Documenting fish stocks makes commercial fishing more sustainable. But certain organisms such as fast-growing algae create havoc for aquatic ecosystems.
They deprive fish of their basis for life. Water fleas feed on algae, however, and thus have a positive impact on the natural order of things.
Selecting four different genotypes of water flea, a female student from Canada examined which was best suited to combating algae growth.
The water fleas were exposed to three mixtures of harmful algae, and two winners emerged. The first was genotype 4, which consumed the most algae.
The second was the schoolgirl herself as her project was awarded the Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2022.
But there’s also refreshingly good algae: quenching thirst and flames.
