Mystery of Mass Squid "Suicides" Possibly Solved
By Tia Ghose and LiveScience
Monday, December 17. 2012
http://www.livescience.com/25545-image-gallery-humboldt-squid-stranding.html
By Tia Ghose and LiveScience
Monday, December 17. 2012
http://www.livescience.com/25545-image-gallery-humboldt-squid-stranding.html
Summary
Thousands of squids have been coming onto the shores of beaches from the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska to die and scientists, for many decades, had no idea why. A few clues were discovered and have scientists believing that the squids’ mysterious mass deaths are connected to a poisonous algae that create “red tides.” These red tides occur every three weeks, which coincide with the squids’ mass deaths. The red tides, apparently, release a deadly toxin called domoic acid, which intoxicate the squids, disorientating them. There have been trace amounts of the toxins found within these squids. Some scientists believe that that may be the cause for them to go on land but they aren’t sure. Despite the uncertainty, these clues could be something. According, to William Gilly, a marine biologist at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California, “’It’s not exactly a smoking gun, but it’s pretty circumstantial evidence that there is some link.”’
Summary
Thousands of squids have been coming onto the shores of beaches from the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska to die and scientists, for many decades, had no idea why. A few clues were discovered and have scientists believing that the squids’ mysterious mass deaths are connected to a poisonous algae that create “red tides.” These red tides occur every three weeks, which coincide with the squids’ mass deaths. The red tides, apparently, release a deadly toxin called domoic acid, which intoxicate the squids, disorientating them. There have been trace amounts of the toxins found within these squids. Some scientists believe that that may be the cause for them to go on land but they aren’t sure. Despite the uncertainty, these clues could be something. According, to William Gilly, a marine biologist at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California, “’It’s not exactly a smoking gun, but it’s pretty circumstantial evidence that there is some link.”’
Reflection
I chose this article because the fact that there are mass squid suicides intrigued me. I never would have thought that animals, that simply follow their natural order until their death, would be capable of such a thing. And, to do it in masses! I couldn’t, not read this article. After reading this article, I felt a little empty. I was not surprised that scientists did not have a definite reason why this occurred because of how unbelievable it sounded in the first place but the fact they believed that there was a chemical in the water that may be the cause to the squids’ mass deaths was slightly disappointing. I kind of hoped that the squids may have had a mind of their own and decided to do so, no matter how it sounded. However! The chemical does not explain the squids’ behavior to come back onto shore after people attempted to throw them back in the water which is what is keeping my little wish that squids maybe capable of thought alive.
I chose this article because the fact that there are mass squid suicides intrigued me. I never would have thought that animals, that simply follow their natural order until their death, would be capable of such a thing. And, to do it in masses! I couldn’t, not read this article. After reading this article, I felt a little empty. I was not surprised that scientists did not have a definite reason why this occurred because of how unbelievable it sounded in the first place but the fact they believed that there was a chemical in the water that may be the cause to the squids’ mass deaths was slightly disappointing. I kind of hoped that the squids may have had a mind of their own and decided to do so, no matter how it sounded. However! The chemical does not explain the squids’ behavior to come back onto shore after people attempted to throw them back in the water which is what is keeping my little wish that squids maybe capable of thought alive.
Next Steps
The article did not state what the next steps are after discovering the fact that red tides may be connected to the mysterious mass deaths of the squids. However, I believe that the scientists will be continuing to research whether or not the red tides are the cause and conduct experiments to prove/disprove the theory. If the theory proves not to be the reason, scientists will most likely search for other reasons on why it occurs. The fact that this is happening is absolutely too fascinating for scientists to leave it alone, as simply a mystery, which is why I believe the scientists will continue to try to figure out why it is occurring.
The article did not state what the next steps are after discovering the fact that red tides may be connected to the mysterious mass deaths of the squids. However, I believe that the scientists will be continuing to research whether or not the red tides are the cause and conduct experiments to prove/disprove the theory. If the theory proves not to be the reason, scientists will most likely search for other reasons on why it occurs. The fact that this is happening is absolutely too fascinating for scientists to leave it alone, as simply a mystery, which is why I believe the scientists will continue to try to figure out why it is occurring.