Re: [compost_tea] Re: moss and algae

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 06:38:17 -0400

Yes, protozoa consume algae, especially in aquatic systems. In fact some good work by the folks at Univ of Wisconsiin showing that the algal mess (you could practically walk on the algal bloom on Lake Mendota 20 years ago) just required getting the protozoa back in the lake in high enough numbers. Of course, that required a shift in fish species from the alien invaders back to the native fish. The "sport fish" that had been added into the lake ate the fish that ate the littler fish that ate the protozoa (zooplanton) that ate the algae (phytoplankton). To stop the bloom, the native fish had to be brought back, because they ate fish that ate the protozoa.

Confused? Me too. It's a fish eat fish world, and you have to get the links right, or the wrong critters dominate.

Anyway,in ponds on golf course, we have to get the protozoa re-established, because long ago, the pesticides and high levels of inorganic fertilizers took out not only the fish, but the protozoa that eat the algae. The algae should be adding oxygen to the water, but only the green, living layer on top. If the layer gets too think, the algae on the bottom die, and become rich bacterial food. The bacteria oblige by eating the dead algae, and using up oxygen faster than the algae can grow and replenish the oxygen.

Have to look beyond the obvious in so many of these things.....

Hope this helped!

Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Hilversum, The Netherlands
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
www.soilfoodweb.com

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Received on Mon Jun 16 2003 - 13:59:04 EDT

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