Aquatic Vegetation Ecology & ID

Brittany Chesser, M.S. Aquatic Vegetation Management Program Specialist Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences • Resources • Pros/cons • Spread • Identification • Types of control • Harmful plants of Texas http://Aquaplant.tamu.edu

http://Fisheries.tamu.edu Pros/Cons

 Increase water clarity  Increase water loss  Limit erosion (evapotranspiration)   Provide food to waterfowl Provides breeding habitat for noxious insects  Enhance aesthetics  Limit recreational activities  Create buffer for run-off  nutrients Out compete native spp.  Habitat for small fishes  Oxygen production

Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic?

What do plants need for growth? Water Sunlight Nutrients Ponds = nutrient sinks accumulate nutrients from watershed & groundwater over time! Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic?

Propagate by: Seeds Fragments Roots Vegetative offshoots Tolerate flooding & drought Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Seeds

Banana lily Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Seeds

American pondweed Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Fragmentation

Hydrillia Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Fragmentation

Coontail Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Roots/rhizomes Spatterdock/ Cow lily Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Roots/rhizomes American lotus

and seeds! Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Vegetative offshoots Alligatorweed

10! Why does aquatic vegetation become problematic? Propagate by: Vegetative offshoots

Water hyacinth

and seeds! Spread of Aquatic Vegetation Same Plant? Same Plant? Same Plant?

≤ 3’ < 1’ Same Plant?

Pickerelweed Mud plaintain Pontederia cordata Heteranthera limosa Algae Floating Submerged Emergent primitive, non- all parts of plant mostly underwater, rooted with stiff or seed bearing floats (including rooted with flaccid rigid stems with all plants & no roots, roots) (limp) stems or parts standing stems, or true above surface leaves Algae Planktonic algae Filamentous algae Macro-algae • Microscopic and floating • Stringy or hair-like • Looks like rooted plants • Bubbly-looking surface BUT has no roots, stems, mats or true leaves Planktonic Algae

• Thousands of species • Color pond water shades of green, blue-green, brown or variations in between Chlamydomona Chlorella Euglena Closterium Anacystis spp. Planktonic Algae

• Thousands of species • Color pond water shades of green, blue-green, brown or variations in between Filamentous algae

• Single algae cells that form long visible chains, threads, or filaments • Filaments intertwine forming a mat that resembles wet wool

Spirogyra Anabaena Oscillatoria Lyngbya Pithophora Filamentous algae

• Oxygen & other gases trapped in filaments • Stressed or dying cells Macro-algae (Chara)

• Foul, musty – almost garlic-like odor • Gray-green branched multi-cellular algae • No flower • Will not extend above the water surface • Texture is “grainy” or “crunchy” • Cylindrical, whorled branches with 6 to 16 branchlets around each Chara spp. node Macro-algae (Nitella)

• Branched multicellular algae • No flower • Will not extend above the water surface • Nitella has no odor and are soft to the touch, unlike Chara • Light to dark green in color with forked, bushy branches 1/16 to 1/8 inches in diameter.

Nitella spp. Floating plants

 Duckweeds  Watermeal  Mosquito fern (Azolla)  Salvinia common & giant  Water lettuce  Water hyacinth **Water lilies and similar plants are not considered floating** Duckweed

Leaves: • Clusters of 2-5+ • Round or egg-shaped • Slightly curving Flowers: • 2-3 flowers Fruit: • Slightly winged Seeds: • Smooth with a spongy outer layer Roots: • 3-11 nerves

Lemna minor Watermeal

Body: Wolffia spp. • Rootless • Floating plant • Barely visible to the naked eye • Form large, green masses on the surface of water (thin green scum) • Spherical or oval shape, sometimes flattened • About the size of a pinhead Azolla (Mosquito Fern)

Azolla spp.

Leaves: • Free-floating, forming dense mats • Small leaves arranged oppositely around stem Fruit: • Located on lower lobe of leaf Color: • Reddish or green in color Azolla (Mosquito Fern)

Azolla spp.

