Meet Dr. Patrick Charapata: Georgia Aquarium’s Scientist Tracking Marine Toxins in a Warming Arctic

The impacts of climate change on the Arctic go beyond the loss of sea ice. This week, a newly published study in the prestigious scientific journal Nature reveals a disturbing link between warming Arctic waters and rising levels of toxic algal blooms, following a nearly 20-year study of bowhead whales. This study is one of many recent studies that Georgia Aquarium has contributed to, digging into the emerging threat of toxic algae on Arctic wildlife and food systems that Indigenous communities depend upon.

Georgia Aquarium’s newest research scientist, Dr. Patrick Charapata, is part of a broader scientific effort working to understand how warming waters are allowing toxic algae to spread into the Arctic—regions once thought too cold to support them. These changes introduce harmful toxins into fragile ecosystems, sickening marine life and posing new risks for people who rely on healthy oceans for survival.

Dr. Charapata joined Georgia Aquarium in late 2024, bringing years of experience working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and has a specialty in marine toxin research. His work spans polar region species like leopard seals, northern fur seals, walrus, whales, and clams – organisms at the center of fragile food webs that are now being disrupted by warming waters and toxic algae.

Algal Blooms Are Moving North

In Southern waters, algal bloom threats are intensifying, and researchers are now seeing more evidence that harmful algal blooms are pushing into the Arctic. These blooms can release potent toxins like saxitoxin and domoic acid, accumulating in fish, clams, and other species. The impacts are increasingly hard to ignore as these toxins work their way up the food chain—affecting everything from plankton to whales, as demonstrated in the recent bowhead whale study.

Another new study co-authored by Dr. Charapata documents a large-scale mortality event involving northern fur seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska. Dozens of seals were found dead alongside fish on the shoreline. Tests confirmed high levels of saxitoxin in seal tissues and in nearly all local fish, clams, and zooplankton—a clear link to an algal bloom driven by shifting ocean conditions.

“The Arctic is changing fast,” says Dr. Charapata. “And toxic algae are moving into waters where they’ve rarely been seen. That creates new risks for animals and for the people who rely on them.”

Understanding Toxins in the Food Web

In a related study published earlier this year, Dr. Charapata examined how paralytic shellfish toxins are affecting Arctic clams, an essential food source for walrus, seabirds, and humans. Using two different detection methods, he and co-authors found that more than half of the sampled clams had toxin levels above what’s considered safe for consumption. These findings provide new and important information that will inform monitoring systems for the Arctic food web to protect marine life and people.

This study lays the groundwork for future research already underway, including a follow-up study focusing on toxic accumulation in walruses.

Beyond animal health, these studies have clear implications for people. Many Indigenous communities in Alaska depend on subsistence hunting and fishing. As marine toxins become more common, food security and public health are increasingly at risk.

Georgia Aquarium’s Role & Looking Ahead

Georgia Aquarium is committed to advancing marine science and conservation, especially in under-researched areas like the Arctic. Dr. Charapata’s work strengthens that mission, adding expertise in a field that’s gaining global attention.

Together with new insights emerging from other research teams—including those behind the recent bowhead whale findings—his work helps paint a clearer picture of how climate-driven ocean changes are impacting marine ecosystems from the bottom of the food chain to the top.

A newly published global study in Science has charted a groundbreaking path for the conservation of the ocean’s largest fish and marine mammals (known as marine megafauna) — and Georgia Aquarium is proud to have contributed vital data and expertise, particularly on the world’s largest fish: the whale shark.

The research, part of the MegaMove project, represents the efforts of nearly 400 scientists from over 50 countries who analyzed the movements of more than 13,000 individual animals across over 100 species of marine megafauna, including sharks, whales, turtles, and seals. By compiling three decades of satellite tracking data, the project has created the most comprehensive map to date of critical ocean areas used by these animals for migration, foraging, breeding, and resting.

Georgia Aquarium’s contributions centered on whale sharks, a species the Aquarium is committed to researching and conserving. Working with international partners, Georgia Aquarium has tracked whale sharks in the Caribbean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean to better understand how these gentle giants navigate vast ocean spaces — often crossing multiple countries’ waters and spending significant time in unprotected high seas.

“Whale sharks are a sentinel species,” said Dr. Lisa Hoopes, Georgia Aquarium’s Senior Director of Research & Conservation. “Their movement patterns offer insight into the overall health of our ocean and how interconnected marine ecosystems really are. By contributing long-term satellite tracking data to the MegaMove study, we’re helping inform international conservation decisions grounded in real science.”

