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An outbreak of red tide off the coast of La Jolla California.
Increasing algal blooms, or red tides, in California�s coastal waters are responsible for more frequent epileptic seizures and behavioral abnormalities being observed in the region�s sea lion population, according to marine biologists.
Toxins created by the phytoplankton blooms are eaten by fish, which are then often consumed by pregnant sea lions.
The toxins alter seal fetal development, and result in birth defects that cause the seizures and odd behavior later in life, according to NOAA's Center for Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research.
Some algal blooms appear to be part of natural processes, while others are due to human activities, such as farming and waste discharge into the ocean.
Scientists at NOAA say they are attempting to determine if human exposure to the same toxins could also cause birth defects.
Photo: Scripps Institution of Oceanography