Leaves: • Free-floating, forming dense mats • Small leaves arranged oppositely around stem Fruit: • Located on lower lobe of leaf Color: • Reddish or green in color Submerged plants

 Coontail  American Pondweed  Eelgrass  Bladderwort  Egeria  Curly-leaf Pondweed  Elodea  Illinois Pondweed  Fanwort  Sago Pondweed  Hydrillia  Variable-leaf Pondweed  Bushy Pondweed  Eurasian Watermilfoil  Parrotfeather  Variable-leaf Watermilfoil  Water Star Grass Coontail

Ceratophyllum demersum Leaves: • ≤12 leaves per whorl • Forked • Small teeth • ~0.5” long Stems: • ≤11.4’ long • Branching • Form large masses • Brittle • Cord-like and flexible Fruit/Seeds: • Elliptical-shaped • Tightly packed • Smooth • About 0.16-0.19 inches long Coontail

Leaves: Ceratophyllum • ≤12 leaves per whorl demersum • Straight and flat • ~0.5” long Stems: • ≤11.4’ long • Branching • Form large masses • Brittle • Cord-like and flexible Fruit/Seeds: • Elliptical-shaped • Tightly packed • Smooth • About 0.16-0.19 inches long Bushy Pondweed(Southern Naiad)

Najas guadalupensis Leaves: • Linear • Opposite to somewhat alternate • ~0.5” long & 0.12” wide • Decrease in size towards tip • Usually tipped with 1-2 spines • Rounded or sloping at the base Stems: • Slender • Branching • ~ 2’ long American Pondweed Potamogeton nodosus

Stem: • Submerged • Thread-like Leaves: • Leather-like • Elliptical • ~2" wide • ~4" long Flowers: • Immobile • Green-Brown Sago Pondweed

Stuckenia pectinata Leaves: • Threadlike • ≤6” long • Strong cross veins • Small leaves at the base of normal leaf Flowers: • Nearly immobile • Greenish • Oval- to elliptical- shaped Fruit: • Nut-like • ~¼” long Stem: • Horizontal stem branching Increased water loss •ofAbundantly 200 – branched300% near *Non-native*top Sago Pondweed

Leaves: Stuckenia pectinata • Threadlike • ≤6” long • Strong cross veins • Small leaves at the base of normal leaf Flowers: • Nearly immobile • Greenish • Oval- to elliptical- shaped Fruit: • Nut-like • ~¼” long Stem: • Horizontal stem branching Increased water loss •ofAbundantly 200 – branched300% near *Non-native*top Illinois Pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis Submersed Leaves: • Thin • Elliptical • Wavy • Prominent midvein • Immobile Floating Leaves: • Leather texture • Elliptical • Usually absent Flowers: • Cylindrical spike • 8-15 whorls Illinois Pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis Submersed Leaves: • Thin • Elliptical • Wavy • Prominent midvein • Immobile Floating Leaves: • Leather texture • Elliptical • Usually absent Flowers: • Cylindrical spike • 8-15 whorls Water Star Grass

Heteranthera dubia Leaves: • Ribbon-like • No distinct midvein • ≤6” long • Thin sheaths Flowers: • Single • < 1” long • Exposed • Yellow Seeds: • Egg-shaped Stem: • Slender • Branching Emergent Plants

 Arrowhead  Smartweed  Buttonbush  Southern Watergrass  Cattail  Torpedograss  Common Reed  Waterleaf  Giant Reed  Waterlilies  Horsetail  Water Pennywort  Lizard’s-tail  Water Primrose  Pickerelweed  Water Shield  Rushes & Sedges  Willow Alligatorweed

Leaves: • Opposite • Thick and fleshy • Linear to sword- shaped • 0.78-4.33” long • 0.2-0.78” wide Flowers: • Bractlets • Silvery-white • Papery • ~1/4” long Stem: Alternanthera • Hollow • Smooth philoxeroides • On ground, curving upward Alligatorweed

Leaves: • Opposite • Thick and fleshy • Linear to sword- shaped • 0.78-4.33” long • 0.2-0.78” wide Flowers: • Bractlets • Silvery-white • Papery Alternanthera • ~1/4” long Stem: philoxeroides • Hollow • Smooth • On ground, curving upward Arrowhead

