|
Delta Ponds is looking pretty in pink these days, but why?
The pink plant is a native, aquatic fern commonly known as azolla or “mosquito fern." Native to Oregon and found worldwide, it thrives in shallow water and ranges in color from green to pinkish red.
Does this mean there will be more mosquitos at Delta Ponds? Nope, actually the opposite. By covering the surface of the water, azolla can reduce mosquito populations by more than 95%.
Azolla is generally seen as a benefit in our natural areas. It is eaten by wildlife, especially ducks and geese, and provides habitat for aquatic insects. While azolla can get thick on some waterways at times, we do not control it. Typically large “blooms” of azolla will dissipate on their own.
Azolla is unique in that it has a symbiotic relationship with a cyanobacteria, which allows it to fix nitrogen from the air, making the nitrogen available to azolla. With its fast growth rate and its potential to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, many are now touting it as a tool to help reverse the effects of climate change.
Learn more about this fascinating plant at theazollafoundation.org
|
