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Plant
Identification
Planktonic Algae
 Description Management
Options Other
Photos
Chlamydomonas,
Chlorella, Euglena, Closterium, Anacystis spp.,
etc.
Planktonic algae are
floating microscope plants that are normal and essential inhabitants
of sunlit surface waters. There are literally millions of floating
planktonic algae and these color pond water shades of green,
blue-green, brown or variations in between. Planktonic algae
that color the water is often called a "bloom" or "algae bloom".
Many species of algae are involved in algae blooms and these
species change over time based on temperature, light, nutrients,
and other factors.
Planktonic algae blooms
are considered desirable as the beginning of the pond food chain.
In fact, fertilization programs are often used to promote algae
blooms and thereby support a larger fish population. Planktonic
algae is desirable for shading the pond bottom (in areas over
2 feet deep). This shading suppresses the establishment of rooted
aquatic plants. However, to much planktonic algae can cause oxygen
depletions and fish kills (see Management Options).
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Algae
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" indicates Non-Native plants.