Orange goo in Alaskan waters

During August of 2011 a mysterious orange goo washed up on Kavalina, Alaska's shoreline.  Scientists have now determined that an orange rust Urediniospore is the cause.  Jennifer Frazer's blog post The mystery rust of Kivalina, Alaska provides an excellent background discussion on the topic.  She illustrates the complexity of the rust life cycle noting that there are 5 reproductive structures produced by a particular rust organism.  I had only recalled four from my mycology class.  The complex lifestyle makes for some impressive detective work to link these various structures into one organism.

Rust spores from Alaskan waters