Unraveling the Mystery: Why Sawfish Were Spinning and Dying in Florida
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the recent phenomenon of sawfish displaying unusual behavior in Florida waters, leading to their deaths. While scientists have identified the behavior and its...
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the recent phenomenon of sawfish displaying unusual behavior in Florida waters, leading to their deaths. While scientists have identified the behavior and its effects, the underlying cause remains uncertain. Andrew shares his personal experiences from a beautiful weekend in North Bay, reflecting on the warmer-than-usual September weather and its implications.
Tune in to learn more about this intriguing issue affecting ocean life and stay informed on how to advocate for a healthier ocean.
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Scientists have recently made significant strides in understanding the alarming phenomenon of sawfish and other fish exhibiting spinning behavior and subsequently dying in Florida waters. This unusual behavior, observed during the summer, raised concerns among marine biologists and conservationists, particularly because sawfish are already classified as an endangered species.
Identification of Toxins
Through extensive investigation, researchers discovered that the symptomatic fish had died due to exposure to multiple toxins believed to originate from various species of dinoflagellates, a type of microscopic algae. Under normal conditions, these dinoflagellates reside on seagrass or larger algae on the seafloor. However, an unknown trigger—potentially heat, a storm, or a combination of environmental factors—caused these dinoflagellates to detach from their usual habitats and enter the water column.
The Role of Dinoflagellates
The specific dinoflagellates identified in this case belong to the genus Gambierdiscus, known for producing a neurotoxin called ciguatoxin. This toxin can lead to ciguatera, a condition in humans characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and neurological issues. While researchers were initially concerned about the implications for human health, they found no significant cases of ciguatera reported among those consuming fish from the affected areas.
Mechanism of Toxic Exposure
Sawfish, which typically inhabit the ocean floor, may have been particularly vulnerable to these toxins. As they swim along the bottom, they use their saw-like rostrum to sift through sediment, potentially disturbing the dinoflagellates and allowing the toxins to enter their gills and accumulate in their livers. This accumulation of toxins likely led to the neurological impacts observed, resulting in the spinning behavior before death.
Ongoing Research and Future Implications
Despite identifying the presence of multiple toxins and their likely sources, the exact cause of the spinning phenomenon remains unclear. Researchers are still investigating the environmental conditions that led to the dinoflagellates' unusual behavior and the subsequent impact on fish populations. This situation underscores the need for further research to understand the dynamics of harmful algal blooms and their effects on marine life.
In response to the crisis, scientists initiated an emergency rescue effort for the critically endangered sawfish in spring 2024. Although the first rescued individual did not survive, the decline in reports of ailing sawfish suggests that the immediate crisis may have passed. However, the potential for future occurrences remains, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and research to protect these vulnerable species and their habitats.
In summary, while scientists have made progress in identifying the toxins responsible for the spinning behavior and deaths of sawfish and other fish, the underlying causes of this phenomenon require further investigation. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for the conservation of endangered species and the health of marine ecosystems.
Understanding the Sawfish Phenomenon: A Deep Dive into the Recent Fish Die-Off
In the summer of 2023, a concerning phenomenon was observed in Florida waters where sawfish and other fish species were seen spinning in circles before dying. This unusual behavior raised alarms among scientists and conservationists, prompting investigations into the underlying causes. While researchers have identified the complex factors contributing to this behavior, the exact triggers remain elusive.
The Role of Dinoflagellates
The investigation revealed that the symptomatic fish, including sawfish, died from exposure to multiple toxins, likely originating from various species of dinoflagellates. These microscopic algae typically reside on seagrass or larger algae on the seafloor. However, an unknown driver—potentially heat, storms, or a combination of events—caused these dinoflagellates to leave their usual habitats and enter the water column. This shift is particularly concerning as it can lead to harmful algal blooms, which have significant ecological and health implications.
Ciguatoxin and Its Effects
A key finding was the presence of elevated levels of dinoflagellates from the genus Gambierdiscus, which produces ciguatoxin, a neurotoxin that can cause ciguatera poisoning in humans who consume contaminated seafood. Although there were no reported cases of ciguatera linked to the fish die-off, the potential risk to human health was a significant concern for researchers.
The Impact on Sawfish
Sawfish, classified as endangered, were particularly affected by this phenomenon. These flat sharks typically dwell near the ocean floor, where they use their saw-like rostrum to hunt for prey. The disturbance of the seafloor, possibly caused by their own foraging behavior, may have led to the release of the dinoflagellates into the water column. As the sawfish swam along the bottom, they likely ingested the toxins through their gills, resulting in the neurological symptoms that caused them to spin in circles.
