A once-in-a-decade bloom of bioluminescent algae, known as Noctiluca scintillans, has transformed Tasmanian coastlines into a mesmerizing light show. While captivating for humans, the algae poses a threat to marine ecosystems.
last night were treated to a light show of a different kind this New Years, with a spectacular display of bioluminescent algae. The state is in the midst of a once-in-a-decade bloom of the algae, formally known as Noctiluca scintillans — which translates to sparkling night light. Families gathered at Pirates Bay beach to see a light show of a different kind on New Year's Eve. 'There was so much blue light along the shore.
Parents had their hands full as children were stepping into the water to be amongst it,' he said.The algae appears as red streaks in the daytime and glows electric blue at night. Tasmanian biologist Dr Lisa-ann Gershwin said although it was quite common to see the algae off the Tasmanian coast, she had personally not seen a bloom as big as this since 2015. Photographer Robbie Moles captured this image on Boxing Day at Eaglehawk Neck. 'Tassie has become one of the global hotspots for this, and so we do see it quite often, but not at this scale,' she said.Gershwin said the algae was an invasive pest that has been around for decades. Although it was extremely beautiful, the algae was a sign the ecosystem was off-balance and it could be harmful to marine life, she said.'As spectacular as it is for humans to behold this, it's equally harmful for the organisms that live in the water,' she said. 'It eats up just vast amounts of phytoplankton, which is the plant plankton, and zooplankton, which is the animal plankton, and it just wipes out the ecosystem, right at the ankles.''So it's really quite devastating for the ecosystem in that way, just cutting off the food chain.' The algae also used up oxygen levels in the water, suffocating other marine life, and exuded ammonia into the water which could burn the delicate tissues of marine life, Gershwin said
BIOLUMINESCENT ALGAE TASMANIA ECOSYSTEM MARINE LIFE NOCTILUCA SCINTILLANS
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