What is this weed/algal type thing that’s appeared in my local stream? UK south west, small stream that runs through a large city. Appeared almost overnight and has pretty much consumed the whole stream at this point
Apologies if this is the wrong sub, not sure if it's technically a plant or an algae?
The parts of my local river where septic tanks empty into it look like that. The drier weather always makes it worse and then floods will clean it at some point
BlackSeranna
This is caused by too much nitrogen runoff. Could be anything – fertilizer, or cow poop, or sewage.
TurbulentWillow1025
This is a species of *Goopidae* possibly *Goopius slimii* or *Goopius Stormdrainii*
TurbulentWillow1025
It is *Chlorophyta* a common filamentous algae found in fresh water.
GnaphaliumUliginosum
It’s a type of filamentous algae, which is a plant. Increased abundance is often induced by increased nutrient availability, especially nitrogen and phosphate, typically from agricultural run off and sewage. However, these are typically diluted by rainwater flows, so drought can increase the concentration – another impact of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change.
I expect that warm weather in summer can also increse growth rates (as with all plants) and an absence of herbivores such as aquatic snails could also lead to increased growth.
davideo71
Did a chicken farm open upstream? This is a red flag for an ecosystem, even if it’s alive.
Nucksfaniam
Looks like a bloom of some sort.
Temporary_Cow_8486
My daughter did a whole presentation on this while in high school, let me ask her…
RealPropRandy
In case anyone is wondering: Not edible.
DanishWhoreHens
Filamentous Algae. It’s indicative of an overabundance of phosphorous (like what you get in common laundry detergent) or sometimes nitrogen (often from fertilizer). If you are in a city it could be coming from someone’s malfunctioning septic system or lawn fertilizer combined with increased warmth. The algal decomp will consume mist of the O2 and likely kill any fish or other healthy aquatic plants and it will stink as it decays.
10 Comments
The parts of my local river where septic tanks empty into it look like that. The drier weather always makes it worse and then floods will clean it at some point
This is caused by too much nitrogen runoff. Could be anything – fertilizer, or cow poop, or sewage.
This is a species of *Goopidae* possibly *Goopius slimii* or *Goopius Stormdrainii*
It is *Chlorophyta* a common filamentous algae found in fresh water.
It’s a type of filamentous algae, which is a plant. Increased abundance is often induced by increased nutrient availability, especially nitrogen and phosphate, typically from agricultural run off and sewage. However, these are typically diluted by rainwater flows, so drought can increase the concentration – another impact of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change.
I expect that warm weather in summer can also increse growth rates (as with all plants) and an absence of herbivores such as aquatic snails could also lead to increased growth.
Did a chicken farm open upstream? This is a red flag for an ecosystem, even if it’s alive.
Looks like a bloom of some sort.
My daughter did a whole presentation on this while in high school, let me ask her…
In case anyone is wondering: Not edible.
Filamentous Algae. It’s indicative of an overabundance of phosphorous (like what you get in common laundry detergent) or sometimes nitrogen (often from fertilizer). If you are in a city it could be coming from someone’s malfunctioning septic system or lawn fertilizer combined with increased warmth. The algal decomp will consume mist of the O2 and likely kill any fish or other healthy aquatic plants and it will stink as it decays.
Source: Am fisheries ecologist.