Holopedium glacialis is being increasingly found in upper Michigan waters.
Credit: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Scientists are noting increased numbers of a zooplankton in some inland lakes that are just plain slimy. Holopedium glacialis is a mucus-coated microorganism that, in groups, makes a ball of slime something like clear tapioca pudding. The slime can clog water pipes and disrupt the food web.
Current State talks with Orlando Sarnelle, a limnologist and ecologist in MSU’s department of Fisheries and Wildlife, about Holopedium glacialis.
This segment was produced by WKAR’s Current State and is reproduced with permission.