain System is a high-sensitivity ... kit. The kit is intended for ... detection of two different antigens within ... with suitably diluted rabbit and mouse ...
AVOID FREEZE/THAW CYCLES. Recognizes the UCP-2 protein....
Rabbit Anti-Human Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2 Polyclonal Antibody Family: Protein Kinase Sub-Family: TYK2/JAK Applications: ELISA, Western Blot...
MAb to HSV-2, gG-2 HSV-2 Glycoprotein G-2...
Biology Products: