I found this (very pretty) algae (see picture) in a bore-fed and suburban catchment run-off fed, human made lake (Newport Lakes) in Newport, Victoria, Australia. I'm a vertebrate zoologist with a thorough knowledge of terestrial and wetland aussie flora but algae has got me come-a-cropper!!
These lakes are an old blue-stone quarry and I have been told they are full of rusting metal and other contaminants. The lakes are full of carp and Mosquito fish; no native fish as far as we know. People feed the swans and water-fowl with bread and sundry here (although they are not supposed to). Perhaps these factors are influencing the appearance of this algae?
Would love an ID! Thanks all
It looks like floating (cyano)bacterial mat. There should be much more similar ones attached to the bottom.
You don't have to be an expert to ID. But take a sample to a herbarium :)
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