AGRICULTURE REPORT - Red Tides

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Red Tides
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Tuesday, February 01, 2005

I'm Phoebe Zimmermann with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Different events can change the balance of sea life. Red tides are an example. These can happen in oceans, rivers or lakes anywhere in the world. What happens is that algae¹ suddenly increase in numbers. Algae are single-celled organisms. They are a normal part of sea life.

As they spread, or bloom, the water may turn red or brown. Sometimes the water does not change color at all. But deadly algae could still be present.

Some kinds of algae produce a strong poison. This can build up in shellfish that eat the algae and make them poisonous, but not kill them. Other kinds of algae may kill sea life by reducing oxygen levels in the water. In some red tides, thousands of dead fish appear on beaches.

Scientists do not know exactly why red tides happen. But they say a combination of conditions all play a part. These include water temperature, nutrients² in the water and water flow. Pollution could also play a part.

A number of different algae can cause red tides. A common form has the scientific name Karenia brevis. It is often linked with red tides in the Gulf³ of Mexico and the Caribbean area.

Algae poisons build up in the tissue of shellfish like clams⁴, oysters⁵ and mussels. This makes them unsafe for several weeks after a red tide goes away.

People are also advised not to eat the organs of fish or shellfish like shrimp⁶, crab⁷ or lobster⁸. Scientist Richard Pierce says the poison produced by K. brevis does enter the meat of these creatures. But he adds that there have been no reports of people getting sick from eating healthy fish during such a red tide. Mister Pierce is director of the Center for Eco-toxicology at the Mote⁹ Marine¹⁰ Laboratory in Florida.

There are different kinds of shellfish poisoning, some more severe than others. Effects can include diarrhea, fever, stomach and muscle pain, and breathing problems. In severe cases people can die unless they receive treatment.

Experts say older people are especially likely to experience severe effects from algae poisons.

Some people who swim during a red tide report skin problems or shortness of breath. Scientists have more to learn about the possible risks of swimming in red tides or breathing algae poisons in the air.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. I'm Phoebe Zimmermann.

1 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

2 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

4 clams   

n.蛤；蚌，蛤( clam的名词复数 )v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The restaurant's specialities are fried clams. 这个餐厅的特色菜是炸蚌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We dug clams in the flats et low tide. 退潮时我们在浅滩挖蛤蜊。 来自辞典例句

5 oysters   

牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We don't have oysters tonight, but the crayfish are very good. 我们今晚没有牡蛎供应。但小龙虾是非常好。
• She carried a piping hot grill of oysters and bacon. 她端出一盘滚烫的烤牡蛎和咸肉。

6 shrimp   

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

• When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
• When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。

7 crab   

n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气

参考例句：

• I can't remember when I last had crab.我不记得上次吃蟹是什么时候了。
• The skin on my face felt as hard as a crab's back.我脸上的皮仿佛僵硬了，就象螃蟹的壳似的。

8 lobster   

n.龙虾，龙虾肉

参考例句：

• The lobster is a shellfish.龙虾是水生贝壳动物。
• I like lobster but it does not like me.我喜欢吃龙虾，但它不适宜于我的健康。

9 mote   

n.微粒；斑点

参考例句：

• Seeing the mote in one's neighbor's eye,but not the beam in one's own.能看见别人眼里的尘埃，看不见自己眼里的木头。
• The small mote on her forehead distinguishes her from her twin sister.她额头上的这个小斑点是她与其双胞胎妹妹的区别。

10 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。