Formation of Sea Slobber

Mucilage is a thick and sticky substance produced by almost all plants and some microorganisms. They even secrete more sticky substance under stress. They act against the direction of secretion. There are biological and chemical factors in its formation. Its derivatives in the seas, on the other hand, occur with the increase in sea temperature of phytoplankton, which means the overgrowth of plant life, and the increase in bacterial activities accordingly. Apart from the basic factors, seasonal temperatures, current, salt level, pollution etc. all abnormalities increase mucilage. Agricultural activities, excessive use of fertilizers, industrial wastes and domestic wastes cause eutrophication in sea or fresh waters, that is, increase the level of nitrogen and phosphate. Since they can reach enough nutrients such as nitrogen-phosphorus from the wastes given to the sea for their life, they are mostly seen in the Marmara Sea in Turkey. The formation of mucilage can destroy life in the sea by reducing the oxygen level in the water.

Where Was Mucilage Seen in History?

Adriatic Sea:It subsided after its peak period between 1972 and 1905, but re-emerged in 1988 and after 1991 advanced off the Tirana Sea in western Italy.

Italy:The mucilage, which is estimated to have been caused by the heat wave in Europe after the intensity in the Tirana Sea, was seen in the Ligurian Sea between Italy and Corsica Island in 2003 and this microorganism was found to be different. It is thought that the marine life, which was severely damaged by the great storm in July, survived.

North Sea:The North Sea, located between England and Scandinavian countries, saw a high increase in sea saliva in 1973-1985. In a 1989 study, it was stated that “increasing eutrophication in the North Sea, that is, the increase in nitrogen and phosphate, and the excess in the food source cause intensification”.

Gulf of Mexico:An oil spill on the Deep Horizons oil exploration platform operated by BP in the Gulf of Mexico is cited as the main reason for the increase in sea slobber.

According to the Euronews report, “Scientists investigating the area after the incident believe that plant plankton, as they are exposed to the leakage emitted from the platform, secrete more sticky substance under stress, and thus they spread by collecting all the living and living micro-organisms that come in their way in a more sticky state than normal. He then states that these materials, which quickly settle to the seafloor, perhaps getting heavier due to oil particles, form sea snow. One year after the disaster, researchers working on the seafloor observed that a sticky substance that binds as sea saliva sinks to the bottom, forming brown lumps. Scientists believe that the bacteria feed on the oil, then settle to the bottom due to the weight, forming this lumpy substance. It is also stated that the clean-up efforts made the disaster worse. It is stated that the particles produced as a result of the burning of the oil cause the sea saliva to adhere more easily and cause more precipitation. It is noted that the substances used to disperse the oil have the same effect.”

Is Mucilage Harmful to Human Health?

Sea saliva occurs in underwater life and with the warming of the weather, the foamy sticky tissue that we see on the sea surface is actually dead and the ones on the surface are destroyed by using the oxygen in the water after a certain period of time, but the continued formation of mucilage under the sea is a concern. The experts warn that there is no poison, but that contact should be avoided as it is a very suitable environment for some pathogenic bacteria.

Istanbul University Plankton Working Group, which made a presentation to TUBITAK, started its own studies for mucilage. Speaking to Haber Global, Assoc. Dr. Balcı pointed out that they expect life to end on the seafloor in the Marmara Sea and that they will die from the bottom, and said, “Before they start to agglomerate, they can clog the gills of the fish and cause them to drown in the water. When they start to be decomposed by the bacteria at the bottom, the bacteria will consume oxygen and decompose them. “After that, we expect bottom death. This is an observed process. It is possible to see this in regions where water currents are limited and water mixture is insufficient, that is, at the points where the sea is deeply indented into the land, in bays and gulfs. Izmit Bay and Gemlik. These can be seen in the summer. The mucilage will not have much of an effect in the summer. Subsequently, the species we call dinoflagellate, which may have more harmful effects, may increase. Yes, we can say that swimming in the sea is dangerous in some regions. Especially where the current is limited, the water mixture is insufficient. of course, because we don’t know what’s in there. Of course, it would be risky since we do not know what kind of micro-organisms there are that produce or do not produce toxins.

References “: https://tr.euronews.com/2021/06/11/tarihte-deniz-salyas-musilaj-baska-hangi-denizlerde-goruldu-nas-l-temizlendi”
Access Date : 01.07.2021

References : “https://haberglobal.com.tr/gundem/istanbul-universitesi-nde-musilaj-incelemesinin-ilk-sonuclari-aciklandi-114317
Access Date : 01.07.2021