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Myriophyllum Heterophyllum Michx. (Haloragaceae): Control and Vegetative Reproduction in Southwestern Maine Jacolyn E

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Myriophyllum Heterophyllum Michx. (Haloragaceae): Control and Vegetative Reproduction in Southwestern Maine Jacolyn E The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fogler Library 5-2007 Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. (Haloragaceae): Control and Vegetative Reproduction in Southwestern Maine Jacolyn E. Bailey Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd Part of the Botany Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Recommended Citation Bailey, Jacolyn E., "Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. (Haloragaceae): Control and Vegetative Reproduction in Southwestern Maine" (2007). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 373. http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/373 This Open-Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. MYRIOPHYLLUM HETEROPHYLLUM MICHX. (HALORAGACEAE): CONTROL AND VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION IN SOUTHWESTERN MAINE By Jacolyn E. Bailey B.A. University of Maine Farmington, 1995 A THESIS Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (in Ecology & Environmental Science) The Graduate School University of Maine May, 2007 Advisory Committee: Dr, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Professor of Wetland Ecology, Advisor Dr. Ann C. Dieffenbacher-Krall, Assistant Research Professor, Climate Change Studies Dr. Katherine E. Webster, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences ;' © 2007 Jacolyn Ellen Bailey All Rights Reserved 11 MYRIOPHYLLUM HETEROPHYLLUM MICHX. (HALORAGACEAE): CONTROL AND VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION IN SOUTHWESTERN MAINE By Jacolyn E. Bailey Thesis Advisor: Dr. Aram J.K. Calhoun An Abstract of the Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (in Ecology & Environmental Science) May, 2007 Native to the southeastern United States, variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) is an invasive species in the Northeast and has been documented in Maine lakes for twenty years. Variable-leaf watermilfoil is targeted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection as a species of grave concern as it has aggressively colonized twenty-six water bodies in Maine. This aquatic invasive plant grows in dense mats and outcompetes native vegetation. It is causing both ecological and economic disruption to Maine's lakes and ponds. The plants clog boat motors and deter people from swimming and other water related activities. Allofragmentation and autofragmentation occur quite extensively in this species, and contribute to its ease of dispersal. During implementation of management techniques, further fragmentation of the plants can occur. Although natural resource in managers commonly assume a 2.5 cm fragment size as being the smallest size that can regenerate, we were unable to find any research documenting this assertion. My research focused on two key areas for variable-leaf watermilfoil: (1) determining which control methods are most effective for removing variable-leaf watermilfoil from lakes and (2) vegetative regeneration. We looked at three management techniques for variable-leaf watermilfoil, hand removal, cutting, and benthic mats, to determine the most effective management strategy. Our study showed that all three methods reduced plant growth significantly. However there were no significant differences among the three management methods. Differences were present in time and cost required to implement the strategies between benthic mats and hand removal, as well as benthic mats and cutting. Although less expensive than benthic mats, cutting was found to be unrealistic to implement in practice because of difficulties in implementation. Determining the most effective management technique for an area depends on the extent and density of the infestation. Benthic mats provided an excellent option for thick, large infestations, whereas hand removal was more efficient for lighter infestations. Hand removal is best used in areas with small, high density infestations or for selective removal in sparsely infested stands of mostly native macrophytes. This method would also be useful during management surveys when individual plants or small clusters of variable-leaf watermilfoil are detected. Based on our study we suggest that the benthic barrier and hand removal methods are the most effective non-mechanical management techniques for lake associations and state agencies to incorporate into their management plans. iv In a twenty-two week greenhouse investigation, variable-leaf watermilfoil vegetative fragments were observed to determine smallest size for regeneration. Four fragment sizes were collected from the plants (a leaf, a single whorl, 2.5-cm stem with whorls, and 5-cm stem with whorls) and two substrates, sand and top soil, were used. All fragment sizes regenerated buds with the exception of the individual leaves. Evidence that fragment regeneration from any plant fragment containing a stem node is very useful for developing long-term management strategies for Myriophyllum heterophyllwn. Managers need to emphasize the removal of fragments generated during removal processes as well as after heavy recreational use of an infested lake in order to reduce the potential spread of M. heterophyllum. