What is a bloom?
The term bloom generally describes a phytoplankton (including algae and blue-green algae) biomass significantly higher than the water body’s average. Blooms are usually comprised of only one or two species and identified by the dominant phytoplankton type e.g. cyanobacterial bloom, diatom bloom, Anabaena bloom etc. When blue-green algae blooms, i.e. grow to large numbers, they can form thick accumulations on the surface of the water. These accumulations are commonly known as scums. Blue-green algal scums form when large numbers of the algae float to the water surface using vesicles within their cells that they inflate with gas. Coming close to the surface enables them to gain maximum sunlight.
