Potential Use of Native Aquatic Plants for Long-Term Control of Problem Aquatic Plants in Guntersville Reservoir, Alabama; Report 1, Establishing Native Plants

The littoral regions of Guntersville Reservoir have a long history of nuisance infestations of Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) and more recently of Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla), problem species that invade recently disturbed areas. Management strategies have included water level ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Doyle, Robert D, Smart, R M
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ALABAMA
AQUATIC PLANTS
Biology
BLUE(COLOR)
CHEMICALS
Civil Engineering
COLONIES(BIOLOGY)
CONTROL
DELAY
FORMICIDAE
GROWTH(PHYSIOLOGY)
HISTORY
HYDRILLA VERTICILATA
MANAGEMENT
MATS
MYRIOPHYLLUM SPICATUM
NUMBERS
PLAGUES
POPULATION
REGIONS
RESERVOIRS
SITES
STRATEGY
WATER
WEED CONTROL
WEEDS
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Summary:The littoral regions of Guntersville Reservoir have a long history of nuisance infestations of Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) and more recently of Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla), problem species that invade recently disturbed areas. Management strategies have included water level management and chemical treatment of Myriophyllum and introduction of grass carp to control Hydrilla. Both strategies have shortcomings. Chemical treatment can be applied in specific problem-infested sites, but since the entire reservoir could never be treated, this method does not prevent, and may even promote, the re-invasion of the nuisance species. Grass carp in sufficient numbers effectively prevent re-invasion but provide limited specificity for either site or plant species, and the loss of desirable native submersed plant populations is probable. Recently, there has also been an increase in another nuisance plant, the mat-forming, blue-green alga Lyngbya wollei. Lyngbya mats result in serious, often localized, negative effects on the use of some areas. There are currently no effective chemical or biological control strategies for this organism. A long-term solution to these problems may be the establishment of desirable native aquatic plants in areas subject to colonization by the nuisance species or in areas recently treated by conventional weed control methods. By occupying these areas, native plants may prevent, or at least delay, the regrowth of the nuisance ants.