What could happen if the red tide and the brown tide in Florida meet? The “meet-up” could worsen the red tide that has already killed tons of fish and other marine life.

Florida Red Tide

The latest update from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on the ongoing red tide in the state reveals that the algal blooms continue to persist in Southwest Florida, spanning 145 miles of coastline. In some areas, high concentrations of Karenia brevis continue to be observed at >1,000,000 cells per liter.

So far, authorities have already recovered 150 tons of dead fish for disposal, and other marine creatures such as manatees, sea turtles, and dolphins are also affected by the red tide. In fact, the FWC has confirmed red tide to be the cause of death of 29 manatees as of Aug. 18 and is suspected to be the cause of death of over 70 other manatees. Even birds such as osprey, anhingas, black skimmers, and laughing gulls are already being badly affected by the ongoing red tide.

Red Tide And Brown Tide ‘Meet-Up’

Now, the annual Trichodesmium algal bloom has already begun in West Florida waters and experts worry that this might lead to horrible results should it meet with the ongoing red tide. While some Trichodesmium strains can produce toxins, the one responsible for the current brown tide is not known to cause harm to animals, the water, and people. It is also not typically a food source for marine animals.

What is dangerous about the meet-up of the red tide and the brown tide, should it happen, is that when the Trichodesmium bloom dies, the red tide’s K. brevia could then feed off the nutrients released by the brown tide, extending its life and allowing it to spread even further. This is the reason why scientists are hoping that the two do not end up meeting in the water or else the meet-up could potentially worsen the already bad red tide.

Brown Tide

The brown tide is caused by Trichodesmium, a cyanobacterium that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide and blooms in the Gulf of Mexico every year. Reports of Trichodesmium blooms date far back in the 1700s when British Royal Navy’s Captain James Cook reported about brown blooms that looked like sandbars.

Because the blooms can actually form colonies that are visible to the eye, sailors sometimes call the blooms “sea sawdust” because the smaller blooms look like sawdust floating on the surface of the water whereas the bigger blooms tend to look like oil slicks.

Interestingly, some Trichodesmium blooms can be so visibly large that they can be seen from space.