Gelatin-like Blob?

[chocophile]

While taking our dock out this weekend, I spotted something very strange in about 2 feet of water. It was a large mass of gelatin, about 8 inches in diameter. It was somewhat spherical. It was not attached underwater, and moved with waves. The surface had brown algae on it.

At first we wondered if it was a discarded solid ball of some kind. We got it on shore with a fishing net. It partially broke up. The jelly-like material was clear inside. There was no obvious smell.

I have never seen anything like it. What was it??

[Sammy]

I saw this also for the first time two years ago while swimming in late August. I've been on the lake for over 40 years and that was the first time I ever saw it. It looked to me to be some type of algae that grows when the water temp get into the 70's. I also saw smaller clumps attached to rocks and plant life. Probably related to the downgrade in water quality.

[melvinbayboater]

It sounds like it might be a bryozoa colony, which could be a good thing.

http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/844/public/news469992.html

http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/bryozoa.html