The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has shed light on a peculiar discovery in Michigan’s Lake Huron – gelatinous, goo-like formations that resemble “cursed gummy bears” or “mutant brains.” However, these enigmatic blobs are actually ancient, colony-forming organisms known as bryozoans. Contrary to their unsettling appearance, these bryozoans play a vital role in freshwater ecosystems. Comprising thousands of tiny, filter-feeding zooids, the colonies can grow over a foot wide, gently pulsing with the current. The USFWS notes they have existed for over 480 million years, breathing life into lakes and rivers by capturing plankton and cleaning the water. While the “magnificent bryozoans” may look like something out of a science-fiction film, they are a normal, if little-known, part of aquatic environments. The agency advises letting the colonies be, so they can continue their ancient, water-purifying cycles. (Story URL)
