When Algae/Bacteria Problems Become A Battle

Think Purity Algae Identification Guide
Fresh Water

Filamentous Algae
DESCRIPTION These freshwater algae are characterized by long threads or filaments of narrow cells attached to one another, end to end, These filaments are sometimes branched, forming a tuft attached to stones (they have no structure comparable to a root), In early spring they grow on the pond bottom rising to the surface during hot, sunny weather to form a bubble-filled scum. Determination of various forms of filamentous algae should be verified by microscopic examination. Common genera of filamentous algae include Cladophora and Spirogyra.	Photo Courtesy of P. Mitchell
Planktonic Algae
DESCRIPTION These microscopic organisms may be single or many-celled, and commonly form simple chains or clumps due to their gregarious nature. They appear green, blue-green or brown in color and float freely within the water column. The growth of certain forms of this type of algae may become so great that the water may take on a thick pea soup appearance. "Algae blooms" collect at the surface of the water during periods of calm and are concentrated in-shore by wind. As these "algae blooms" die off and decay, the resulting oxygen depletion of the water may cause summer kill of fish populations. Some species of planktonic algae release toxins as they decay, occasionally rendering the water poisonous to livestock and wildlife. Other species may impart tastes and odors into the water, making it undesirable for consumption. Types of planktonic algae which may form "algae blooms" in ponds and lakes include Aphanizomenon, Microcystis, and Anabaena.
Macrophytic Algae
DESCRIPTION Macrophytic algae can grow sufficiently large enough that individual plants may be seen readily without the aid of a microscope. A macrophytic algae which is prevalent throughout Alberta is Chara. Members of the genus Chara are also known as stoneworts because of a crusty lime coating which is deposited on their 'stems' and 'leaves.' They are green or grey-green in color and often emit a musky, skunk-like odor. The stem-like axis of Char a bears whorls of branches and forked cylindrical 'leaves.' Reproduction may occur sexually by fruiting bodies found on the 'leaf' filaments, or vegetative by star-shaped aggregates of cells on the lower 'stem' nodes, and outgrowths from the 'stem' nodes. Chara will be found in hard water or alkaline lakes and in slow moving streams in which calcium is abundant. Thick mats of Chara may be encountered covering the bottom in shallow or very deep water. Chara provides a habitat for a wide variety of aquatic animals which act as food for fish.

Arrowhead (Sagittaria Cuneata Sheld.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: in whorls of three flowers on a scape; unisexual; female flowers generally found lower on the scape; white in color Leaves: aerial leaves sagittate; submerged leaves may be narrowly linear; petioles originate from the base of the plant; 20 - 40 cm in height Stems: rhizomes NOTES Reproduction: seeds; tubers; runners; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: found throughout Alberta in marshes and shallow areas or shores of lakes Ecology: tubers are often sought after by ducks	Photo courtesy of E.D. Allen

Bulrush (Scirpus Spp.) DESCRIPTION Identification of Bulrush species requires detailed examination of flowers and fruits. Flowers: forming spikelets, arranged laterally or terminally on the stem; minute; in the axils of scales; flower clusters subtended by one or more bracts Leaves: blades often lacking; when present, linear and sheathing the stem Stems: often naked; triangular or circular in cross section, may reach 2.5 m in length in some species; extending from a rhizome NOTES Reproduction: seeds; runners; rhizomes Habitat: shallow shoreline waters, wet meadows; distributed throughout Alberta Ecology: bulrushes are used for food by muskrat, as nesting sites by birds and are important as soil binders	Photo courtesy of E.D. Allen

Canada Waterweed (Elodea Canadensis Michx.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: unisexual, male and female on separate plants, the female plant is seen more commonly; the female flower reaches the surface on a long slender stalk; the male flower is borne on a shorter stalk which separates from the plant allowing the flower to rise to the surface and meet the female Leaves: dark green, translucent; small and narrow, 1 - 3 mm wide, 10 - 15 mm long; commonly arranged in whorls of three Stems: branching; ranging in length from 1-3mm Roots: may arise from the stem nodes; the plant is usually rooted in the hydrosoil but may survive if floating NOTES Reproduction: primarily by winter buds, rarely by seeds Habitat: may produce dense stands in shallow areas of lakes, sloughs and slow moving streams Ecology: provides shelter for a wide variety of aquatic organisms; eaten by waterfowl and muskrat; an efficient oxygenator of water

