Mass Stranding of Marine Birds Caused by a Surfactant-Producing Red Tide

David A Jessup,Melissa A Miller,Abdou Mekebri,Raphael M Kudela,Heather A Kerkering,John P Ryan,David B Crane,Hannah M Nevins,Tyler A Johnson,Peter M Bennett

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004550

Abstract

In November-December 2007 a widespread seabird mortality event occurred in Monterey Bay, California, USA, coincident with a massive red tide caused by the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea. Affected birds had a slimy yellow-green material on their feathers, which were saturated with water, and they were severely hypothermic. We determined that foam containing surfactant-like proteins, derived from organic matter of the red tide, coated their feathers and neutralized natural water repellency and insulation. No evidence of exposure to petroleum or other oils or biotoxins were found. This is the first documented case of its kind, but previous similar events may have gone undetected. The frequency and amplitude of red tides have increased in Monterey Bay since 2004, suggesting that impacts on wintering marine birds may continue or increase.

Highlights

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by a variety of dinoflagellates occur worldwide and can cause morbidity and mortality of fish, invertebrates, marine birds, marine mammals and humans [1,2,3,4]
Notable events include domoic acid poisoning of California sea lions, common dolphins, southern sea otters, and whales [7,9,10,11] caused by ingestion of algae or contaminated prey; brevetoxin poisoning of manatees caused by direct inhalation [12] and poisoning of manatees and dolphins by ingestion of contaminated fish and seagrasses [13]; paralytic shellfish poisoning of right whales caused by ingestion of contaminated copepods [14]
We present the first report of harmful effects caused by external coating of marine birds by a proteinaceous foam derived from a red tide bloom that occurred November 2007 in Monterey Bay, CA (USA)

Summary

Introduction

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by a variety of dinoflagellates occur worldwide and can cause morbidity and mortality of fish, invertebrates, marine birds, marine mammals and humans [1,2,3,4]. We present the first report of harmful effects caused by external coating of marine birds by a proteinaceous foam derived from a red tide bloom that occurred November 2007 in Monterey Bay, CA (USA). This red tide bloom was ostensibly nontoxic, it was very harmful, causing unprecedented beach stranding of live and dead seabirds. This is the first documented case of its kind, but previous similar events worldwide may have gone undetected

Methods

Results

Conclusion