Algae and Trout:Algae and Trout:Beauty and the Beauty and the

BeastBeast

Russ RhodesRuss Rhodes

An algal lover fromAn algal lover from

Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri

Plan for the EveningPlan for the Evening

What are algae (size, color, clothes, What are algae (size, color, clothes, shapes, mobility, contents)?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 What is the relationship between algae

and trout?and trout? What are some problems with algae?What are some problems with algae? QuizQuiz Open discussionOpen discussion

Size RangeSize Range

MicroscopicMicroscopic

MacroscopicMacroscopic

ColorColor

GreenGreen Golden brownGolden brown Reddish brownReddish brown BrownBrown RedRed Blue greenBlue green

Clothes (External Clothes (External Coverings)Coverings)

CelluloseCellulose ProteinProtein Calcium Calcium

carbonate (chalk)carbonate (chalk) GlassGlass NakedNaked

ShapesShapes

SphericalSpherical SpindleSpindle ColonialColonial Filamentous Filamentous

(thread-like)(thread-like)

MobilityMobility

Attached (no Attached (no mobility)mobility)

Attached Attached (mobility)(mobility)

Swimming (“small Swimming (“small oars”)oars”)

Floating (internal Floating (internal air sacs)air sacs)

Creeping Creeping (“internal aids”(“internal aids”

Contents of AlgaeContents of Algae

StarchStarch

ProteinProtein

OilsOils

Requirements for GrowthRequirements for Growth SunlightSunlight Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide Nitrogen (nitrates, Nitrogen (nitrates,

ammonia, and ammonia, and gaseous nitrogen) gaseous nitrogen)

Phosphorus Phosphorus (phosphates and (phosphates and organic organic phosphatesphosphates

Other nutrients Other nutrients (silicon, (silicon, magnesium, etc.magnesium, etc.

Where do you find Algae?Where do you find Algae?

Ice and snowIce and snow Hot springsHot springs Any body of waterAny body of water LakesLakes OceansOceans Any kind of Any kind of

substrate, sand, substrate, sand, mud, rock, other mud, rock, other algae, trees, algae, trees,

animalsanimals

Relationships of Algae to Relationships of Algae to their Environmenttheir Environment

Primary producer, Primary producer, oxygen source for oxygen source for world, food source world, food source for most oceanic for most oceanic and much of the and much of the freshwater animalsfreshwater animals

Habitat producer, Habitat producer, site for site for colonization, colonization, refugerefuge

What about Trout?What about Trout?

Trout come in a Trout come in a variety of colors and variety of colors and types alsotypes also

They have wide They have wide distribution, world distribution, world widewide

Trout consume a Trout consume a wide variety of wide variety of animalsanimals

Especially scudEspecially scud

Some Types of TroutSome Types of Trout

Brook troutBrook trout Brown troutBrown trout Rainbow troutRainbow trout Lake troutLake trout Cutthroat Cutthroat Bull troutBull trout

Apache troutApache trout Dolly vardenDolly varden Gila troutGila trout Golden troutGolden trout SplakeSplake Speckled troutSpeckled trout

Scud (Scud (GammarusGammarus, , an amphipod)an amphipod)

Small Small invertebrateinvertebrate

GrazerGrazer HabitatHabitat Rocks, sand, Rocks, sand,

algaealgae

Some Genera of Diatoms Some Genera of Diatoms Eaten by ScudEaten by Scud

AchnanthesAchnanthes AmphoraAmphora CocconeisCocconeis CyclotellaCyclotella DiatomaDiatoma FragilariaFragilaria GomphonemaGomphonema

GryosigmaGryosigma MelosiraMelosira NaviculaNavicula NitzschiaNitzschia OpephoraOpephora RhoicospheniaRhoicosphenia SynedraSynedra

Diatoms, Food for ScudDiatoms, Food for Scud

Whoa there, what’s this?Whoa there, what’s this?

Animal?Animal? Plant?Plant? Mineral?Mineral?

Problems with AlgaeProblems with Algae

Algal toxinsAlgal toxins HypoxiaHypoxia SmellSmell TasteTaste CompetitionCompetition

Some of the Blue-green Algal Genera and Their Toxins (Not all species in a genus produce toxins.)

http://lurac.latrobe.edu.au/~botbml/cyanotox.htmlhttp://lurac.latrobe.edu.au/~botbml/cyanos.html

• Anabaena• Anabaenopsis• Aphanizomenon• Cylindrospermopsis• Lyngbya• Microsystis• Nodularia• Phormidium• Planktothrix

• Anatoxins, Microcystins• Microsystins• Saxitoxins• Cylindrospermopsins• Aplysiatoxins• Microcystins• Nodularin• Anatoxin• Microcystins, Saxitoxins

ToxinsAlgal Genus

HypoxiaHypoxia

Courtesy: Dr. Robert Diaz, VIMS: Dead Zones on a World Wide Scale http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/OCDST/dead_zones.html

And now to the BlobAnd now to the Blob

It was a plant!It was a plant! The species is The species is Didymosphenia Didymosphenia

geminatageminata.. The plant type is a diatom.The plant type is a diatom. World wide distributionWorld wide distribution Similar problems in Washington, Similar problems in Washington,

Canada, England, ArkansasCanada, England, Arkansas

Canada Canada DidymospheniaDidymosphenia has been reported to grow to nuisance has been reported to grow to nuisance

levels in a number of river systems around the province levels in a number of river systems around the province — especially throughout central Vancouver Island, — especially throughout central Vancouver Island, where it was first reported in 1989. It has also been where it was first reported in 1989. It has also been found in significant quantities in the Bulkley, South found in significant quantities in the Bulkley, South Thompson, Kettle, Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.Thompson, Kettle, Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.

The Blob in ArkansasThe Blob in Arkansas

Didymosphenia geminataDidymosphenia geminata

Colonial diatomColonial diatom Cells divideCells divide Attachment as Attachment as

gelatinous stalksgelatinous stalks Massive plantMassive plant Cells (200-300 Cells (200-300

microns long)microns long)

Growth of Growth of DidymospheniaDidymosphenia

Small “seed” Small “seed” plants on rocksplants on rocks

Probable needs for Probable needs for massive growthmassive growth

Bright sunlightBright sunlight Slack waterSlack water Reduced Reduced

phosphatephosphate

Back at the TailraceBack at the Tailrace

The QuizThe Quiz

The title: Algae The title: Algae and Troutand Trout

The subtitle: The subtitle: Beauty and the Beauty and the BeastBeast

Which is which?Which is which?or

Thanks for having me!Thanks for having me! Many of the great photos were courtesy of Scott Branyan and Many of the great photos were courtesy of Scott Branyan and

Bob BritzkeBob Britzke The colorful diatom was courtesy of Mike Samworth, UKThe colorful diatom was courtesy of Mike Samworth, UK