**Promoted from the TAM Wire, Posted by Alain41**
The horror! Nature, krill, is eating a large algae bloom in Antarctic waters.
Enormous algal bloom floats near Antarctica
An unprecedented algal bloom is making a splash in the Southern Ocean. Unlike in some other aquatic areas, the bloom there could be a blessing rather than a curse.
Scientists at the University of Tasmania have discovered a 20,000-square-kilometer (7,700-square-mile) bed of algae in Antarctica. The researchers became aware of the unusual bloom through satellite information from NASA, which captured images of huge, brownish-green spots in the waters of the ocean.
When it comes to the Adriatic or Baltic Seas, researchers are prone to talk about an “algae plague,” but the situation is different in the case of Antarctica.“I expect a feast,” Lieser said. All manner of tiny sea animals, such as Antarctic krill, quickly snap up the short-lived algae. “Krill then becomes food for seabirds, penguins, seals and even whales,” Lieser explained.
The researchers can’t identify the exact kind of algae at the moment, although they think it may be in the Phaeocystis family.
Well nothing left to do now but blame global warming. If only we were taxed more and had to buy more carbon credits, these kinds of outrageous algae growths — (the most ever seen on record!), wouldn’t happen.
Now where’s the grant money?
We need an animated feature film of the little Algae trying to escape the evil Krill. Whose voice talent should we use for the characters?
Using the word, “Talent” loosely, let’s get the man with the most annoying voice on the planet(when he really, really lays it on):
Gilbert Gottfried
posted 3/9 830am Texas[Aflac!]Time
Wonder if PITA will take issue when Obama takes the algae away from all the little ‘kitten’ critters of the sea for his NEW alternative gas that will be needed to supply his Chevy Volts.. So much for the Whales, eh?
Dang Krill.
Two Questions:
#1) Who knew that Margaret Keane painted “Krill”?
#2) That the Phaeocystis genus belongs to the prymnesiophytes and to the larger division of Haptophyta. And the haptophytes, classified as chromist algae, branched from the red algae about 1300 million years ago (Ma) through a secondary red algal endosymbiotic event?
posted 3/8 933pm Texas[Got Algae?] Time
From Wikipedia: Currently Margaret makes her home in Napa County, California. She will be portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the upcoming film, Big Eyes.
Your knowledge of algae is VERY impressive. Cheers all!
I was taking a drink of water while your page opened up Tammy and when I saw the picture of the krill I spit my water out laughing. Too funny. Thanks for another laugh 🙂
This story is scary and creepy on many levels! #tweetSoledad