Mougeotia
Mougeotia is commonly encountered in lakes, ponds, and rivers, especially those with acidic conditions such as low pH sphagnum bogs or waters affected by acid rain. Over 100 species have been described, half of which have been observed in North America. Mougeotia can form subsurface slimy masses that are a useful indicator of environmental change due to acidic inputs.
Although Mougeotia's growth is not optimal under acidic conditions, it likely dominates acid-impacted communities because it can tolerate heavy metals (aluminum and zinc are more biologically available with lower pH), is able to gather the scarce amounts of dissolved inorganic carbon that are present under such conditions, and has less pressure from herbivory and less competition for nutrients.