Intermittent algal blooms leave swaths of the tidelands covered in rotting, greenish-yellow organic material. These blooms can be triggered by any increase in local nutrient load, such as that caused by discarded organic material or the death of a sea-dwelling creature. The vibrant algae responsible for these blooms was introduced by colonizers as a source of biofuel because it was well-suited to the marine conditions. During the operation of the ark station this invasive species was carefully managed through regular harvests, but after the decline of the station it has become increasingly problematic.
When this phenomenon occurs near salt flats, the salt turns faintly green and becomes toxic to humans, causing mild gastrointestinal and neurological effects known as “saltsickness”.