Since some of you have commented on the green "pea soup" that covers the wetlands water most of the summer, I thought I had better look up some information about it. I'm no expert on this. It is not necessarily a bad plant. (like most things it probably has a good side and a bad side) Instead it has been found to remove nitrogens and phosphates and ammonia from wastewater. It keeps the frogs and turtles cool as they hide in it. It is eaten by all sorts of animals, including ducks, fish, deer, bobcats, etc. It may look unsightly in a huge mass like this, but up close it has tiny little leaves that are rather attractive. You can look on-line for more information. Some people don't like the looks and want to control it, but in the wild it is useful, just like most things if we leave them alone. Here at the wetlands, it will gradually go away during the fall. There are a lot of geese and ducks there at that time, so I assume they are eating some of it. This welands is right next to a water treatment plant, by the way.
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7 comments:
You cannot imagine the $$'s the 4 families that keep our pond going have spent eradicating duck weed! Never would have thought it was helpful - and we had a major nitrogen bloom AFTER it was removed. The guy told us it was because of run-off from the roads. Though the pond isn't nearly as pretty, i'll appreciate duck weed more.
Interesting. I always wondered if duckweed was good or bad...now I know! Just love how it turns everything in it into the Swamp Thing!
Love the photos from the previous post...beautiful color and of course...I love the herons!!
Annie: I don't pretend to be an expert about this...I just googled and read what I could find. I know that in our small pond the duckweed is controled by a grass carp which eats it. Maybe your lake needs a couple of those. Nitrogen is in fertilizers....which everyone puts on their lawns and then it runs off into their ponds. Nitrogen causes lots of growth in plants, so if not duckweed to absorb it, then I guess something else will grow. Most residential people don't want a totally green pond covered with duckweed.....not attractive. But in the wild, it seems to have its place.
Kelly: I was wondering about the duckweed, too. I'm sure I didn't find out everything and there seem to be pros and cons like with most things.
Amazing how humans interfere!
My geese were eating my clover and did well with it this year! I'm sure the critters eat the weed, too!
Mary: That is what you call great camo.
Drippy gouey duckweed!
Thanks for the interesting information about duckweed. I'll have to take a closer look next time.
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