Scientists investigating South Australia's algal bloom have made a key discovery that could have major implications for the summer ahead.

They've linked the outbreak to karenia cristata, a rare species that struggles to survive in warmer weather, raising hopes it could soon begin to vanish.

The discovery comes after eight months of collaborative research involving 20 scientists, led by Professor Shauna Murray from the University of Technology Sydney.

Karenia cristata has not been previously recorded in Australian waters, with only two prior instances documented globally, in South Africa and off the coast of Canada.

"It's very, very new, we did not know this species could produce brevetoxins or have such wide-scale effects as what we've seen in South Australia," Murray said.

The resear

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