The rapid growth of the algae Pseudo-nitzschia causes the production of a neurotoxin called domoic acid, which leads to animal strandings as the toxin is transferred into the marine food web.
Marine mammals like sea lions and dolphins ingest the toxin when they eat affected prey.
“We are managing more than 200 reports of marine mammals in distress daily,” Dover said. “We are doing our best to keep up with the intense pace. Please continue to report all sick and injured marine mammals as we get to as many animals as possible, as quickly as we can, each day.”
Forecasts provided by NOAA CoastWatch and the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System show high concentrations of domoic acid from Orange County north to San Luis Obispo County.
She said many of the dolphins had been stranded alive and then died. Several of the dolphins and many of the sea lions were pregnant females.
The blooms can pose a danger to humans as well. People can become sick if they consume fish packed with the toxins, though the California Department of Public Health monitors these levels and closes shellfish beaches when necessary, David Caron, a biological sciences professor at the University of Southern California, said.
Humans may also attempt to approach larger mammals like sea lions and dolphins if they see them stranded on the beach, but the animals may become aggressive because of the toxins.
Dr. Caron said that people should avoid marine creatures and call rescue organizations, which have saved some animals by capturing them, feeding them, and giving them liquids until they can flush the toxins out of their systems.
“If we can get the girls out of their intoxicated state, we might release them earlier in hopes that they can find their pups again,” Dr. Alissa Deming told the OC Register. “Sea lions are very good mothers and sometimes take another pup and raise it. We’d like them to have a chance to get back out to the islands again.”
Tests of tissue samples collected from the affected animals may help understand how the toxin spreads and whether other factors, such as illness, may be involved.
“We are trying to learn as much as we can as fast as possible,” Kowalewski said. “As difficult as it is to see these animals die, we want to gather information to help understand how and why this is happening the way it is.”