Attacks on Humans
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Since the most common territory for the blue ringed octopus is very shallow water most often encounters with these octopus come when they aren’t seen. Generally bites occur when the octopus is stepped on.
The tetrodoxin that the Blue ringed octopus produces is one of the most highly concentrated toxins in any organism. This toxin can cause morbidity and mortality in humans. One mg contains enough toxins to kill an adult man. The bite can be painless because it is a neuromuscular toxin. Symptoms that occur because of these bites include: severe pain at the site of the bite, muscular paralysis, and hypotension (Williams, 2011) . If not treated, a person can go into respiratory arrest in 40 min to 5 hours. Respiratory failure and ultimately death can proceed. There is no anti-venom that has been developed in order to treat this (Williamson, 1987). All that can be done is respiratory ventilation and supportive care until the toxins have passed out of their system. The infected limb should be elevated and direct pressure should be applied to prevent the circulation of the venom (Fernandez, 2010). Fortunately, these animals aren’t very aggressive so attacks on humans are rare.
The tetrodoxin that the Blue ringed octopus produces is one of the most highly concentrated toxins in any organism. This toxin can cause morbidity and mortality in humans. One mg contains enough toxins to kill an adult man. The bite can be painless because it is a neuromuscular toxin. Symptoms that occur because of these bites include: severe pain at the site of the bite, muscular paralysis, and hypotension (Williams, 2011) . If not treated, a person can go into respiratory arrest in 40 min to 5 hours. Respiratory failure and ultimately death can proceed. There is no anti-venom that has been developed in order to treat this (Williamson, 1987). All that can be done is respiratory ventilation and supportive care until the toxins have passed out of their system. The infected limb should be elevated and direct pressure should be applied to prevent the circulation of the venom (Fernandez, 2010). Fortunately, these animals aren’t very aggressive so attacks on humans are rare.
Human impact on populations
http://sevennaturalwonders.org/the-original/great-barrier-reef/
Humans and blue ringed octopus do not come into contact with each other frequently. There has been some population control issues that have arisen due to humans killing off these organisms if they do see them. They are commonly known to the people that live in regions where these are common. People have been recorded killing these organisms because of the potent toxins that they carry. People in these regions need to remember that they are not aggressive and will not harm you unless it is provoked. Loss of reef habitat is also detrimental to this species. That is their environment. As it is destroyed from human actions, it kills off these species and many others. The most common threat to coral reefs is erosion. Other concerns are: pesticides, harvesting and nutrient loading. Lowering the numbers of these organisms will impact the rest of the reef systems as well. Shrimp and crab populations would increase with less preying on them. The eel population would suffer as they are one of the only species that are predators for the blue ringed octopus. As these organisms are effected, more up the food chain would be as well.