Common Cattail (Typha Latifolia L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: forming a dense terminal spike; unisexual; male portion of the spike produced above the thick, cigar-shaped female portion Leaves: linear; upright, sheathing the stem; up to 1 meter long and 20 mm wide Stems: growing erect; up to 2.5 m high; cylindrical; extending from a rhizome NOTES: Reproduction: seeds; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: any wet place on marshy area; may grow on exposed soil if water table is sufficiently high (within 0.5 m of the soil surface); prevailent in Alberta Ecology: provides excellent habitat for birds and small mammals; pheasants use cattails for cover; rhizomes are eaten by muskrat and beaver; aerial portions may be fed upon by terrestrial mammals.

Common Bladderwort (Utricularia Vulgaris L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: yellow; irregular; extending above the water surface on long stalks Leaves: having numerous bladders 3 - 5 mm long; finely cut into numerous threadlike divisions Stems: having dense foliage, 5 - 7 mm thick Roots: lacking NOTES Reproduction: seeds; winter buds formed at shoot apices Habitat: lakes, sloughs and ditches throughout Alberta; floating near the surface in quiet water Ecology: eaten by waterfowl; provides good cover for fish; the bladders of this plant open to trap small aquatic animals which are used for nutrition

Coontail (Ceratophyllum Demersum L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: minute; sessile in the leaf axils Leaves: in whorls of 5 - 12 leaves; whorls variably spaced on the stem, crowding towards the tip, giving a "coontail" appearance; each leaf forked into 2 or 4 toothed divisions; often stiff and coarse in texture because of lime deposits Stems: branqhing; 30 cm - 1.5 m in length Roots: usually lacking NOTES Reproduction: rarely by seeds; winter buds forming on shoot apices Habitat: embedded in the hydrosoil early in the season, later existing unattached Ecology: eaten by muskrat and waterfowl; shelters young fish and supports aquatic insect life; moderately efficient as an aerator.

Flat-Stemmed Pondweed (Potamogeton Zosteriformis Fern) DESCRIPTION Flowers: forming a terminal spike; emerging Leaves: linear, 10 - 20 cm long; with prominent midvein; nonsheathing base; stipules well developed, fibrous, 1 - 3 cm long Stems: flattened; several times as wide as thick; branching NOTES Reproduction: predominantly by tubers and winter buds; seeds Habitat: common to lakes, sloughs and slow moving streams of Alberta Ecology: tubers and seeds are important as duck food

Floating-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Natans L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: small, green, numerous; on a thick, terminal, emergent spike Leaves: numerous, broad, leathery floating leaves on petioles; occasionally long, narrow, submerged leaves up to 46 cm in length Stems: rarely branched; extending from a rhizome NOTES Reproduction: seeds; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: shallow or deep water of lakes, marshes Ecology: seeds provide food for ducks; provide cover for fish food organisms

Giant Bur-Reed (Sparganium Eurycarpum Engelm.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: unisexual; forming dense spherical heads; male flowers produced uppermost on the stem Leaves: long, slender and sessile; longitudinal and cross veins are present on the leaves and form a meshwork pattern Stems: sturdy, 50 - 150 cm high; extending from a rhizome NOTES Reproduction: seeds; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: in shallow water and marshy areas throughout Alberta Ecology: may be fed upon by waterfowl and muskrat

Large-Sheath Pondweed (Potamogeton Vaginatus Turcz.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: forming a 3 - 8 cm long spike Leaves: long (10 - 40 cm) and slender; coarse in texture; lower leaves have a broadened stipular sheath (2 - 5 cm long) which is much wider than the stem Stems: branching; extending from a rhizome; relatively thick compared to the leaves NOTES Reproduction: seeds, proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: lakes, larger sloughs and slow moving streams; common in Alberta Ecology: may form dense stands under suitable conditions; can become problematical because of its large size.

