Lake Eufaula's Secret Superheroes: Why Bryozoans Are a HUGE Deal!
- Friends of Lake Eufaula
- Dec 3
- 3 min read
We recently got some fantastic news from the water: very healthy bryozoans were spotted during a dive! Michael Weishaar's simple observation is actually a major clue that our lake is fighting fit, and it's all thanks to these amazing, often-unseen creatures.
Meet the Bryozoans: Tiny Builders, Big Impact
If you’ve ever seen a strange, gelatinous blob attached to a stick or a dock piling, you’ve probably met a bryozoan colony!
What they are: Forget what they look like—these are colonies of thousands of microscopic animals, not moss or plants. They're often called "moss animals" and they stick together like a giant, protective family.
Their Look: In Lake Eufaula, the most common type often forms large, squishy, brownish masses that can sometimes look like a brain or a basketball underwater.
Their Mission: Every single one of these tiny animals is armed with a crown of waving tentacles (called a lophophore). They use these to create a current and constantly scoop up anything floating in the water.
Nature's Ultimate Cleaning Crew
This is where the excitement begins. Bryozoans aren't just living in the lake; they're actively polishing it, acting as an elite, non-stop filtration system.
1. Water Clarity Agents
Imagine thousands of tiny vacuum cleaners working 24/7. That's a bryozoan colony!
The Diet: They feast on things that cloud our water, including:
Algae: By eating phytoplankton (algae), they help prevent those nasty green summer blooms that can steal oxygen from our fish.
Bacteria and Fine Particles: They remove the tiny, suspended solids that make the water murky.
The Result: When bryozoans thrive, the water is clearer and cleaner. This makes swimming more enjoyable and allows sunlight to reach plants on the lake bottom, which is vital for the entire ecosystem.
2. Underwater Apartment Complexes
Their squishy, complicated colonies are a gift to other lake residents.
They create safe, cozy micro-habitats—like a secret fortress—for small creatures, including baby insects, worms, and tiny crustaceans.
They’re a vital buffet line! Many small fish and other invertebrates use the bryozoans as an important food source, connecting the dots in the lake's food web.
3. The "Good Water Quality" Report Card
Here’s the biggest takeaway from Michael’s dive: Bryozoans are sensitive. They cannot survive in heavily polluted or extremely muddy water.
Finding healthy colonies is a fantastic sign that the water in that part of Lake Eufaula is currently clean, stable, and low in contaminants. They are our natural, living proof that our conservation efforts are working!
How YOU Can Protect Our Bryozoan Allies
Michael’s final message is the most important: “Let’s help keep our lake healthy!” When we protect the lake, we protect the bryozoans, and they, in turn, protect us by keeping the water clean.
Here are simple ways to be a Bryozoan Protector:
Stop the Sediment: Excess mud and dirt from erosion is their enemy. Make sure soil near the lake is stabilized with plants, not left bare.
Be Smart with Fertilizers: Rain washes fertilizers (nutrients) into the lake, which fuels massive algae blooms. This throws the ecosystem out of balance and harms the filters. Use fertilizers sparingly and far from the water's edge.
Reduce Chemical Runoff: Dispose of oils, paints, and cleaners properly—never near drains or waterways.
Join the Effort: Become a Friend of Lake Eufaula!
The sight of healthy bryozoans proves that the work to keep our lake clean is absolutely essential. But our cleaning crew needs backup!
You can take your commitment to Lake Eufaula’s health one step further by joining the community dedicated to its stewardship.
Becoming a member of Friends of Lake Eufaula means you are directly supporting:
Clean-up initiatives and water quality monitoring.
Educational efforts to spread awareness about creatures like the bryozoans.
Advocacy for responsible lake management and conservation.
Click here to become a formal Friend of Lake Eufaula and help us keep the lake thriving for generations to come: https://www.friendsoflakeeufaula.com/join
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