1.

Name two types of sickness you can get from phytoplankton in

Florida, and describe how you can get them. What symptoms led
to the diagnosis of our patients?
2. Explain how an HAB outbreak can have a devastating economic
impact.
3. Why do you think it can be difficult to determine the causes of HAB
related illnesses and events?
4. Summarize how the conditions found in the Gulf of Mexico
contribute to the overgrowth of phytoplankton.
5. Explain how a Harmful Algal Bloom can impact an ecosystem.
6. Create a chart or Graph showing the estimated economic impact
of HABs on the United States over three years. You may use any
type of chart or graph you wish. If you need some help with charts
or Graphs click on the Graphs and Chart Help below. You may use
one for each year or include all three years on the same chart or
graph. Based on the data what would you predict about the
economic impacts in the years to come?
1. Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning is a sickness you can get by eating
bivalve shellfish and other mollusks that have been contaminated
by toxins during red tide. You can get Diarrhetic Shellfish
Poisoning by eating contaminated shellfish, usually during red
tide.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning

o tingling sensation/numbness
around the lips,face and neck
o prickly sensation in the fingertips
and toes
o drowsiness
o headache
o dizziness
o difficulty swallowing

o
o
o
o
o
o

diarrhea
nausea
vomiting
headache
abdominal cramps
chills

2. An outbreak like this could negatively effect the tourism in

Florida. This is because during red tide, all beaches must be
closed for health and safety reasons, thus creating a decline in
economic flow. Also, an outbreak could negatively affect the
fishing and shellfish industry. Fishermen are not able to catch fish
to buy on the market. Depending on how long the outbreak lasts it,
can severely ruin a successful business.
3. I think that it would be difficult to determine the causes of HAB
related illnesses and events because some of the symptoms are
the same if not similar to many other illness. Also, if the affected
individual didn't know that there was red tide, they would have no
clue what made them ill, making things more difficult for doctors
to diagnosis the issue. Another factor is that you cant really trace
where the food you ate comes from.
4. Because of the warm water temperatures, high nutrient content,
low salinity, calm seas and rain followed by sunny hot weather,
the conditions found in the Gulf of Mexico contribute to the
overgrowth of phytoplankton.
5. HAB can affect an ecosystems wildlife as well as humans. The
toxins released during red tide can cause various illnesses,
interfering with respiratory health, skin and even the nervous

system. As the dinoflagellates multiply, they become more

harmful to the ecosystem. There is a possibility to where they
could multiply so much, it could harm the ecosystem
permanently.
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