Lesser Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: rarely present; unisexual; male flower of single stamen, female flower of single pistil; borne on the side or upper surface of the thallus Plant Body: no true leaves or stems present, plant body is in the form ot a flat thallus; 2 - 5 mm in length Roots: single rootlet borne on the underside of the thallus NOTES Reproduction: rarely by seeds; predominantly by budding; overwinter as bulblets formed by the thalli which sink to the bottom in fall and surface in spring Habitat: floating on the surface of shallow ponds, marshes and pools; common throughout Alberta Ecology: eaten by waterfowl; provides shade and cover for fish and aquatic invertebrates; in overabundance may alter existing habitat by shading out other forms of vegetation

Mare’s Tail (Hippurus Vulgaris L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: green; sessile; borne in the leaf axils on emergent portion of the plant Leaves: sessile; 1 - 3 cm long; linear and pointed, in whorls of 6 to 12 leaves; submerged leaves flaccid, emerged leaves firm Stems: unbranched; extending from a creeping rhizome; emerging above the surface NOTES Reproduction: seeds, proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: largely submergent in sheltered waters throughout Alberta; may also be found growing in muddy, exposed soils Ecology: seeds and leaves eaten by waterfowl; underwater foliage is inhabited by aquatic invertebrates.

Narrow-Leaved Water-Plantain (Alisma Gramineum Gmel.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: small; in clusters, at end of short spikes, attached in whorls to a long stalk from the base of the plant; flowers whitish or brownish Leaves: long, grass-like; arising from the base of plant; in younger plants, leaves narrow and floating; in mature plants, leaves broader, with widened tips, floating or erect Stems: bulb-like, with fibrous roots NOTES Reproduction: by seed or vegetatively from the perennial stem Habitat: shallow water of ponds, sloughs, lakes, streams, ditches and canals; grows entirely submerged or emerged; common in southern Alberta Ecology: seed used by waterfowl; prominent plant in irrigation canals.

Northern Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum Exalbescens Fern) DESCRIPTION Flowers: in whorls which are variably spaced on a terminal emergent spike; floral bracts rarely as long as the fruits Leaves: feather-like; whorled, usually four to a whorl; 1 - 3 cm long; pinnate, 12 - 20 leaflets per leaf. Stems: branching; purplish or reddish in color, commonly about 1 m long Roots: spirally twisted. NOTES Reproduction: seeds, plant fragments; winter buds Habitat: sloughs, lakes, and streams throughout Alberta; at a variety of depths Ecology: important as food for muskrat and moose as well as waterfowl; harbors fish food organisms.

Reed Grass (Phragmites Communis Trin.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: forming a large, feathery pannicle; tawny or purple in color Leaves: large and flat; 1 - 3 cm wide, with overlapping sheaths; tip of leaf boat-shaped Stems: extending from thick rhizomes; 1.5 - 3 m in height NOTES Reproduction: seeds; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: quiet waters of lakes and sloughs; marshy areas and ditches Ecology: important in providing cover for birds and small mammals; rhizomes fed upon by muskrat; helps in preventing erosion by holding the soil

Richardson Pondweed (Potamogeton Rishardsonii (Benn.) Rydb.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: produced in thick spikes which may emerge Leaves: all submerged, 3 - 12 cm long, lessening in length towards tip of stem; oval to linear; clasping stem at points of attachment; sessile; margins wavy Stems: branched; extending from unspotted rhizomes NOTES Reproduction: seeds; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: very common in Alberta; inhabiting lakes, ponds and slow moving streams Ecology: provides good habitat for aquatic organisms; all or part of the plant is eaten by ducks, shorebirds, muskrat, beaver and moose

Rush (Juncus Spp.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: produced terminally on the stem; may appear to be lateral due to a long, cylindrical floral bract extending continuous with the stem Leaves: may be cylindrical or flattened in cross section, or may be reduced to bladeless sheaths Stems: in clumps or arising from a creeping rhizome; circular in cross section; 20 cm - 80 cm in height NOTES Reproduction: seeds; rhizomes Habitat: shallow water along shorelines or in wet meadows Ecology: thickened plant bases are eaten by muskrat; seeds are eaten by upland birds

