Mexican Waterlily 2018
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Influence of Mexican waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana) on ecology and water quality in the lower Vasse River, Busselton Prepared for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation February 2018 R. Paice Ottelia Ecology Document Set ID: 3250243 Version: 1, Version Date: 04/04/2018 Disclaimer This project was undertaken, and this report prepared, for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for the purposes described in the project outline provided to the Consultant (Robyn Paice for Ottelia Ecology). The Consultant accepts no liability for use or reliance on this information for any other purposes or by any other party. The report is a professional assessment and opinion only, based on the project outline provided by the Department and agreed methods consistent with the project outline. Acknowledgements Sincere thanks are extended to Kath Lynch, Lauren Voigt, Linda Kalnejais, Svenja Tulipani, Mark Shackleton, Kirrily White and Gerard Mullen from Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and Lisa Massey from GeoCatch for their assistance with planning, sampling and provision of information for this project. The Phytoplankton Ecology Unit of DWER provided analysis of phytoplankton samples. This study was initiated through the Revitalising Geographe Waterways Program with funding from the State Government of Western Australia. Cover photo: Mexican waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana) growing in the Vasse River, March 2017. Field investigations and reporting for this project were completed by: Dr Robyn Paice Principal Ecologist Ottelia Ecology [email protected] + 61 417 997 388 Document Set ID: 3250243 Version: 1, Version Date: 04/04/2018 Contents Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Study aims .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Effect of waterlilies on water quality ................................................................................................. 1 Ecological impacts of waterlilies ........................................................................................................ 2 Potential for further expansion ......................................................................................................... 2 Competition potential of Persicaria decipiens .................................................................................. 2 Future management .......................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Characteristics of Nymphaea mexicana.................................................................................................. 7 Description and distribution ............................................................................................................... 7 Reproduction and dispersal ................................................................................................................ 7 Growth and competition..................................................................................................................... 8 Methods ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Study area and sample sites ............................................................................................................. 11 Sampling Methods ............................................................................................................................ 12 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................... 12 Sediments ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Aquatic invertebrates ...................................................................................................................... 12 Plant biomass and nutrient content ................................................................................................ 13 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Results ................................................................................................................................................... 15 Water quality .................................................................................................................................... 15 Oxygen ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Other physico-chemical variables .................................................................................................... 18 Water column nutrients .................................................................................................................. 21 Water clarity .................................................................................................................................... 23 Phytoplankton .................................................................................................................................. 24 Sediments ......................................................................................................................................... 26 Plant biomass and nutrient content ................................................................................................. 28 Invertebrates ..................................................................................................................................... 29 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 32 Effects on oxygen .............................................................................................................................. 32 Nutrients ........................................................................................................................................... 33 Phytoplankton ................................................................................................................................... 34 Potential mechanisms limiting phytoplankton growth ................................................................... 34 Water residence time ...................................................................................................................... 35 Allelopathy ....................................................................................................................................... 35 Alternative regimes .......................................................................................................................... 36 Aquatic fauna .................................................................................................................................... 36 Birds .................................................................................................................................................. 37 Competition with Persicara decipiens .............................................................................................. 37 Future expansion of waterlilies......................................................................................................... 38 Document Set ID: 3250243 Version: 1, Version Date: 04/04/2018 Future management ......................................................................................................................... 39 Conclusions and recommendations ...................................................................................................... 39 References ............................................................................................................................................ 41 Appendix 1. Options for control of Nymphaea mexicana .................................................................... 44 Removal and harvesting.................................................................................................................... 44 Shading .............................................................................................................................................. 44 In situ control with herbicides .......................................................................................................... 45 Glyphosate ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Diquat.................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix 2. Study site locations. .......................................................................................................... 48 Appendix 3. Plant nutrient and biomass data ...................................................................................... 49 Tables Table 1. Description of different reaches and sample types in the study area. 11 Table 2. Results of ANOVA showing the overall effect of site type (downstream,