Sunday, July 13, 2003

Bloomin' Algae

Newnan's Lake in Florida, long a victim of sedimentation and pollution, is now the victim of an Australian algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. According to this article in the Gainesville Sun, high concentrations of the blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) were recorded back in 2000, and the blooms show no sign of waning. Scientists are concerned about the effects of the blooms on the lake's other organisms, and are hoping to ameliorate the situation by identifying sources of phosphorus and other nutrients that allow the algae to thrive. Apparently there are also problems with C. raciborskii in Wisconsin.

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