A California sea lion. (Credit: kesterhu/Shutterstock) There’s something in the water, and it’s causing brain damage in sea lions. In recent years, an unprecedented number of California sea lions have drifted onto shore looking starved, confused and disoriented — some suffering from seizures. The animals’ peculiar behavior has baffled scientists for some time, but thanks to a recent study a new culprit has emerged: a neurotoxin produced by marine algae called domoic acid.
For over a decade, scientists have known that massive algal blooms, such as the record-setter that occurred this year on the West Coast, are deadly threats to sea lions and other marine creatures. These blooms, sometimes called “red tides,” contain microscopic diatoms that produce domoic acid, which is a toxin that enters the brain and interferes with nerve transmission.
A algal bloom, or red tide, off the coast of La Jolla, Calif. in 2005. (Credit: P. Alejandro ...
