What Are Harmful Algal Blooms?

Scroll down to see an infographic introducing the causes and consequences of harmful algal bloom, illustrated by Rithika!Vitality is collaborating with Baykeeper, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting the San Francisco Bay, on a citizen science project tracking harmful algal blooms (HABs) in our local waterways. By negatively impacting water quality, blooms disrupt aquatic life and pose a dire threat to public health. As part of our initiative, members of Vitality Bioscience travel to sites across the San Francisco Bay; past scouting trips have taken us to the Dumbarton Bridge and Palo Alto Boat Launch. We test local water sites for water quality-related metrics (pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrient concentration, turbidity, and temperature) and record observations to flag potential visible signs of a bloom. The data we document expands understanding of the environmental factors that trigger these blooms' widespread growth. Our goal is to build a biosensor to detect potential HABs and compile an open-access dataset for community usage. Beyond the numbers and raw data collection, this project focuses on making science accessible and doing real, meaningful work to serve our communities.

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