Answer:
Domoic acid is a kainic acid-type neurotoxin that causes amnesic shellfish poisoning. It is produced by algae and accumulates in shellfish, sardines, and anchovies. When sea lions, otters, cetaceans, humans, and other predators eat contaminated animals, poisoning may result.
Explanation:
Blooms of algae affect ALL TROPHIC levels because domoic acid is a neurotoxin that accumulates in different species (e.g., shellfish, sardines, anchovies, etc) which are eaten by higher consumers (e.g., manatees and dolphins), thereby altering the equilibrium of the food chain.
A food chain refers to the transfer of matter and energy as food from different trophic levels in an ecosystem.
The food chain is sustained by organisms called producers (.e.g., algae in a marine ecosystem), which are found at the most basal level of the chain.
The primary consumers (e.g., marine invertebrates) are organisms localized at the second trophic level. These organisms (primary consumers) eat producers.
The secondary consumers are organisms found at the third trophic level, which eat primary consumers, and so successively to all major trophic groups.
Blooms of algae alter the whole food chain because domoic acid is a poison that accumulates in the body of the organisms at all trophic levels.
In consequence, marine consumers at higher trophic levels (e.g., manatees and dolphins) are also affected by blooms of algae.
In conclusion, blooms of algae affect ALL TROPHIC levels because domoic acid is a neurotoxin that accumulates in different species (e.g., shellfish, sardines, anchovies, etc) which are eaten by higher consumers (e.g., manatees and dolphins), thereby altering the equilibrium of the food chain.
Learn more in:
https://brainly.com/question/725774?referrer=searchResults
