Effects of the Texas (USA) 'brown tide' alga on planktonic grazers

Abstract

The Laguna Madre of south Texas, USA, has experienced a dense, nearly monospecific phytoplankton bloom since January 1990 referred to as the "brown tide'. Zooplankton populations declined following the outbreak of the bloom and planktonic grazers have failed to bring the bloom under control. Laboratory studies suggest that the brown tide alga appears to be toxic to some species of planktonic grazers and a poor food for others; the reduced grazing by the planktonic community may therefore be a contributing factor to the persistence of this bloom. -from Authors