Sagittaria spp. Leaves: • Long leaf stalks • Bladeless or with unlobed or arrow- shaped blades Flowers: • Whorls of 3 • 3 sepals • 3 petals • White, rarely pink Fruit: • One seed • Does not release when ripe • Flattened Arrowhead

Leaves: • Long leaf stalks • Bladeless or with unlobed or arrow- shaped blades Flowers: • Whorls of 3 • 3 sepals • 3 petals • White, rarely pink Fruit: • One seed • Does not release when ripe • Sagittaria spp. Flattened Water Primrose

Ludwigia spp. Leaves: • Oval- or sword- shaped • Up to 6” long • Covered on both sides by small, soft hairs Flowers: • Flower in all seasons, except winter • 4-5 petals • Yellow Stem: • Branched • Spongy when in water Water Primrose

Leaves: • Oval- or sword- Ludwigia shaped spp. • Up to 6” long • Covered on both sides by small, soft hairs Flowers: • Flower in all seasons, except winter • 4-5 petals • Yellow Stem: • Branched • Spongy when in water Water Primrose

Ludwigia spp. Leaves: • Oval- or sword- shaped • Up to 6” long • Covered on both sides by small, soft hairs Flowers: • Flower in all seasons, except winter • 4-5 petals • Yellow Stem: • Branched • Spongy when in water Waterhyssop

Bacopa spp. Stem: • Emergent • Fleshy • Green Leaves: • Opposite • Thick • 1/8" wide • 5/8" long Flowers: • Small • 4-5 petals • White-blue Waterhyssop Bacopa spp.

Stem: • Emergent • Fleshy • Green Leaves: • Opposite • Thick • 1/8" wide • 5/8" long Flowers: • Small • 4-5 petals • White-blue Waterhyssop

Bacopa monnieri Cattail

Typha spp. Leaves: • Arranged & straight • Immobile • Linear • Fleshy Flowers: • Long, dense cylindrical spike • End of stem Seeds: • In the air Stem: • Simple & jointless Cattail

Typha spp. Leaves: • Arranged & straight • Immobile • Linear • Fleshy Flowers: • Long, dense cylindrical spike • End of stem Seeds: • In the air Stem: • Simple & jointless Lily-like Plants

• Floating leaves • Flexible stalks • Thick rhizomes White Water Lily

Leaves: • Green on top • Slightly green with red or purplish- red on bottom • “Pac-man” shaped Flowers: • White • Fragrant • Sepals often purplish on back • Elliptical, egg- shaped or sword- Nymphaea odorata shaped • Usually more than 25 petals Yellow Water Lily

Leaves: • Oval-shaped • Up to 9 inches wide • Fleshy • Bright-green on top • Purple or deep-red on bottom Flowers: • Bright yellow • Sepals are sword- shaped Nymphaea mexicana • ~25 petals • Elliptical or sword- shaped Spatterdock

Nuphar lutea Leaves: • Growing upward • Oval- to almost disk-shaped • <10 inches wide • Overlapping Flowers: • 6 sepals • Roundish in shape • Slightly caving inward • Inner portion green to yellow in color, rarely red • Many petals • Petals small & thick American Lotus

Leaves: • Disk-shaped • Centrally shield- shaped • Up to 2.75 feet in diameter • Center cupped • Peduncles thick Flowers: • Pale yellow in color • Up to 10 inches wide • 20+ sepals and petals

Nelumbo lutea Water Shield

Leaves: • Leaf stalks long • Shield- or oval- shaped • Jelly-like on bottom • Up to 4 inches long Flowers: • Small • Dull-purple • 3-4 petals and sepals each

Brasenia schreberi Banana Lily or Floating Hearts

Leaves: • Yellowish-green on upper surface • Dark on lower surface • Slender leaf stalks Nymphoides spp. Flowers: • White • Petals elliptical- or sword- shaped • Small (Petals ~0.4” long) Smartweed (Water Pepper)

