scrAPES Entry #2
Thousands of jumbo squid all along the Californian shores have been reported to committing "mass suicides". For years they have been swimming up to beaches and flinging themselves on shore. Many scientist have proposed that red tides that release a lethal toxin called domoic acid may be intoxicating the squid and disorienting them. But when researchers tested the stranded squid for domoic acid, they found only trace amounts of the chemicals. At high levels of the domoic acid, it can cause brain cells to go haywire and fire like crazy, so much that they fill up with calcium and explode and die.
I chose this article because the title completely intrigued me. I have never heard about this topic before reading this article so when I read the title I decided that it would be a great idea to write on this for my scrAPES entry. I think squid are amazing creatures and to hear that they are "committing suicide" because of this toxin is very strange.
I believe that we should help the squid by trying to get rid of this domoic acid. Not only will it cause thousands of squids to remain alive, but it will also keep the beaches cleaner and a more enjoyable place without all the squid on the shore.
I chose this article because the title completely intrigued me. I have never heard about this topic before reading this article so when I read the title I decided that it would be a great idea to write on this for my scrAPES entry. I think squid are amazing creatures and to hear that they are "committing suicide" because of this toxin is very strange.
I believe that we should help the squid by trying to get rid of this domoic acid. Not only will it cause thousands of squids to remain alive, but it will also keep the beaches cleaner and a more enjoyable place without all the squid on the shore.