Toxic Algae Causes Sea Lion Brain Damage
A toxic chemical produced by algal blooms damages the Sea Lion's memory and learning centres
Algal blooms causing seals to forget foraging sites and become stranded
The increase in sea lion strandings along the coast of California in recent years have been a mystery to scientists. But a new study by Dr. Peter Cook, a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Psychology Department at Emory University in Atlanta, found a link between a known toxin and brain damage in sea lions.
Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin that occurs naturally in algal blooms. The algae is eaten by fish, which are then consumed by sea lions. The toxin targets cells in the sea lion's hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. As a result, sea lions forget where they are, where to forage, and, in the case of mothers, where their pups are.
Scientists believe the problem of starving sea lions stranding on beaches will continue as warming waters increase both the size and frequency of algal blooms.
Related Links
- Paper in Science
- Emory University release
- University California Davis release
- National Geographic story
- Washington Post story