Leaves: • Alternate • Sword-shaped • Paper-like sheath at base Flowers: • Clusters of 1-9 at ends of branches • Pink, green, or white Fruit: • One seeded • Does not open to release seed when ripe Polygonum spp. Smartweed (Water Pepper)

Leaves: • Alternate • Sword-shaped • Paper-like sheath at base Flowers: • Clusters of 1-9 at ends of branches • Pink, green, or white Fruit: • One seeded • Does not open to release seed when ripe Smartweed (Water Pepper)

Leaves: • Alternate • Sword-shaped • Paper-like sheath at base Flowers: • Clusters of 1-9 at ends of branches • Pink, green, or white Fruit: • One seeded • Does not open to release seed when ripe Waterleaf

Stem: • Sturdy & erect Leaves: • 1-4” inches long • ≤1” wide • Spike at each node Hydrolea spp. Flowers: • Bright blue • Showy • ≤1” wide • Sepals shorter than the flower Fruit: • Egg-shaped or spherical • Many, small seeds Waterleaf

Stem: • Sturdy & erect Leaves: • 1-4” inches long • ≤1” wide Flowers: • Bright blue • Showy • ≤1” wide • Sepals shorter than the flower Fruit: • Egg-shaped or spherical • Many, small seeds American Water Willow

Leaves: • Linear or sword- shaped • Thin at base • Opposite • 2-6” long Flowers: • Spikes up to 1.18 inches long • Sepals form a whorl around the petals • Violet or white Stem: • Upright • Angular Justicia americana Giant Reed

Arundo donax

Stem: • Thick • Hollow • Up to 30' Leaves: • Alternate • Firm • 1-2' long Flowers: • Thick cluster Giant Reed

Stem: • Thick • Hollow • Up to 30' Leaves: • Alternate • Firm • 1-2' long Flowers: • Thick cluster Giant Reed

Stem: • Thick • Hollow • Up to 30' Leaves: • Alternate • Firm • 1-2' long Flowers: • Thick cluster Types of Control Mechanical Biological Chemical Herbicides Mechanical Control Frequent cutting Requires removal of cut vegetation Only cuts & does not eliminate Can make problem worse if done incorrectly Expensive “If you like mowing your yard, your going to love mowing your pond!” Biological Control Insects - not generally available to public Triploid grass carp - requires TPWD permit & escapement barrier Consume most submerged macrophytes Tilapia (Mozambique only) Herbivorous Fish

Triploid Grass Carp Mozambique Tilapia

TPWD permit No permit

Effective control for 5-7 Stock yearly years (die off when water temperature < 55°F)

Hydrillia Filamentous algae Bushy pondweed Duckweed American pondweed Azolla Illinois pondweed Herbicides Fourteen aquatically labeled herbicides: Copper & complexes of copper Carfentrazone Sodium carbonate 2,4-D peroxyhydrate  Diquat Triclopyr  Endothall Imazapyr  Fluridone Bispyribac  Imazamox Glyphosate  Flumioxazin Penoxsulam **NOT Karmex – no round-up** Texas Parks & Wildlife 13. Harmful or potentially harmful exotic plants §57.112. General Rules:  An offense for any person to Release into public waters, import, sell, purchase, transport, propagate, or possess Any species, hybrid of a species, subspecies, seeds, or any part of any species defined as a harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plant Identified Harmful Plants of Texas

 Submerged:  Emergent  Hydrilla  Alligatorweed  Eurasian watermilfoil  Torpedograss (also (not variable-leaf or floating) northern)  Water spinach or  Lagarsiphon (African swamp morning glory Elodea)  Narrowleaf &  Ambulia heartshaped false pickerelweeds  Floating:  Duck lettuce  Any water hyacinth (floating or rooted)  Wetland nightshade  Water lettuce  Exotic burr-reed  Any Salvinia (giant &  Brazilian peppertree common)  Purple loosestrife  Giant or dotted duckweed POP QUIZ

“Scum”

“Filamentous Algae” ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? Brittany Chesser, M.S. [email protected]