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Project Noah Nature School
Pectinatella magnifica
Bryozoans are an invertebrate that live in colonies, similar to corrals. The following is an excerpt from a response from doctor Timothy Wood- "They help keep the water clear. Many people write to me asking how to get rid of them, as though they were somehow dangerous. Of course they are not. Although the species is native to eastern North America, it has now spread westward across the continent, jumped the Pacific to northern Asia, and is also spreading very rapidly through western Europe. There are a lot of interesting things about Pectinatella and a lot we still do not understand. I hope you can hold onto your pond population for many years."
I found the colony in my spring fed pond.
Spotted on Aug 17, 2010
Submitted on Jan 22, 2012
14 Comments
Just got it. Thank you and yes, fascinating!
I commented on your photo as well. How incredibly different! Fascinating!
It's the white, structured organism at http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/785...
That's great, Cindy! You said your colony looked different? What did yours look like?
Hi Cynthia, thank you again for providing a contact name for my Bryozoan. They were able to get me in contact with a scientist here on the West Coast and confirm my spotting was Bryozoan!
Thanks! It was a mystery for some time as to what it was!
Amazing find, great photo and information ! Thanks for sharing this...
From the little that's known about them, it was my understanding that the colony eventually disperses (for lack of a better word!) In 2010, when I found this colony, I had no string algae (that slimy, mossy like green stuff) in the pond. I believe there is a connection!
Like sea sponges. Now that's worth further reading. Thanks so much.
That is the strangest thing I have ever seen!!!
There isn't a lot known about them. Whether it was transferred from another source by a bird, or amphibian, or such is unknow. It wouldn't have come directly from the spring since they need light and oxygen.
I'd never heard of them either. How did they get into your pond? From the spring?
It was rubbery, very solid, actually. When I first found it, I thought it was some kind of amphibian egg mass. But, since it was the fall, I was puzzled. I didn't see it this past fall. I'm going to say it was approximately 9-12 inches in diameter. I found out what it was after several calls to the NY State DEC.
How interesting! How big is that colony? Is it soft and squishy? I've never heard of these creatures.