Good topic Matt. Cecil's reasons are a lot of the probable contributing reasons IMO. Different variables will combine to cause or hinder dense filamentous algae growths. Kokomo Res is usually turbid (sediment) with reduced light penetration, murky water - lack of light is a big factor there IMO. What are average water clarities in Lk Apopka? Grand Lake St Marys has lots of shallows, low average depths (alot of it is 6') with abundant ski boat traffic and wind action that keeps it stirred up and quite turbid which is why the alum treatments did not work very well - too much resuspension of sediments. I suspected that would happen. Alum works best in deep lakes with minimial resuspension of settled floc. Hypereutrophic usually has dense blooms due to higher P concentration. Dense blooms limit light penetration.
In clear waters usually macrophytes use a lot of the nutrients competing against phytoplankton and filamentous. Filamentous algae (cold-cool water forms), periphyton, or minor phyto blooms will sometimes develop growths in early spring in clearer lakes until the macrophytes get growing, then the filamentous algae gets starved and dies out. As the filamentous decays the macrophytes consume most of those nutrients. This pattern is noted in Welch's limnology texts and it also occurs in my pond with filamentous taxa and macrophytes.
Different filamentous species prefer different nutrient concentrations. Cladophora is considered a P hog.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 01/28/13 11:24 AM.
