Perceived global increase in algal blooms is attributable to intensified monitoring and emerging bloom impacts.

ABSTRACT: Global trends in the occurrence, toxicity and risk posed by harmful algal blooms to natural systems, human health and coastal economies are poorly constrained, but are widely thought to be increasing due to climate change and nutrient pollution. Here, we conduct a statistical analysis on a global dataset extracted from the Harmful Algae Event Database and Ocean Biodiversity Information System for the period 1985-2018 to investigate temporal trends in the frequency and distribution of marine harmful algal blooms. We find no uniform global trend in the number of harmful algal events and their distribution over time, once data were adjusted for regional variations in monitoring effort. Varying and contrasting regional trends were driven by differences in bloom species, type and emergent impac

SUBMITTER: Hallegraeff GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10289804 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature