1. Toxic Algae May Threaten The West Coast
By Vivian Chen
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2. Who-What-When-Where
In the West Coast of the United States, a long cluster of toxic algae is blooming. It shows no sign of going away, after many months of observation from scientists. Many people think it will make trouble for tourists and local fishing. One of the species in bloom is called the Pseudo Nitzschia. It can harm or even kill seabirds, mammals, and humans. Some of the things the scientists discovered and learned are worrying them.

3. Facts
Pseudo Nitzschia, a type of algae, produces a toxic substance known as domoic acid. It can harm mammals or sea creatures.
If people eat a sea creature that have high levels of domoic acid, they will become ill. To keep people safe, clam, crab, and sardine fisheries have closed down. They also have warned people not to eat too much local seafood.
Many scientists think that this year’s algae is worse than the past years because of global warming. The hotter the water gets, the more algae grows.
Pseudo Nitzschia takes up much of the oxygen in the water. When it dies, it creates dead zones.

4. Impact
The impact of this article is that if we can't find out a way to get rid of the algae, or at least make a cure for the sickness, then almost all of the marine life will be wiped out. This is also a very sad thing to think about for animal lovers. The last impactful thing is that humans will not be able to eat much seafood because of this.

5. A Question For You
Where do you think the algae is getting it’s source of energy? Explain.
If you could change the environment without getting rid of the algae, what would you do? Why would you do this?

6. My Personal Response
I think the algae is getting its food source from the sun and oxygen in the water. If not the sun, I would think it was dead underwater sea creatures or plants.
If I could change the environment without getting rid of the algae, I would make/help the animals migrate to a new environment similar to the one before, but with no algae.

8. Vocabulary
algae- n. tiny/small organisms that live in/on top of the water.
algae bloom- n. rapid increase of algae in a certain place or area.
dead zones- n. an area in the ocean where no oxygen is and does not support any life.
domoic acid- n. an acid created by Pseudo Nitschia which is poisonous.
toxic- adj. harmful or poisonous.