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work would not have been possible if not for all of the volunteer divers and field help: Brad Agius, Sylvia Bailey, Pete & Lorna Boilard, Aram Calhoun, Jim Chandler, Glenn Dixon, Michael & SueEllen Glover, Stefany Gregoire, Paul Gregory, Karen Hahnel, Chris Hemenway, Jeremy Judd, Peter Leach, TR Morley, Jarrett Poisson, Gabby Rigaud, Jeff Timm and particularly Chris Rigaud. Chris donated countless hours to diving in milfoil-infested waters and coming up with the Rigaud Retrieval system for the benthic barriers. Thank you to Glenn Dixon for his video and photographic expertise on Lake Arrowhead and Hogan Pond, as well as his creative solution to the greenhouse aquaria netting that kept falling in the water. Thank you to the lake associations and individuals who provided me with access to the research lakes: Lake Auburn & The Basin - Auburn Water District (Mary Jane Dillingham), Friends of Lake Arrowhead (Dave Sanfasen), Hogan & Whitney Pond Association, Little Sebago Lake Association, Messalonskee Lake (Marilyn Eccles), Pleasant Pond - Friends of Cobbossee, Shagg Pond (Jim Chandler and Scott & Thelrna Kendrick) and Thompson Lake Environmental Association. Thank you to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Invasive Species Group (John McPhedran, Karen Hahnel, Paul Gregory, Roy Bouchard) for providing information on the Maine lakes with invasive infestations. Thank you to the Maine Center for Aquatic Invasive Species and Roberta Hill for providing management information and insight on the infestations. I am very grateful to William Halteman for his statistical assistance and Sue Erich for providing insight on my plant nutrient analysis. I am very appreciative of the support of my fellow graduate students TR Morley, Megan vi Gahl, and Amanda Shearin for their feedback and support throughout my research. Thank you to Ann Dieffenbacher-Krall and Katherine Webster for their advice and serving on my committee. Thank you is just not enough for Aram Calhoun, my advisor, mentor and friend. Your advice, wisdom, patience and friendship have made my experience all that much richer. This research was funded by the Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, the Maine Association of Wetland Scientists and the University of Maine, Association of Graduate Students. I send a big thank you to my mom, dad, sister and friend, Nicki Breton, for their support and providing sympathetic ears during my frustrations and successes. Finally, and most importantly, I thank my husband, Jarrett Poisson, for his support and willingness to brave leeches on Little Sebago Lake. « TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi LIST OF TABLES x LIST OF FIGURES xi Chapter 1. COMPARISON OF THREE PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR VARIABLE-LEAF WATERMILFOIL IN MAINE LAKES 1 Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Materials & Methods 5 Study Area .....5 Experimental Design , 6 Control Methods 9 Hand Removal 9 Cutting 9 BenthicMat 10 Assessment of Management Technique Effects 10 Statistical Analyses 10 Time and Cost Determination 11 Results & Discussion 11 Hand Removal 12 vni Cutting 14 BenthicMats 14 Management Recommendations 16 Chapter References 18 2. EFFECTS OF FRAGMENT SIZE ON VEGETATIVE REGENERATION IN MYRIOPHYLLUM HETEROPHYLLUM MICHX. (HALORAGACEAE) IN A GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT 20 Abstract 20 Introduction 21 Materials & Methods 23 Results 25 Bud Regeneration 25 New Growth 27 Water Chemistry 28 Discussion 28 Management Implications 29 Chapter References 31 REFERENCES 32 APPENDIX: Greenhouse experiment water chemistry results 36 BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR 38 IX LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Comparison of eight research lakes infested with variable-leaf watermilfoil in southwestern Maine 6 Table 1.2 Time and cost comparison for three management techniques of variable- leaf watermilfoil invasions in 12 m2 experimental plots in eight Maine lakes 13 Table 1.3 Advantages and disadvantages of hand removal, cutting, and benthic mats management techniques 16 Table 2.1 Total number of buds per fragment size and length of new growth by substrate for Myriophyllum heterophyllum 26 Table A.l Greenhouse fragment vegetative regeneration experiment chemistry results for top soil and sand substrate water (tested at week 11) and tap water (tested on day 1) 37 x LIST
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