Are red tide and golden alga blooms the same?
No, both occurrences are caused by harmful algae species but the species are different. Species that cause red tide blooms belong to the group of algae called dinoflagellates. They are single celled algae with two whip-like flagella (one in a central groove and another placed vertically). The golden alga is a species in a different algal family called the Chrysophyta. It is a tiny single celled organism with yellow-green or golden-brown pigments. It has two whip-like flagella and a third appendage called a haptonema used to attach to other objects. Both types of organisms produce toxins but the toxins differ in their composition and mode of action.
