Algae types caused the Red Tide in Local Water and their Reappearance
The classification results showed that there are 12 types of algae which cause the red tide, among which there are 8 types extensively deployed:
- Karenia mikimotoi
- Prorocentrum micans
- Dinophysis Caudata
- Pyrodinium bahamense
- Cochlodinium polykrikoides
- Gymnodinium catenatum
- Ceratium furca
- Ceratium fusus
However, the fifth type is regarded as the most extensively deployed among others, and still found in the local water and reappears every now and then.
This photo shows reproduction of alga Cochlodinium polykrikoides in form of a chain.
Algae life circle
Red tide-causing cells of Dinoflagellate are increasing through reproduction in water in huge numbers, and transforming into mature cells capable of moving by these Dinoflagellate, then gathering in form of huge colonies. Some of these cells spend their lifetime in water till death and decomposition, while the remaining cells settle in sea bed forming viscles that live for years. However, when there are the suitable environmental circumstances like moderate temperature, light, oxygen and sufficient materials rich of nutrients, these cells re-grow again and divide to form thousands of cells, as shown in the following figure:
Areas of spread of the common algae type in local water, across the World:
Studies and reports show that alga (Cochlodinium polykrikoides) is found in East Asia Countries, India, Mediterranean Sea, Spain, USA and Mexico.
The phytoplanktons move across water currents from a place into another, as shown in the following figure between Japan and Korea:
The photos taken by satellites showed the extension of red tide from Muscat to Musandam reaching to the Arabian Gulf. However, this refers to that red tide found now in the Arabian Gulf was composed by the movement of water currents from Oman Gulf to Arabian Gulf.