Oil threatens key Gulf algae ecosystem

The oil in the Gulf of Mexico is threatening to suffocate Sargassum algae, which in turn will deal a blow to fisheries and the ecosystem that scientists say may take years to recover.

As the algae dies, less of the plant will reach the Sargasso Sea, which would harm the ecosystem 3,000 miles away too. .

Sargassum algae is key to hundreds of species of marine life in the Gulf. Now, the oil is threatening to suffocate it.

“We’ve seen Sargassum mats from the air co-occurring with oil slicks. They’re in the same spot,” Sean Powers, a marine scientist at the University of South Alabama. .

The algae mats are critical habitats for marine life. Tuna, Mahi-mahi, dolphin fish, Billfish, shrimp, crabs and sea turtles use the algae to spawn, sunbathe or hide from predators, often while feeding on it..

Once it’s oiled, from everything we know of the effects of oil, all of those animals that live in the Sargassum will die.