"A Walk Through the Rainbow with PACE"

Question

by Jessica Merzdorf

Understanding phytoplankton health can help predict harmful algal blooms, or HABs. When substances from land wash into the ocean, they sometimes become a feast for algae, allowing them to eat, grow and multiply rapidly. HABs can generate harmful toxins that sicken marine wildlife and humans and deplete oxygen in the water as bacteria feed on numerous dead algae.

“Harmful algal blooms are not recent. We have writings from indigenous tribes in the Pacific Northwest that talk about things happening on the beach,” said Cetinić. “It’s just that today we’re looking for it more, and also anthropogenic influences are making blooms more prevalent.”

While naturally occurring minerals can run into the ocean and feed algae, chemicals produced by humans – lawn fertilizer, wastewater treatment chemicals and agricultural chemicals, for example – are a much greater culprit.

Use this excerpt from the “A Walk Through the Rainbow with PACE” article to answer the question.

Which evidence supports the inference that modernization has increased the frequency of harmful algal blues (HABs)?

(1 point)
Responses

Scientists are paying closer attention to HABs than they have in the past.
Scientists are paying closer attention to HABs than they have in the past.

HABs contribute to the rapid growth of bacterial populations.
HABs contribute to the rapid growth of bacterial populations.

HABs result in harmful toxins that can cause illness in marine wildlife and humans.
HABs result in harmful toxins that can cause illness in marine wildlife and humans.

Runoff from human-made chemicals contribute more to HABs than naturally occurring minerals.

Answer 1

The evidence that supports the inference that modernization has increased the frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs) is:

Runoff from human-made chemicals contributes more to HABs than naturally occurring minerals.

This response highlights the impact of human activity, specifically the use of chemicals such as lawn fertilizers and agricultural chemicals, which are more significant contributors to HABs compared to naturally occurring substances.