Foam occurs when oils from decomposing aquatic plants or animals float to the surface and reduce the surface tension of the water. Contrary to popular belief, this foam is not the result of some pollutant in the water, it is a naturally occurring phenomenon. Foamįoam can often be seen along shorelines or in open water areas on windy days.

If you see a large mass in the spring, it is likely frog or salamander eggs as bryozoan colonies will typically not be a noticeable size yet.īryozoan colony near Pointe au Baril (credit: Alanna Smolarz). Bryozoans die in the winter and form new colonies in the spring. Bryozoan colonies are firm and do not have embryos inside. Salamanders go one step further and coat the entire egg mass with an additional layer of jelly making it more difficult to see the individual eggs. The individual eggs are grouped together to form a mass. How do you know if you are looking at a mass of frog eggs, salamander eggs, or a bryozoan colony? Frogs lay individual clear eggs with a visible embryo inside each egg.

Moss animals are not very tolerant of pollution and as such, they usually indicate good water quality in the areas they are found. They reach their largest size in late summer and fall, which is when most people notice them. Colonies usually attach to some form of structure such as submerged logs, docks, or rocks. Colonies can range in appearance from jelly-like masses (typically what is found in Georgian Bay) to intricate coral-like structures. Zooids feed on microscopic organisms like diatoms and in turn, are fed on by larger aquatic predators like fish, insect larvae, crayfish, and snails.įreshwater bryozoan colonies build gelatinous exoskeletons (outer protective structures) that contain many individual zooids. Individual bryozoans are called zooids and can be viewed with adequate magnification. Moss animals (phylum Bryozoa) are simple microscopic aquatic invertebrates that live in colonies. Dive in to learn about neat freshwater finds from pollen to parasites! Moss Animals For this month’s blog post, we have compiled a list of some of the water wonders that we are most commonly asked about.

Every summer we receive emails from residents and visitors with questions about the interesting things they see in the water. Georgian Bay and the surrounding inland lakes and rivers are full of wonderful surprises.

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