Emergency Response and Future Preparedness
In response to the alarming situation, scientists launched an emergency effort in spring 2024 to rescue critically endangered sawfish affected by the spinning phenomenon. Although the first rescued sawfish did not survive, the number of reported cases began to decline, suggesting that the immediate crisis may have passed. However, researchers are now better equipped to understand the complexities of this issue and are hopeful that future occurrences can be managed more effectively.
Ongoing Research and Questions
Despite the progress made, many questions remain unanswered. Researchers are still investigating the specific causes of the dinoflagellate bloom and the environmental factors that triggered it. Understanding whether the affected fish were concentrated in specific areas or if the phenomenon was widespread is crucial for future conservation efforts. The need for further research is evident, and scientists are actively working to piece together the puzzle of this unusual fish die-off.
Conclusion
The recent events surrounding the sawfish and other fish species in Florida highlight the intricate relationships within marine ecosystems and the potential impacts of environmental changes. As researchers continue to study the causes and effects of this phenomenon, it is essential for the public to stay informed and engaged in ocean conservation efforts. By understanding these issues, we can better advocate for the protection of vulnerable species and their habitats.
The critically endangered sawfish were particularly affected by the recent phenomenon of spinning behavior and subsequent deaths due to their bottom-dwelling lifestyle. Sawfish, often described as "flat sharks," typically inhabit the seafloor where they align themselves with the substrate. This behavior makes them susceptible to exposure to neurotoxins that may be present in the sediment and water column.
During the summer, scientists observed that sawfish and other fish species exhibited unusual spinning behavior before dying. Investigations revealed that this behavior was linked to exposure to multiple toxins, primarily from dinoflagellates, a type of microscopic algae. Under normal conditions, these dinoflagellates reside on seagrass or larger algae on the seafloor. However, an unknown driver—potentially heat, storms, or a combination of environmental factors—caused these dinoflagellates to leave their usual habitats and enter the water column.
The sawfish's feeding habits further contributed to their vulnerability. As they swim along the ocean floor, they use their distinctive saw-like rostrum to sift through the substrate, which could disturb the dinoflagellates and release the neurotoxins into the water. This disturbance likely allowed the toxins to enter the gills of the sawfish, leading to the neurological impacts that caused them to spin in circles.
Research indicated that the livers of the symptomatic fish were filled with various toxins, including ciguatoxin, produced by the dinoflagellates. While the initial concern was primarily about ciguatoxin due to its implications for human health, it became clear that the issue was more complex, involving a combination of neurotoxins that could affect the fish's behavior.
Given that sawfish are already classified as critically endangered, this incident raises significant concerns about their future. Their bottom-dwelling nature means they are more likely to encounter harmful algal blooms and associated toxins. As scientists continue to investigate the causes of this phenomenon, understanding the relationship between the sawfish's habitat, feeding behavior, and exposure to neurotoxins will be crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and mitigating future risks to this vulnerable species.
Understanding the Sawfish Phenomenon: A Deep Dive into the Recent Fish Die-Off
In the summer of 2023, a concerning phenomenon was observed in Florida waters where sawfish and other fish species were seen spinning in circles before dying. This unusual behavior raised alarms among scientists and conservationists, prompting investigations into the underlying causes. While researchers have identified the complex factors contributing to this behavior, the exact triggers remain elusive.
The Role of Dinoflagellates
The investigation revealed that the symptomatic fish, including sawfish, died from exposure to multiple toxins, likely originating from various species of dinoflagellates. These microscopic algae typically reside on seagrass or larger algae on the seafloor. However, an unknown driver—potentially heat, storms, or a combination of events—caused these dinoflagellates to leave their usual habitats and enter the water column. Marine scientist Allison Roberts noted the rarity of such occurrences, emphasizing the need for further research to understand the dynamics at play. Notably, the phenomenon was not linked to red tide, a well-known harmful algal bloom, as water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH were within normal ranges.
The Discovery of Ciguatoxin
A significant breakthrough came from Michael Parsons, a marine ecologist who found elevated levels of seafloor-dwelling dinoflagellates from the genus Gambierdiscus. This genus is known to produce ciguatoxin, a neurotoxin that can cause ciguatera poisoning in humans who consume contaminated seafood. Although there were no reported cases of ciguatera linked to this event, the presence of ciguatoxin in the livers of affected fish raised concerns about human health implications.
Interestingly, while the muscles of the symptomatic fish showed minimal toxin levels, their livers were found to be filled with various toxins, indicating that the fish were indeed affected by a cocktail of neurotoxins rather than a single source.
