NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Red tide is caused by microscopic organisms in the plankton, the drifting or weakly swimming sea life, that are the foundation of the ocean food chain. Specifically, dinoflagellates, a microscopic marine life form with two long slender appendages, are the organisms responsible for red tide.

Detailed explanation-2: -Harmful algal blooms of dinoflagellates or diatoms are often called red tides because they can make the water appear red. Dinoflagellates are the most common cause of algal blooms in salt water. Dinoflagellates and diatoms can cause harm to people and animals by making toxins or growing too dense.

Detailed explanation-3: -Red tides, also called harmful algal blooms (HABs), occur when microscopic algae multiply to higher-than-normal concentrations, often discoloring the water. Although more than 50 HAB species occur in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the most well-known species is Karenia brevis, the red tide organism.

Detailed explanation-4: -Chemicals from farming, factories, sewage treatment plants and other sources can become dissolved in water on the land. This water, called runoff, eventually flows into the ocean and can cause algae to grow faster, leading to red tides.