by Scott Brown
MWA Director
e-Newsletter Editor
Members of the the diverse Characeae family that currently exist within thousands of inland lakes located in the Laurentian Great Lakes region include highly beneficial native species such as Chara vulgaris and Chara braunii as well as the highly invasive exotic species Nitellopsis obtusa (see the photo that appears below) that is commonly referred to as starry stonewort. It is important to recognize that abundantly growing Chara vulgaris, the most frequently observed and abundant Characeae species within the Great Lakes region, makes important contributions to achieving and sustaining sunlight drenched waters, and healthy, aesthetically pleasing clear water inland lakes that serve to provide an array of valuable recreational opportunities.
Bottom hugging dense Chara vulgaris meadows that are often observed growing in shallow, near shore areas of moderately productive lakes are known to play a particularly important role in contributing to good water clarity by helping to prevent the resuspension of fine organic particulate matter; by helping to promote and sustain a diverse and beneficial array of water clarity, sunlight dependent native submerged aquatic plants; by utilizing and/or storing nutrients that would otherwise be available to support the growth of water clarity degrading phytoplankton; by serving as vital protective habitat for juvenile fish seeking to avoid predation; and by releasing allelopathic chemicals that act to inhibit water clarity degrading algae.
The existence of clear water dependent Characeae species such as native Chara braunii, Chara vulgaris, and exotic invasive starry stonewort within the northern temperate inland lakes of the Laurentian Great Lakes region are considered reliable bio-indicators of the existence of relatively clear, sunlight inundated waters, and optimal physical habitat conditions.