News Ecosystems

Iron fertilization in ocean nourishes toxic algae

Carbon sequestration efforts could trigger harmful algal blooms

By Sid Perkins

- More than 2 years ago

A plan to combat global warming by fertilizing the ocean may backfire by triggering toxic algal blooms, a new study suggests.

MICRO MUG SHOT The exoskeleton of a toxin-producing diatom Pseudonitzschia turgidula. The phytoplankton species proliferates when fed dissolved iron, a finding that reveals a potential downside of attempts to sequester carbon by fertilizing the ocean.