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Project: Use of clays for control and management of red tides
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Developing methods to control blooming
and persistence of red tides is a socio-economic priority mainly in those
regions with a vocation for aquaculture and recreational tourism activities.
The increase in number of events, in species
that spread massively, and in duration, has motivated researchers to propose mitigation and control methods, and toxicity implications of these events. The
most employed are: use of clays, centrifuge mechanisms, and zooplankton
consumption. We have also tested
compounds such as sodium hypochlorite, barley extracts, and polysaccharide chitosan.
Due to their inert nature (non-metallic), clays
represent a potential to control red tides because of their low impact in the
ecosystem; however, its efficiency on species that bloom massively in the Bay of
La Paz and in other regions of the country and because of their likely impact on bivalve
mollusks, they have to be evaluated at experimental level.
It is worth highlighting
that there are no studies in this respect in Mexico, and the information
generated shall be very useful for the different sectors involved in red tide events.

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Written by Dr. David Javier López Cortés
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 September 2011 11:56 |