Florida may have more to worry about than just slapping Band Aids on the blue-green algae problem, as we see here that some cyanobacteria may be elephant killers. The article does not say and it may not be known yet which toxic species were in the African water pools. There are many different kinds of cyanobacteria, but we know some in Florida are toxic.
Approximately 20 cyanobacteria species in Florida’s waters are capable of producing toxins, and we know that some may be harmful to humans, but there is much more to be learned. And the more we learn the worse it gets.
But what we do know is that cyanobacteria is a growing problem in Florida and that it inhabits the Santa Fe River, in part and mostly because too much fertilizer is being dumped on the ground in the watershed.
And way too much pumping out of our declining aquifer is slowing down the flow and helping the algae grow.
Read the complete article here in BBC News.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum