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Pond scum is a layer of algae that collects on the surface of ponds and lakes. It is mostly composed of cyanobacteria, which is a type of bacteria that can perform photosynthesis and synthesize its own food. This bacteria is mostly found in stagnant water bodies like ponds, polluted water, and sewage water. It can rapidly grow over the surface of stagnant or polluted water bodies and cover them, forming blooms that are buoyant and float on the water surface. These blooms can appear as scum, typically green in colour, during hot summers as the cells of the cyanobacteria die and start to decay, producing an awful smell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Bacteria | Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae |
| Appearance | Foam or scummy slime that creates a mat on top of the water |
| Color | Green, blue, brown, red, violet |
| Nature of Growth | No roots, stems, or leaves |
| Attachment | Solid objects like plants and rocks or free-floating without an anchor |
| Photosynthesis | Yes |
| Self-sufficiency | Can synthesize their own food |
| Oxygen Production | Yes |
| Aquatic Nature | Mostly aquatic organisms commonly found in stagnant water bodies |
| Cell Structure | Prokaryotic, microscopic, unicellular, filamentous |
| Colony Formation | Each filament (trichome) represents a colony of a single cell, covered with a slimy sheath |
| Growth Rate | Rapid growth leading to the formation of blooms |
| Bloom Appearance | Buoyant, floating on the water surface, appearing as scum in hot summers |
| Bloom Decay | Produces an awful smell due to cell decay |
| Toxin Release | Release toxic chemicals that disrupt the natural pH balance |
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What You'll Learn
- Cyanobacteria: blue-green algae, a group of bacteria that can photosynthesize
- Filamentous algae: hair-like strands that clump together, forming floating mats
- Cladophora algae: long-haired, cotton-like clumps
- Pithophora algae: thicker, coarser strands, also known as horsehair algae
- Nutrient sources: eutrophication, caused by an accumulation of organic compounds, increases algae growth
Cyanobacteria: blue-green algae, a group of bacteria that can photosynthesize
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are a group of bacteria that can photosynthesize. They are characterised by the presence of a blue-green pigment and are mostly found in aquatic environments, particularly in stagnant water bodies like ponds, polluted water, and sewage. These bacteria can rapidly grow and spread over the surface of stagnant or polluted water bodies, forming a layer of scum.
Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic, microscopic, unicellular organisms that often appear in filamentous forms. Each filament, or trichome, represents a colony of a single cell covered with a slimy sheath. They are oxygenic phototrophs, meaning they can obtain their energy through photosynthesis and produce oxygen. This process, along with their ability to synthesize their own food, makes them self-sufficient.
The growth of cyanobacteria is facilitated by the presence of abundant nutrients, sunlight, and warm temperatures. While small amounts of pond scum can be beneficial for the health of the pond ecosystem, providing shelter and food for small fish, tadpoles, and insects, excessive growth can lead to the deterioration of the ecosystem. This occurs through a process called eutrophication, where the overabundance of nutrients from organic compounds, agricultural runoff, and sewage contamination fuels rapid algae growth and reproduction.
As cyanobacterial blooms grow and spread across the water surface, they can form buoyant mats of algae. During hot summers, the cells of the cyanobacteria may die and start to decay, producing an unpleasant odour. Additionally, some cyanobacteria release toxic chemicals into the water, disrupting the natural pH balance and further harming the aquatic wildlife.
Identifying the presence of cyanobacteria in a pond is important for managing the pond's health. While it may resemble algae, with a foam or scummy slime appearance, cyanobacteria lack roots, stems, or leaves and can survive by attaching to solid objects or free-floating.
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Filamentous algae: hair-like strands that clump together, forming floating mats
Filamentous algae are hair-like strands that join together to form floating mats on the surface of the water. This type of algae is common in stagnant, nutrient-rich, and warm water conditions, such as those found in many ponds and lakes. Single cells in filamentous algae reproduce and join together into long hair-like strands that grow towards the water surface. By mid-summer, these strands form large mats that trap gases and float to the surface. These floating mats usually begin to appear in July and may cover the entire pond by late summer.
The growth of filamentous algae can be treated with chemical products such as CutrinePlus, Hydrothol 191, Green Clean, and Copper Sulfate. Mechanical removal methods such as raking or netting can also be used, especially for small ponds. While mechanical removal is labor-intensive and time-consuming, it can be effective when used in conjunction with biological and chemical control methods.
To prevent the growth of filamentous algae, it is important to reduce the nutrients entering the pond. This can be done through the use of water additives, which contain bacteria and/or enzymes that reduce algae growth by consuming nutrients in the pond water. Aeration is another mechanical approach that can be used to control algae. By adding oxygen to the bottom layers of the pond, aeration encourages phosphorus to bind within pond sediments, preventing it from becoming available for algae use and growth.
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Cladophora algae: long-haired, cotton-like clumps
The term "pond scum" refers to various types of algae that form clumps in a pond, sometimes creating carpets of pond scum across the water surface. While many different algae forms can create pond scum, the three most common types are collectively referred to as filamentous green algae.
Cladophora algae, one of the most common types of filamentous green algae, form long-haired, cotton-like clumps. They are usually green in colour but can become yellow, grey, or brown. They may also form hair-like growths on logs, rocks, and other vegetation at the bottom of a pond or on the shoreline. Cladophora is also known as "Blanket Weed", a rough, branching type of algae that resembles moss.
Cladophora algae are often associated with moss balls, which are indeed a type of Cladophora. However, the moss balls are slow-growing and are thus more susceptible to algae attacks. The Blanket Weed form of Cladophora is a rough, branching type of algae that resembles moss.
Cladophora algae are indicative of excessive nutrients, usually phosphorus, in a lake or pond. They are also associated with low CO2 levels and low flow. Siamese Algae eaters and Amano shrimp feed on Cladophora, but they are not efficient in controlling their growth.
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Pithophora algae: thicker, coarser strands, also known as horsehair algae
Pithophora algae, also known as horsehair algae, cotton ball algae, or thread algae, is a type of green algae that can quickly ruin the aesthetic and recreational use of ponds and lakes. It is characterised by long, thick, coarse strands that branch out irregularly from a single attachment, resembling hair or wool. The individual filaments are visible without magnification, but under high magnification, barrel-shaped cells can be seen among the more common cylindrical ones.
Pithophora often grows at the bottom of a body of water or on top of rocks and other plants. The filaments then float to the surface, forming dense mats of horsehair or clumps up to 1 foot (30 cm) in diameter. These clumps can cover acres of water and are most prevalent during the summer months when they create obstacles for fishing and recreational water activities. The colour of the clumps can range from bright to dark green, and they often appear brown or reddish due to the presence of dissolved iron.
The buoyancy of Pithophora is caused by gas bubbles produced by the plant, which get trapped within the dense algal growth. Heavy rain or high winds can cause these mats to temporarily sink to the bottom, giving the false impression that the algae have disappeared. However, they usually reappear within a few days.
To eliminate Pithophora, chemical treatments such as algaecides are often used. It is recommended to carefully inspect and analyse the body of water before applying any chemicals, considering the presence of fish, aquatic life, and desirable vegetation. Aeration, especially at night, can also help control oxygen depletion caused by the rapid reproduction of algae. Additionally, using pond dye can hinder plant development by blocking sunlight, giving the pond a clean blue colour.
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Nutrient sources: eutrophication, caused by an accumulation of organic compounds, increases algae growth
Eutrophication is a process that occurs when there is an increased load of nutrients in bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastal waters. This excess of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, leads to a phenomenon known as cultural eutrophication, which is characterized by excessive plant and algal growth. While eutrophication occurs naturally over centuries as lakes age and fill with sediments, human activities have significantly accelerated the process.
Nutrient sources that contribute to eutrophication include fertilizers, wastewater, automobile exhaust, and animal waste. These sources introduce an abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus into aquatic ecosystems, providing essential elements for plant and algae growth. However, when these nutrients accumulate in water bodies, they can have detrimental effects.
The excess nutrients fuel the growth of algae, leading to the formation of dense blooms. These algal blooms can have negative consequences for the ecosystem. They reduce water clarity, block sunlight from penetrating the water, and impair the success of predators that rely on light to catch their prey. Additionally, the high rates of photosynthesis associated with eutrophication can deplete dissolved inorganic carbon and raise pH levels to extreme values during the day.
When the algae eventually die, they undergo microbial decomposition, which severely depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water. This depletion creates a hypoxic or anoxic "dead zone" where there is insufficient oxygen to support most aquatic life, resulting in fish kills and the decline of essential fish habitats. The decomposition process also produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to ocean acidification, which further slows the growth of fish and shellfish populations.
To address the issues caused by eutrophication, water resource managers employ various strategies, including diverting excess nutrients and altering nutrient ratios. These measures aim to minimize the intensity and frequency of algal blooms and mitigate the adverse effects on water quality, fisheries, and recreational water bodies.
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Frequently asked questions
Pond scum is a layer of algae that collects on the surface of ponds and lakes. It is mostly green in colour but can also be blue, brown, violet, or red.
Subsurface pond scum is composed of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae. While it looks like algae to the naked eye, it is more closely related to bacteria.
Cyanobacteria are aquatic bacteria that can perform photosynthesis and synthesize their own food. They are mostly found in stagnant water bodies like ponds, polluted water, and sewage water.
Cyanobacteria can rapidly grow over the surface of stagnant or polluted water bodies, forming blooms that float on the water surface. As the cells of the cyanobacteria die and start to decay, they produce a strong odour. Some cyanobacteria also release toxic chemicals into the water, disrupting the natural pH balance and making it difficult for wildlife to survive in the pond.