The study found that many of the areas most used by marine megafauna are outside existing marine protected areas (MPAs). While the UN’s High Seas Treaty aims to increase protection to 30% of the ocean by 2030, the research shows that even if those targets are met, additional strategies are still needed. Migratory species like whale sharks face overlapping threats from fishing gear, vessel strikes, plastic pollution, and warming seas — risks that transcend any single jurisdiction.

“What’s clear from this research is that protecting migratory species like the whale shark requires a truly global perspective,” added Dr. Hoopes. “We are committed to working with partners worldwide to ensure that conservation efforts match the scale and movement of the species we aim to protect.”

Georgia Aquarium will continue advancing whale shark science, contributing to collaborative efforts like MegaMove that offer a blueprint for protecting the ocean’s most iconic travelers.

This spring, Georgia Aquarium celebrated a milestone in sea turtle conservation – the release of eight rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean, just off the shores of Jekyll Island.

These turtles’ journey began in early December 2024, when they were found cold-stunned in the icy waters off Cape Cod. Like all sea turtle species, loggerheads are cold-blooded and rely on warm ocean temperatures. When the water drops too quickly, they can become hypothermic, weak, and unable to swim – a life-threatening condition called cold-stunning.

The turtles received the initial round of life-saving care at the New England Aquarium (NEAQ) before being transported to Georgia Aquarium’s off-site animal care facility in mid-December. Their cross-country trip was made possible thanks to the incredible volunteer pilots from Turtles Fly Too, who routinely transport sea turtles to warmer waters and second-stage care facilities nationwide. The trip itself is a remarkable story of teamwork and just the beginning of their road to recovery.

Why Loggerheads? Why Georgia Aquarium?

Loggerhead sea turtles are one of the largest species of sea turtle. Because of their size and strength, not every facility can accommodate them. Georgia Aquarium’s off-site animal care facility is one of only a few U.S. facilities with the specialized space and expertise to care for these endangered giants. The facility is uniquely equipped to give them the room, warmth, and expert veterinary attention needed to heal. The Aquarium’s aquatic sustainability team cared for them with feedings, monitoring their health, and additional animal care support for the entirety of their stay at the off-site facility.

Over the past five years, Georgia Aquarium has taken in a total of 44 cold-stunned sea turtles – each one a step toward protecting this species, which is endangered in the United States.

Upon arrival, the turtles were carefully assessed and treated for various cold-stunning complications, including pneumonia. Each turtle responded quickly to care, regained strength, and began eating well – signs of a hopeful outcome. While each loggerhead had its own story, their resilience was a common thread.

Ready to be Released

After being cleared by our veterinary staff, the turtles were prepped for release. Before their big return to the ocean, all eight were fitted with flipper tags to help identify them if they are reencountered. Two turtles, affectionately named Poblano and Bell, were also equipped with satellite tracking devices. These tags will provide valuable data on their movements and help scientists better understand the migratory patterns of this species.

At the end of March, with the support of our longtime partners at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), our aquatic sustainability team – including Mark Olsen, Polly Strott, and Stephanie Salter – traveled to Great Dunes Beach on Jekyll Island to witness the turtles’ long-awaited return to the Atlantic.

The day of the release brought clear skies and a brisk ocean breeze. While the windy conditions meant the team couldn’t release from the boat, it made for a beautiful, shoreline send-off. “Watching them swim away never gets old,” shared Mark Olsen, associate curator of aquatic sustainability at Georgia Aquarium. “It’s a reminder of why we do this work and how far these animals have come.”

How You Can Help

Like many sea turtle species, loggerhead sea turtles face numerous threats in the wild, from climate change to habitat loss and marine debris. Each turtle we rescue and release plays a role in restoring balance to our marine ecosystems, and every success story is a testament to what we can achieve together.

Fortunately, the U.S. has a strong network of government agencies, organizations, and volunteers that work together during cold-stunning events. This network not only plans for these emergencies in advance but also uses alert systems to mobilize people to search for and assist stranded turtles.

You can help protect sea turtles year-round:

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• Join a beach cleanup in your area.
• Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center or Georgia Aquarium to learn more about ongoing research and conservation efforts.

• Spread the word! Share what you’ve learned and encourage others to get involved.

Learn more about how you can contribute to Georgia Aquarium’s conservation mission at georgiaaquarium.org.