What are Harmful Algal Blooms?
Algae are microscopic plants that are usually aquatic, unicellular, and lack true stems, roots, and leaves. Algal blooms occur in both marine and freshwater environments when an algal species outcompetes other species and reproduces rapidly. An algal bloom can even discolor the water due to the large number of algal cells. A harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a bloom that produces toxins which are detrimental to plants and animals. (An algal bloom can still kill fish and other aquatic life by decreasing sunlight available to the water and by using up all of the available oxygen in the water, but a harmful algal bloom specifically produces harmful toxins.