Impact on Sawfish
Sawfish, classified as endangered, were particularly hard-hit by this phenomenon. These flat sharks typically dwell near the ocean floor, where they use their saw-like rostrum to hunt for prey. The disturbance of the seafloor, possibly caused by their own foraging behavior, may have led to the release of the dinoflagellates into the water column, allowing the toxins to enter their gills and subsequently their livers.
In response to the crisis, scientists initiated an emergency rescue effort for the critically endangered sawfish in spring 2024. Although the first rescued sawfish did not survive, the decline in reports of ailing sawfish suggested that the immediate crisis may have subsided. However, researchers are hopeful that with the knowledge gained from this event, they will be better prepared to address similar occurrences in the future.
Future Research Directions
The episode underscores the importance of ongoing research to unravel the complexities of harmful algal blooms and their impacts on marine life. Questions remain regarding the specific environmental triggers that led to the dinoflagellate bloom and how these toxins affect various fish species. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for the conservation of endangered species like the sawfish and for safeguarding human health.
As the scientific community continues to investigate, there is a call for collaboration and communication among researchers, conservationists, and the public to ensure the health of our oceans and the species that inhabit them.
In spring 2024, a notable emergency rescue effort was initiated for a distressed sawfish, marking a significant milestone in conservation efforts for this critically endangered species. This initiative was prompted by the alarming phenomenon observed in the summer of 2023, where sawfish and other fish exhibited unusual behavior, such as spinning in circles before dying. This behavior was linked to exposure to multiple toxins, primarily from dinoflagellates, which are a type of microscopic algae.
The rescue operation was unprecedented in the United States, highlighting the urgency and importance of protecting the sawfish population. Scientists successfully rescued a distressed sawfish and transported it to the Mote Marine Laboratory, an aquarium located in Sarasota, Florida, for rehabilitation. Unfortunately, despite the efforts made to save the fish, it did not survive. This outcome underscores the challenges faced in the conservation of endangered species, particularly when they are affected by environmental stressors and toxins.
Following the rescue, reports of ailing sawfish began to decline, suggesting that the immediate crisis may have subsided. However, the incident raised critical questions about the health of the sawfish population and the environmental factors contributing to their distress. The knowledge gained from this rescue effort is invaluable, as it may better prepare scientists and conservationists for future occurrences of similar phenomena.
The rescue also emphasizes the need for ongoing research to understand the causes behind the toxic exposure and the behavior exhibited by the sawfish. Identifying the specific environmental triggers—such as heat, storms, or disturbances in their habitat—will be crucial in developing effective conservation strategies. The hope is that with continued research and monitoring, conservationists can implement measures to protect these vulnerable fish and mitigate the risks posed by harmful algal blooms and other environmental threats.
In summary, the emergency rescue of the sawfish in spring 2024 represents a proactive approach to conservation, despite the unfortunate outcome. It serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in marine conservation and the importance of understanding the intricate relationships between marine species and their environments.
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I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is scientists have
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figured out what was going on with those sawfish that
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were spinning around in Florida in the water earlier this summer and dying.
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They figured it out, they kind of know what it is, but they also don't
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know what the cause of it was, like in terms of why this actually
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happened. We're going to talk about that on today's episode of the How to Protect
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the Ocean podcast, so stay tuned and let's start the show. Hey,
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everybody, welcome back to another exciting episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast. I
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am your host, Andrew Lewin. This is a podcast where you find out what's happening with the ocean, how you
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can speak up for the ocean and what you can do to live for a better ocean by
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taking action. And I have to tell you, it's Monday. It's
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the first day of the week. Well, I guess technically the second day of the week. But I
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was up north in at a cottage with some friends. We
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played some golf. We were able to play some ping pong and
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just kind of catch up with a lot of friends that I haven't seen in a long time. It
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was the most beautiful weekend I've seen up
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in where I was in North Bay. It was 28 degrees, 26, 27, 28 degrees.
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It was absolutely gorgeous. Kind of scary though in September up
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north where you actually have this type of weather, this warm weather.
