A particularly virulent outbreak of domoic acid off the California coast has killed hundreds of marine mammals and birds in recent weeks, leaving beaches littered with pelicans, sea lions and dolphins, researchers said Thursday.
“I have been doing this work for 35 years, and I have never seen anything like this as far as the number of species affected, other than an oil spill,” said Jay Holcomb, director of the International Bird Rescue Research Center in the San Pedro district of Los Angeles.
Domoic acid, a naturally occurring neurotoxin produced by microscopic algae, has become increasingly prevalent. Scientists suspect the upsurge has been caused by overfishing, destruction of wetlands and pollution, all of which have harmed fisheries and allowed algae to flourish.
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