Some dynamics of the FA. As esshup says it is utilizing and growing based on absorbing nutrients from the pond. Nutrients are primarily dissolved in the water. Nutrients are coming primarily from the sediments or runoff or both are contributing.
From the pictures Brad's watershed is not vegetated. Runoff from bare soil brings in LOTS of nutrients from the soil. Sometimes nutrients are added to waters to create phytoplankton (microscopic free-floating algae) blooms. At times FA will use those nutrients instead of the phytoplankton bloom.
Algae growth (biomass) stores the nutrients. Killing the algae in the pond or getting something to eat it recycles the nutrients in the pond resulting in temporary elimination of one form of plant growth. If the algae eating fish are small enough to be prey items or the herbivorous fish are harvested some of the nutrients are moved up the food chain or are removed respectively.
Removing (dipping, netting, seines, rakes) the algae directly removes the bound offending nutrients from the pond. A pond can grow a LOT of FA DEPENDING on the amount of nutrients available. Another way to naturally deal with it is to have some other form of plant grow in the pond and compete against the FA for nutrients and space. Heavily vegetqated ponds rarely have FA problems unless there are excessive nutrients.
Some, I repeat some, types or strains of bacteria / microbes can bind dissolved nutrients and pass them up through the food chain to the fish.
Some chemical treatments can bind phosphorus in ponds. Phosphorus is a main nutrient needed by algae.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/12/10 10:03 AM.