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Not something we want in the long term but it was kind of nice to enjoy I
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guess. I don't really know. I digress. Today
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we're going to be talking about something that I think is really interesting. It's we
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know what was causing the sawfish and
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other fish to die and what was that behavior where
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sawfish were actually spinning around in circles and then dying. We
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know what caused it. We don't know how it
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happened, but we know what caused it or the
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complex that caused it. And we're going to talk about that today, which
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I think is really, really important. First of all, I wanna just tell you
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I am very close, very, very close to
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finishing up the changes and the final touches on a community
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app that I am building with somebody that
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I'm paying to build. It's gonna be a great app where you
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can come on the app, you're always gonna get the information as long as you go
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on the app. There's no algorithm like on Instagram or on Facebook or
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on, I'm going to be sharing information. You
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can join for free. There are going to be some paid options if you
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want to support the show or you want to look for something like maybe some
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careers or something like that. There will be some paid options, but it's free to join. You can interact
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with other members. It's going to be a lot of fun. You don't have to go on social media all
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the time. I know a lot of people are trying to get off social media, so you can
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actually join me and talk. We'll do some Ask
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Me Anythings. We'll have some of our guests on that have
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been on the podcast before and on this to do some Ask Me Anythings. I'll
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share extra information. It's gonna be a great time, so
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keep an eye out for that. So the way to do that is
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you sign up for our newsletter, that's speakupforblue.com forward
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slash newsletter, that's speakupforblue.com, all
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one word, forward slash newsletter. There's a link in the show notes or
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in the comments or in the description, wherever you are, there's
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gonna be a link and you get to check it out and I'll give you updates
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on what it looks like and what happens very, very, very soon. OK, so
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when it comes out. So that's it. So let's get into the show because
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I'm so excited. This is going to be something that we've been waiting to
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hear about for quite some time. There was a very
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disturbing behavior in the summer where these sawfish and
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other fish were like spinning around in circles and then just dying. It was very,
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very weird. Sawfish are part of the endangered species list, and
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they're critical. There are two populations, one in the Bahamas, one
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in the US, this population anyway, this species. you
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know, the bigger population is in the US, but it's still a
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problem, and it's something that we need to figure out to
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protect them. A lot of people are doing some great work in
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Florida, as well as other places, to be able to protect them, so
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keep an eye out for that. But this story came
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off of National Geographic, which is really great to see that
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they're updating us on this. I've been looking for this for quite some time. And
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so over the summer, actually, they said in, I
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think it was in, November 2023? Maybe it was earlier than
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that. There was this whirling
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in circles, like a phenomenon of this whirling in circles, usually until
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they died. Scientists later recorded the
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phenomenon in more than 80 different species, including parrotfish, bull sharks,
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and Goliath grouper. So this affected a lot of
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fish. there was an investigation water samples
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were taken where these fish were dead uh there were
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a lot of samples analyzed there were fish that were analyzed and
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the the uh results were really quite
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quite interesting uh it was more than so What
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they were worried about is like, what was causing it? They thought it was a toxin. Where
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was this toxin? Where was it coming from? Where was it going? And
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how was it going into, you know, how was it being absorbed? And
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where was it actually affecting these fish? So
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it says, after testing hundreds of water and fish samples, the
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experts concluded the symptomatic fish
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died from combined exposure of multiple toxins, possibly
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originating from multiple species of dinoflagellates. It's a type of macroalgae, essentially,
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so microscopic algae, so like a phytoplankton. Under
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normal conditions, these dinoflagellates in question live on seagrass
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or larger algae on the seafloor, rather
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than a free-floating water column. But some as yet unknown
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driver, possibly heat, maybe a storm, even
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a mix of events, cause the dinoflagellates to leave their hosts
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and move upward into the water column. And according
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to Allison Roberts, who's a marine scientist who studies harmful algal
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blooms at the University of Southern Alabama Stokes School of Marine and
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Environmental Sciences and the Dolphin Island Sea Lab, said,
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it's just really rare. We've never really seen
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that. This is what we have to work out in terms of what's
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happening here, what's happening in general. wasn't
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red tide we know that it wasn't red tide which is a bloom of
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toxic dinoflagellates and dissolved oxygen salinity and ph and temperatures
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were all within normal ranges and not suspected to
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be that cause the initial breakthrough came from
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michael parsons a marine ecologist who studies algal blooms at florida gulf
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coast university revealed that the levels of water samples showed
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higher than normal levels of the type of seafloor-dwelling dinoflagellates
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in the genus Gambierdiscus. Gambiodiscus
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is the genus name. Now this algae
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produces a neurotoxin called ciguatoxin. And
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so people who eat seafood that are infected with ciguatoxin or the neurotoxin
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experience like ciguatera, which is like a condition that causes vomiting, nausea,
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neurological symptoms, so not great.
