It has been a busy season so far for APCC’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program. With pond temperatures rising quickly in the transition from spring to summer, Association to Preserve Cape Cod this week confirmed the emergence of toxic cyanobacteria scums in five ponds across the Cape: Walkers and Cliff ponds in Brewster, Mares and Deep ponds in Falmouth, and Long Pond in Marstons Mills.
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a common and natural member of the phytoplankton community in the Cape’s freshwater ponds.
However, when their populations multiply rapidly due to increasing temperatures and nutrient abundance, they can create toxins that are harmful to humans, pets, and other organisms that interact with these ponds, a statement from APCC executive director Andrew Gottlieb said.