Sago Pondweed (Potamogeton Pectinatus L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: forming a long slender terminal spike; distance between flower whorls varies; floating at or near the surface Leaves: submerged, narrowly linear; triangular in cross section; 3 - 10 cm long Stems: slender, with many branches; extending from a slender rhizome NOTES Reproduction: predominantly by tubers; seeds Habitat: may inhabit a wide range of aquatic environments from shallow, swift water to fairly deep, still water; common throughout Alberta Ecology: may grow in overabundance, producing large quantities of organic matter in the aquatic ecosystem; important as an oxygenator; eaten by birds and aquatic orientated mammals; tubers may be heavily fed upon by ducks.

Small-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Pusillus L) DESCRIPTION Flowers: forming an emergent spike Leaves: linear, 1 - 8 cm long, .3 - 1.5 mm wide; with three viens, midvein prominent Stems: threadlike; branched NOTES Reproduction: seeds; winter buds Habitat: grawing in clumps; usually in deeper water (depths of 2 - 3 meters); common in Alberta Ecology: provides a good source of food for waterfowl; cover for fish

Star Duckweed (Lemna Trisulca L.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: rarely present; unisexual; male flower of single stamen; female flower of single pistil Plant Body: a flat thallus; individual thalli often joined together forming T -shaped cross arrangements; thalli 6 - 10 mm long Roots: single rootlet borne on the underside of the thallus NOTES Reproduction: primarily by budding; seeds are rare; overwinter as bulblets formed by thalli which sink to the bottom in fall Habitat: floating at or just below the water surface; common throughout Alberta in shallow ponds, marshes and pools Ecology: eaten by waterfowl; provides cover for fish and aquatic invertebrates, often found in association with Lesser duckweed

Water Smartweed (Polygonum Natans (Eaton)) DESCRIPTION Flowers: pink to red in color; emergent; in form of a raceme 1 - 3 cm long Leaves: floating; oblong; up to 10 cm long; petiolate Stems: a rhizome trailing in the water or lying on the bottom Roots: arise from the stem nodes NOTES Reproduction: seeds; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: lakes, sloughs and marshy areas; may be seen as an erect terrestrial plant which differs in having a larger raceme, hairy stem and hairy lanceolate leaves Ecology: used as a food source by waterfowl, shorebirds and muskrat

Whitestem Pondweed (Potamogeton Praelongus Wulf.) DESCRIPTION Flowers: small, greenish; at end of a thick, emergent spike Leaves: all submerged; large (10-13 cm long, 1-3 cm wide); becoming smaller and crowded at end of stem; apex boatshaped; bases clasp half way around stems; persistent, long whitish stipules extend along stem from leaf base Stems: long, branching and usually zig-zag near top; growing to surface, often forming thick surface mats; rhizomes with rusty spots NOTES Reproduction: from rhizomes or by seed Habitat: moderately deep water of lakes; rarely inhabiting shallow or moving water Ecology: provides cover and foraging areas for fish; used as food by waterfowl

White Waterbuttercup (Ranunculus Circinatus Sibth) DESCRIPTION Flowers: produced on or above the water surface; white in color; petals 5 - 9 mm long Leaves: sessile; finely cut into many threadlike divisions; fairly stiff, retaining shape when taken from the water Stems: branched NOTES Reproduction: seeds Habitat: commonly found in sloughs, lakes and streams in Alberta; does not readily tolerate poor water quality Ecology: may grow in over abundance, forming thick mats on the water surface

Yellow Water Lily (Nuphar Variegatum Enigelm) DESCRIPTION Flowers: yellow; emerging; on long stalks; tulip-like; 4 - 7 cm wide Leaves: broadly oval; 10 - 30 cm long; bi-iobed; long petioles (up to 4 m); floating; young submersed leaves often red tinged Stems: thick rhizomes NOTES Reproduction: seeds; tubers; proliferation of the rhizome Habitat: in sheltered waters of ponds, lakes and slow moving streams throughout Alberta Ecology: leaves eaten by deer, moose and insects; rhizome is a chief source of food for muskrat; seeds eaten by birds; floating leaves provide shade and protective cover for fish and aquatic invertebrates


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