The Gulf of Mexico is a large body of water that is largely surrounded by the southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba.
It is home to a variety of wildlife and plant species. Some of these include:
- Shrimp
- Crabs
- Dolphins
- Whales
- Manatees
- Sharks
- Turtles
- Red Drum
Additionally, the Gulf of Mexico is used by humans in a variety of different ways. Local communities use the Gulf for fishing, especially for shrimp, and for recreational activities including swimming, snorkeling, and boating.
However, the Gulf of Mexico has seen an abundant increase in green algae on its surface for many years now. This increase is caused by eutrophication, a process that is caused mainly from human activity. This is harmful to the wildlife who normally inhabit this area, as the increase in algae creates a large dead zone, therefore making it an inadequate living environment.
However, closer to home, we can see this issue occurring in one of the Great Lakes. In the summer of recent years, Lake Erie has had one major issue: the increase of green algae. This has caused numerous problems, from ecosystem damage and death of species to loss of recreational activities and inadequate drinking water for people who rely on it as their water source.
While eutrophication can be devastating to local communities and wildlife, there are multiple steps that can be taken to reduce the potential for this issue to continue recurring. Following simple steps and supporting local initiatives fighting eutrophication will help eliminate the problem. Each small step can make a huge difference.
If you want to learn more about eutrophication, click here!
If you want to learn more about how eutrophication affects communities near home, click here!
If you want to learn more about what you can do to lessen eutrophication, click here!
Image citations:
Map: https://www.mapsofworld.com/answers/world/largest-gulf-world/
Dolphins: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/04/bottlenose-dolphins-personalities-bold-shy/
Manatees: https://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammals/manatee/
Stone Crab: https://www.foxnews.com/science/floridas-red-tide-blamed-for-lousey-stone-crab-season
Shrimp: https://www.beebiesmart.com/alohashrimpcare
