Summary: This plain English fact sheet outlines the work done by the EPA in monitoring phytoplankton in lakes.
A total of 225 lakes are currently included as part of the national surface waters monitoring programme run by the EPA, this covers around 80% of the surface area of all lakes in Ireland. Phytoplankton, better known as algae, are tiny plants found free-floating in lakes throughout Ireland.
They are very small and many of them can only be seen with a microscope. They require sunlight to turn
carbon dioxide and water into food and energy through the process of photosynthesis.
They are an important part of the food chain providing the main source of food for both zooplankton and fish.
https://www.epa.ie/media/epa-2020/monitoring-amp-assessment/freshwater-amp-marine/Lake-Monitoring-Phytoplankton-fact-sheet-thumb.jpg