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pond-scum parasite

pond-scum parasite

9.9
A small fungus that lives on and harms algae in ponds
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : parásito de algas
  • A pond-scum parasite can devastate algae populations in freshwater lakes.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered a new species of pond-scum parasite affecting local ponds.

  • The pond-scum parasite thrives in warm, stagnant water.

  • The presence of a pond-scum parasite is a sign of ecological imbalance.

  • Many pond-scum parasites can be harmful to aquatic life.

  • The presence of a pond-scum parasite indicates a decline in the health of the pond ecosystem.

  • A newly identified pond-scum parasite can quickly spread through stagnant water bodies.

  • Scientists are studying how a pond-scum parasite impacts the growth of beneficial algae.

Synonyms

Synchytrium
vspond-scum parasite
  • Specialized
9.9

A simple fungus that lives on and harms pond algae, water animals, or plants

is a specific aquatic fungus in that genus that lives on pond scum

Surface Forms

Morphology

pond-scum + parasite

The phrase is directly compositional: 'pond-scum' (the algal/organic film on a pond) + 'parasite' (an organism that feeds on a host) yields an organism that parasitizes pond scum. This straightforward noun+noun relation follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Pond-scum parasite comes from a simple image: a tiny fungus living on the green slime that grows in ponds. The part pond-scum points to the slime and parasite shows it feeds on that slime, so the name means 'a parasite that lives on pond scum'.