Urea as a Rising Driver of Harmful Algal Blooms: Integrating Global Patterns, Metabolic Pathways, and Ecological Consequences

Key Points

• Harmful algal blooms are increasing with urea levels across various ecosystems, indicating a serious environmental trend.
• A notable rise in algal blooms correlates with urea, particularly in nutrient-rich waters, highlighting a key metric.
• Integrating data from 50 countries, this analysis uncovers metabolic pathways that link urea to algal growth and spread.
• The findings emphasize the need for monitoring urea levels, as rising blooms may disrupt local ecosystems and biodiversity.