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Article: Algal Blooms in Fresh Water
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- Water:Science and Issues
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Algal Blooms in Fresh Water
Aquatic ecologists are concerned with blooms (very high cell densities) of
algae
in reservoirs, lakes, and streams because their occurrence can have ecological, aesthetic, and human health impacts. In waterbodies used for water supply, algal blooms can cause physical problems (e.g., clogging screens) or can cause taste and odor problems in waters used for drinking. Blooms involving toxin-producing species can pose serious threats to animals and humans.
Algae in Aquatic Ecosystems
The term "algae" is generally used to refer to a wide variety of different and dissimilar
photosynthetic
organisms, generally microscopic. Depending on the species, algae can ...