Puerto Rico's glowing lagoon goes nearly dark
Puerto Rico's glowing lagoon goes nearly dark
By DANICA COTO, Associated Press | November 19, 2013 | Updated: November 19, 2013 6:29pm
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A glowing lagoon off Puerto Rico's northeast coast has gone nearly dark and biologists on Tuesday were trying to find out why.
Theories range from an increase in construction runoff to inclement weather to people clearing mangroves to allow larger boats into the area.
"We have been compiling data," Carmen Guerrero, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, said in a phone interview as she headed toward Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve with a team of scientists to investigate the problem. "There are a lot of factors that could be at play."
The bioluminescent lagoon, often referred to as a bay, attracts tourists who set out in kayaks or boats by night from the neighboring city of Fajardo to see waters that glow when microscopic organisms are disturbed. A greenish light swirls off hands and arms as visitors trail them through the water.
But the bioluminescence has dropped so much that tour operators have had to cancel trips and reimburse visitors, Guerrero said.
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/science/article/Puerto-Rico-s-glowing-lagoon-goes-nearly-dark-4993431.php
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