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To Liz, Gayle, Andrew;
the Nostoc balls were in a partially man-made marsh managed by Ducks Unlimited. Therefore it is highly unlikely that management would be wanting to poison ducks there. I am certain that the occurence is perfectly natural.
No, they aren't identical to Volvox, which I believe is a chlorophyte (green algae). The Nostoc balls are less cystic than Volvox balls, with more of a grape-like consistency.
I tasted some, but I really cannot recommend them, the possible toxicity issue notwithstanding. They have no taste whatsoever. I didn't actually swallow any of the tissue, I spat it out.
The cyanophyte toxin microcystin received some attention in the press lately. But just because there are some clearly toxic cyanophytes, it doesn't mean that all cyanophytes are toxic. That would be like saying that just because there are toxic mushrooms (or flowering plants!), one should stay clear of ALL mushrooms (or angiosperms!)
There are some nice photos of Nostoc balls on the internet. Just google "Nostoc balls."
Dusan Soudek
---- "Hebda wrote:
> Not familiar with that name... would these be Volvox?
>
> A
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of duartess@ns.sympatico.ca
> Sent: September-20-12 3:04 PM
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca; Hebda, Andrew J
> Cc: Dusan Soudek
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] edible Nostoc balls in freshwater ?
>
> Know that a 'blue-green algea' has recently been suspected as causing the deaths of several pet dogs that went swimming in water that contained it. This was in New Brunswick. Don't know if we're talking about the same type of thing or not.
> Speaking only for myself, however, I wouldn't even chance it.
>
> Sincerely,
> Gayle MacLean
> Dartmouth
>
> ---- Dusan Soudek <soudekd@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> > Last weekend I canoed through the bogs and marshes of the Missaguash River on the border with N.B. At several locations in Missaguash Marsh I observed a large number of floating pea-sized balls of the blue-green alga (cyanophyte) Nostoc sp., the largest concentration I'd ever seen. It looked like someone had dumped a truckload of bright green peas into the water.
> > I simply had to taste these balls, knowing full well that certain cyanophytes produce neurotoxins. But there is some chatter on Google that these algae (or cyanobacteria) are edible.
> > Has anyone on NatureNS eaten Nostoc? Any ill effects? Do these balls have a common English name in N.S.?
> > Dusan Soudek
> >
> > P.S. A local couple we'd met had just collected three buckets of field mushrooms on a local pasture near the river. But they didn't share their fortune....
> >
> >
>
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