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Toxic Algae Leaving Sea Lions with Brain Damage
New research from UC Santa Cruz suggests reasons so many sea lions find themselves stranded along the California coastline.
(Image by Teddy Llovet via Creative Commons Attribution license.)
A toxin found in water algae is causing brain damage and a loss of memory in California sea lions, according to a new report from the University of California, Santa Cruz scientists.
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According to NatureWorld News, researchers know Domoic acid is a deadly neurotoxin that is produced by naturally occurring marine algae.
New studies show sea lions exposed to domoic acid in offshore water have severe damage to their hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory.
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The algal blooms that produce extra domoic acid toxin thrive in warmer waters brought on by climate change such as the current El Nino.
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