Mysterious foam on South Australian beaches caused by bloom of tiny but toxic algae

Algae blooms can be a problem for marine life and people but it's not yet clear if warmer oceans and nutrient runoff are causing more of themConfronting images of dead seadragons, fish and octopuses washed up on South Australian beaches - and disturbing reports of "more than 100" surfers and beachgoers experiencing flu-like symptoms after swimming or merely breathing in sea spray - attracted international concern last week.Speculation about the likely cause ranged from pollution and algae to unusual bacterial infections or viruses. We can reveal the culprit was a tiny - but harmful - type of planktonic algae called Karenia mikimotoi. Continue reading...