The members of the submersed aquatic herbs of the genus Elodea
are known for there capacity to produces large amounts of oxygen
in an efficient way. The American or Canadian waterweed is by far
the most well known waterplant. It grows in brakkish or fresh water,
in acid or very polluted water, in shallow or deep water. In nutrient
rich water it grows very fast and can become a nuisance.
Although this waterplants does have roots , these roots are
only used to anchor in the bottom of the pond.
With high magnification one can see the chloroplast clearly.
ecology
It provides good habitat for fish and amphibians,
snails and leeches, and waterinsects. This waterplants has
the capacity to increase the PH of acid , polluted water.
Since this waterplant has been introduced in Europe , a lot
of animals has adapted there live style . Newts for example
now lay theire eggs in leaves of this waterweed.
Elodea under the microscope
This waterplant provides nice vieuws under the microscope ,
showing theire cells in higher magnification. Theire is no
need of staining the cells. The chloroplasts
are the green organelles of the cells that produces oxygen.
Theire are three species that can be used in aquaria:
1 Canadese waterweed (Elodea Canadensis)
2 Curly pondweed(Elodea Crispa) only for aquaria, not winterhardy.
3 Argentinian waterweed (Elodea Densa or Egeria Densa) only for aquaria
A Scud is eating a bloodworm. As this freshwater shrimp is
afraid of loosing its prey to other scuds, the bloodworm is
transported to be eaten safely, between the leaves of waterweed.
Waterweed forms small white flowers at the start
of the summer.
Waterweed provide food for tadpoles, they eat the algae
or "Aufwuchs" on the leaves.
