Cynthia A. Heil

Red tides, blue holes, and the importance of groundwater and terrestrial sources of nutrients fueling blooms of Karenia brevis.

Blooms of Karenia brevis occur almost annually in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America). Submarine ground water discharges (SGD) have been previously suggested as a potential nutrient source in sustaining blooms. The West Florida Shelf is dotted with blue holes, or underwater sinkholes, which may be a route by w...