In 2018, a massive harmful algal bloom (HAB) along Florida’s southwestern coast killed 2,000 tons of marine life and caused $8 million in business losses. This HAB was a red tide, which is a rapid increase of the alga species Karenia brevis, a marine dinoflagellate common in the Gulf of Mexico. However, HABs can be caused by many different alga species in many different types of water bodies.
In this series of Science by the Slice, a podcast by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center), experts will break down the topic of harmful algal blooms to better understand their causes and implications. In this episode, you’ll hear from Ed Phlips, professor at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida; Betty Staugler, NOAA harmful algal bloom liaison at the Florida Sea Grant; and Mike Allen, professor at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida.
“I think education is power, said podcast guest, Betty Staugler. “The more we can arm ourselves with knowledge, the more we are better able to protect ourselves, our families, our pets, and ultimately, our coasts and the state of Florida.”
Learn more about the science of harmful algal blooms by listening to our latest series, ‘Bloom’ goes the Dinoflagellate! Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or listen now at: https://piecenter.com/media/podcast/
The following websites provide information about how to prepare for and recover from hurricanes and other disasters:
PIE Center News Story on Harmful Algal Blooms: https://piecenter.com/2020/10/07/pie-center-collaborates-with-florida-sea-grant-to-create-red-tide-communication-materials/
Florida Sea Grant Resources: https://www.flseagrant.org/habs/
NOAA resources: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov
Science by the Slice is a podcast from the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) that explores the science behind issues affecting our daily lives, encompassing public health, agriculture, and natural resources. Experts discuss the science of complex challenges in our society, then, through analysis and storytelling, piece together the motivations that reveal the way people think about, form, and act on opinions regarding these pivotal issues.