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So that was the biggest lead that Robertson said
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they were going with because of the human health implications. They were worried that people
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were eating fish that had the ciguatera and they didn't want
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them to be sick. But there were no cases that they really saw, I think, that
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had this. So they didn't find many toxins
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in the muscles of the symptomatic fish. But their livers,
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which is the organ responsible for filtering out the impurities, were chock
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full of toxins ranging from ciguatoxin to a variety of
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toxins produced by dinoflagellates other than
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the Gambier discus genus that I just mentioned. So in
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terms of the crux of it, it was not just ciguatoxin alone. based
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on the evidence that they've seen, but it's something that
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could be a combination of these neurotoxins that
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would cause these fish
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to display such a behavior. Now, some algae produce multiple
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toxins, So it's not necessarily a one-to-one relationship.
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Now, so the sawfish were hit hard, and the thinking around
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this was sawfish don't necessarily hang around in
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the water column. They hang around on the bottom. If you actually look at a sawfish, it's
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a flat shark, what we call. So it looks like a
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bit of a morph between a ray and a shark. You
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know, a buddy of mine and co-host of the Beyond Jaws podcast calls
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these guys, Dr. David Ebert, calls these
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guys shark rays, or flat sharks, is
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what they call them, flat sharks. So essentially what they do, these flat sharks lie on
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the bottom of the ocean, and they align the sea floor, where
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these dinoflagellates, the ciguatoxin dinoflagellates kind of hang out,
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the Gambier discus. And so when they actually
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surf, like they swim along the
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bottom of the ocean, and they use that rostrum,
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that big saw-like sort of appendage,
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and they start to sift through the bottom. Now that could have disturbed that
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algae that was in that area and then it got through the
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gills as well as into the liver. That's where the sawfish had
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these dinoflagellate and the toxin in.
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So, you know, these are 16 foot long sawfish. They
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use the saw to hunt, catching other fish and crabs and more. You
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know, it made sense that this dinoflagellate that
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it hits on the bottom, stays on the bottom, is getting disturbed. It kind
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of floats up a little bit and it gets into the gills and it gets into
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the liver. And that's why we probably saw, you know, high concentration of
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toxin-laden water that passed through the sawfish gills, causing
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the neurological impacts that we saw where they were spinning in circles. So
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concerned about the fish's future, in spring 2024, for
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the first time in US history, scientists launched an emergency effort to rescue critically
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endangered sawfish impacted by the spinning phenomenon. On
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April 5th, they successfully rescued a distressed sawfish and
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began rehabilitation effort in Mote Marine Laboratory, an aquarium in
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Sarasota. However, the animal did not survive. But
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reports of ailing sawfish then declined, and
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so we started to see less and less cases. But
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we're hoping that we'll be more prepared when we start to see these cases again. And
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because we know that it's multiple toxins, maybe we can know
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how to treat it better when they fix it, when they see it
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next time, if they see it next time. Now, there could be
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a lot of things that cause this, and I mentioned them before. It could have been heat, it
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could have been a storm, it could have just been disturbance in an area and there
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was a lot of dinoflagellates for that area. some of
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the water samples or many of the water samples didn't display any heightened
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dinoflagellates or heightened algae in that in the in
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the samples doesn't necessarily mean that's the case though so there still needs
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to be more research and more investigation that for this
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phenomenon and for what happened but This is
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giving us a little bit more of an answer
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of what happened to these fish and what could happen in
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the future if we're not careful. Now, the biggest thing right now
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is to find out what happened, piece those items together, find
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out what the cause of it was and how these dinoflagellates got
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into these fish, right? And these a fish, where are
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they? Were they all in one area? Was it all over the place? How
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is the bottom disturbed if that's what the case was
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for the sawfish? And a lot of questions and a lot of
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answers. I'm sure it'd be great graduate work or a great research
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study to happen in the future. And I'm sure that's going on right now. So we
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have a lot of people that are involved in this, which is great. I'll
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find out if I can get more of an update. I'm working on getting an
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interview with Michael Parsons who did a lot of the analysis. So
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we'll see what we can do. Maybe we can get Alison Robertson on the show as well. But
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that's it for today's episode. I hope you got some answers. I'd love to hear your
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comments. You can comment on Spotify. You
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can comment on YouTube, because this episode
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is going up on YouTube as well. And of course, if you want to get a hold of me and
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you're listening to this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anything else
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that's not video, it's all the audio related, just hit
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me up on Instagram at howtoprotecttheocean. That's
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at how to protect the ocean. And of course, don't forget, I
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know a lot of calls to actions here, don't forget to sign up for
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my newsletter, speakupforblue.com forward slash newsletter.
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And you can get access to a lot of different news that's coming out, but
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also you get access to when this app is coming out.
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I can't wait for it's going to come out within the next month or so. So looking forward
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to that. Anyway, that's it for today's episode. Thank you so much for listening to
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this episode of the how to protect the ocean podcast. I'm your host, Andrew Lewin. Have
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