Sargassum - A Seaweed that is Harmful
Gone are the days of scoffing at global warming and now its true form is unfolding and spreading in a way that is unimaginable and unstoppable by the human race. Along the long beaches of the Caribbean and gulf of mexico, Sargassum seaweed crawls with the waves. We can smell it before we see it. This sponge has the smell of rotten eggs. It recedes on the shore, emptying the foam of the sea, covering it like brown blankets, spreading far and wide and stinking.
In the area known as the Great Atlantic 'Circus Belt', this type of seaweed is concentrated like a giant boat. From this the seaweeds are breaking up in clumps. It stretches about 5,000 miles (8,047 km) between the gulf of mexico and the west coast of Africa. It can even be seen from space. Scientists are investigating this circus and seaweed. It grows and spreads in Atlantic waters to the tune of 13 million tons.
Although it's not unusual for Sarcus to grow and spread like this, it's worth noting that this type of seaweed that washes up along the coasts of florida and mexico has made headlines for the horrible bacteria that feed on it. And what is dangerous about this is that this type of algae also contains a large amount of plastic waste.
Also, it is associated with bacteria called Vibrio, a large genus of bacteria found in saltwater and marine environments. It is associated with the bacteria Vibrio Vulnificus. Scientists are warning that it spreads very fast in the body and leads to a condition called Necrotizing fasciitis that takes life. If there are open sores such as sores, scabs, bruises on our body, this Vibrio bacteria can easily enter the body and kill us.
"Our research shows that this Vibrio is very aggressive and will seek out and stick to plastic within minutes," says Tracey Minzer, assistant professor of biology at florida Atlantic University, who led the study.
"I think this microbe is able to grow and multiply itself along with the plastic. Another interesting thing we found is a set of genes called Zot, which has a syndrome that causes leaky gut," says Mincer.
In the area known as the Great Atlantic 'Circus Belt', this type of seaweed is concentrated like a giant boat. From this the seaweeds are breaking up in clumps. It stretches about 5,000 miles (8,047 km) between the gulf of mexico and the west coast of Africa. It can even be seen from space. Scientists are investigating this circus and seaweed. It grows and spreads in Atlantic waters to the tune of 13 million tons.
Although it's not unusual for Sarcus to grow and spread like this, it's worth noting that this type of seaweed that washes up along the coasts of florida and mexico has made headlines for the horrible bacteria that feed on it. And what is dangerous about this is that this type of algae also contains a large amount of plastic waste.
Also, it is associated with bacteria called Vibrio, a large genus of bacteria found in saltwater and marine environments. It is associated with the bacteria Vibrio Vulnificus. Scientists are warning that it spreads very fast in the body and leads to a condition called Necrotizing fasciitis that takes life. If there are open sores such as sores, scabs, bruises on our body, this Vibrio bacteria can easily enter the body and kill us.
"Our research shows that this Vibrio is very aggressive and will seek out and stick to plastic within minutes," says Tracey Minzer, assistant professor of biology at florida Atlantic University, who led the study.
"I think this microbe is able to grow and multiply itself along with the plastic. Another interesting thing we found is a set of genes called Zot, which has a syndrome that causes leaky gut," says Mincer.