Algae and Trout: Beauty and the Beast Russ Rhodes An algal lover from Springfield, Missouri

Plan for the Evening What are algae (size, color, clothes, shapes, mobility, contents)? What are algae (size, color, clothes, shapes, mobility, contents)? What are their requirements? What are their requirements? Where do you find algae? Where do you find algae? What is the relationship between algae and trout? What is the relationship between algae and trout? What are some problems with algae? What are some problems with algae? Quiz Quiz Open discussion Open discussion

Size Range Microscopic Microscopic Macroscopic Macroscopic

Color Green Green Golden brown Golden brown Reddish brown Reddish brown Brown Brown Red Red Blue green Blue green

Clothes (External Coverings) Cellulose Protein Calcium carbonate (chalk) Glass Naked

Shapes Spherical Spherical Spindle Spindle Colonial Colonial Filamentous (thread- like) Filamentous (thread- like)

Mobility Attached (no mobility) Attached (mobility) Swimming (small oars) Floating (internal air sacs) Creeping (internal aids

Contents of Algae Starch Starch Protein Protein Oils Oils

Requirements for Growth Sunlight Carbon dioxide Nitrogen (nitrates, ammonia, and gaseous nitrogen) Phosphorus (phosphates and organic phosphates Other nutrients (silicon, magnesium, etc.

Where do you find Algae? Ice and snow Ice and snow Hot springs Hot springs Any body of water Any body of water Lakes Lakes Oceans Oceans Any kind of substrate, sand, mud, rock, other algae, trees, Any kind of substrate, sand, mud, rock, other algae, trees, animals animals

Relationships of Algae to their Environment Primary producer, oxygen source for world, food source for most oceanic and much of the freshwater animals Habitat producer, site for colonization, refuge

What about Trout? Trout come in a variety of colors and types also Trout come in a variety of colors and types also They have wide distribution, world wide They have wide distribution, world wide Trout consume a wide variety of animals Trout consume a wide variety of animals Especially scud Especially scud

Some Types of Trout Brook trout Brook trout Brown trout Brown trout Rainbow trout Rainbow trout Lake trout Lake trout Cutthroat Cutthroat Bull trout Bull trout Apache trout Dolly varden Gila trout Golden trout Splake Speckled trout

Scud (Gammarus, an amphipod) Small invertebrate Grazer Habitat Rocks, sand, algae

Some Genera of Diatoms Eaten by Scud Achnanthes Achnanthes Amphora Amphora Cocconeis Cocconeis Cyclotella Cyclotella Diatoma Diatoma Fragilaria Fragilaria Gomphonema Gomphonema Gryosigma Melosira Navicula Nitzschia Opephora Rhoicosphenia Synedra

Diatoms, Food for Scud

Whoa there, whats this? Animal? Animal? Plant? Plant? Mineral? Mineral?

Problems with Algae Algal toxins Algal toxins Hypoxia Hypoxia Smell Smell Taste Taste Competition Competition

Hypoxia

And now to the Blob It was a plant! It was a plant! The species is Didymosphenia geminata. The species is Didymosphenia geminata. The plant type is a diatom. The plant type is a diatom. World wide distribution World wide distribution Similar problems in Washington, Canada, England, Arkansas Similar problems in Washington, Canada, England, Arkansas

Canada Didymosphenia has been reported to grow to nuisance levels in a number of river systems around the province especially throughout central Vancouver Island, where it was first reported in It has also been found in significant quantities in the Bulkley, South Thompson, Kettle, Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. Didymosphenia has been reported to grow to nuisance levels in a number of river systems around the province especially throughout central Vancouver Island, where it was first reported in It has also been found in significant quantities in the Bulkley, South Thompson, Kettle, Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.

The Blob in Arkansas

Didymosphenia geminata Colonial diatom Colonial diatom Cells divide Cells divide Attachment as gelatinous stalks Attachment as gelatinous stalks Massive plant Massive plant Cells ( microns long) Cells ( microns long)

Growth of Didymosphenia Small seed plants on rocks Small seed plants on rocks Probable needs for massive growth Probable needs for massive growth Bright sunlight Bright sunlight Slack water Slack water Reduced phosphate Reduced phosphate

Back at the Tailrace

The Quiz The title: Algae and Trout The title: Algae and Trout The subtitle: Beauty and the Beast The subtitle: Beauty and the Beast Which is which? Which is which? or

Thanks for having me! Many of the great photos were courtesy of Scott Branyan and Bob Britzke Many of the great photos were courtesy of Scott Branyan and Bob Britzke The colorful diatom was courtesy of Mike Samworth, UK The colorful diatom was courtesy of Mike Samworth, UK