Bryant University Bryant Digital Repository Master of Science in Global Environmental Studies Graduate Theses 3-2016 Analysis of the Invasiveness of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Freshwater Lakes and Assessment of the Impacts of Local Community Action Groups on AIS Management and Intervention Programs Nicole Cournoyer Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/msglobalenv Recommended Citation Cournoyer, Nicole, "Analysis of the Invasiveness of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Freshwater Lakes and Assessment of the Impacts of Local Community Action Groups on AIS Management and Intervention Programs" (2016). Master of Science in Global Environmental Studies. Paper 3. https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/msglobalenv/3 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Theses at Bryant Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Science in Global Environmental Studies by an authorized administrator of Bryant Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Bryant University DigitalCommons@Bryant University Master of Science in Global Environmental Studies Graduate Theses 3-2016 Analysis of the Invasiveness of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Freshwater Lakes and Assessment of the Impacts of Local Community Action Groups on AIS Management and Intervention Programs Nicole Cournoyer Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/msglobalenv This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Theses at DigitalCommons@Bryant University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Science in Global Environmental Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Bryant University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Analysis of the Invasiveness of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Freshwater Lakes and Assessment of the Impacts of Local Community Action Groups on AIS Management and Intervention Programs Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate Program of Bryant University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, Global Environmental Studies (MSGES) ©Nicole Cournoyer Bryant University March 2016 Acknowledgements I would like to thank all of the individuals who helped me to complete my graduate thesis research. My parents encouraged and supported me throughout my graduate program and I would like to say a special thank you to both of them. I would like to acknowledge the staff members at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Save the Lakes organization for their guidance and the information they helped me to obtain. My special thanks to Judy Colaluca, a member of the Sand Dam Reservoir Association as well as the President of Save the Lake, who provided me with opportunities to attend meetings, speak with residents, and participate in active lake management programs. I would also like to thank the Department of Science & Technology faculty for their guidance and mentoring as I have gained research skills during the thesis process, particularly the graduate committee members (Gaytha Langlois, Qin Leng, Hong Yang, and Brian Blais) for their valued input and guidance throughout the editing process. My special thanks to Gaytha Langlois for her continued support and encouragement throughout the thesis process. She went above and beyond to make sure I could complete everything I set out to do. iii Abstract Native to parts of South America and southeastern United States, Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray is an invasive aquatic pondweed species that has migrated to northern regions of the United States. C. caroliniana is known for its rapid growth pattern and its ability to dominate freshwater ecosystems. The overgrowth of this invasive species is difficult to manage, with few effective eradication/control methods available. Dense hairs and crystals found upon the leaf surfaces are believed to enhance the ability of Carolina fanwort to survive in a wide variety of ecosystems. Management of this particular species requires an active approach. This study explored the relative effectiveness of structured lake management groups in controlling and managing C. caroliniana populations. Three lakes were studied (one of which is a privately-owned lake while the other two are open to the public). Results show that a well-structured, active citizens’ group focusing on a privately managed lake appears to be more effective at controlling Cabomba caroliniana than a loosely organized public interest group on a publically managed lake. Keywords: Carolina Fanwort, Cabomba caroliniana, Aquatic Invasive Plants, Pondweed Management, Community Action Groups iv Table of Contents Title Page and Statement of Use and Copyright…………………………………….i Signature Page...……………………………………………………………………....ii Acknowledgements…….…………………………………………………………….iii Abstract..………………...…………………………………………………………......iv Table of Contents………………………………..……………………………………v List of Tables……………………………………………………..…………..viii List of Figures…………………………………………………………………ix List of Abbreviations…………..…………………………..………..………….xi Chapter 1: Introduction and Literature Review………………………………….1-1 Statement of Importance………………………………………..…………….1-1 Invasive Species………………………………………………….…………..1-1 Biological Characteristics of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray……………….1-7 Spread of Cabomba caroliniana into New England Waterways………..…1-8 Morphology and Reproduction of Cabomba caroliniana………………….1-10 Eradication and Control Methods for Cabomba caroliniana………………1-16 Lakes/Pond Selected as Study Sites……………………………………..…1-21 Scope of Project…………………………………………………………...….1-22 Chapter 2: Materials and Methods……...………………………..………………...2-1 v Description of Study Site 1- Hickory Hills Lake, Lunenburg MA……….2-1 Description of Study Site 2-Spring Lake, Burrillville, RI…………….……2-3 Description of Study Site 3- Barber’s Pond, South Kingstown, RI…….....2-5 Sampling Locations…………………………………………………………...2-8 Field Sampling Procedures…………………………………………………..2-8 Laboratory Observations and Microscopy………………………………..2-10 Description of Surveys sent out to Hickory Hills Lake and Spring Lake...………………………………………………………....2-12 Description of Interview Questions and Respondents.………………….2-14 Chapter 3: Results…………………………………………………..………….……..3-1 Site Characterization and Plant Ecology……………………………………3-1 SEM and Light Microscope Observation of Cabomba caroliniana Leaf Surfaces…………………………………………………….……....3-2 Ecological Data………………………………………………………………...3-5 Assessment of Microbial Community Associated with Cabomba Caroliniana…………………………………………………………..….3-6 Survey Responses from Hickory Hills Lake Residents…………………....3-7 Survey Responses from Spring Lake Residents………………...……...…3-12 Interview Responses………………..………………………………………..3-19 Interview Questions Response Summary…………………………………3-21 vi Chapter 4: Discussion of Results…………………………………………...………4-1 Variations among Lake Sites……………………………………...………….4-1 Plant Biology and Ecology…………………………………………………...4-2 Biological Features of Cabomba carolinana Explain Its Success as an Invasive Plant………………….…………………….……………..….4-3 Ecological Implications of Cabomba carolinana….………………………..…4-7 Connections among Land Use Factors That Influence Water Quality......4-8 Invasive Species and Community Ecology………………………………..4-11 Responses from Community Surveys at Hickory Hills Lake…...…..…..4-12 Responses from Community Surveys from Spring Lake………………..4-14 Comparison of the Survey Responses from Residents in RI and MA….4-16 Responses from Interviews with Lake Management Decision Makers...4-18 Effectiveness of Fanwort Management Approaches……………….…….4-19 Summary of Findings………………………………………………………..4-21 Recommendations………………………………………………………..….4-22 Future Studies………………………………………………………………..4-23 Appendices…………………………………………………………………..….……A-1 References……………………………………………………………………....…….R-1 vii List of Tables Table 1-1………………………………………………………………………………1-10 Taxonomy of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray Table 1-2…………………………………………………………………...…1-16 to 1-19 Accepted treatment methods for limiting the growth and activity of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray Table 3-1……………………………………………………………………………..…3-5 Table of the ecological parameters at the three sample sites in Rhode Island and Massachusetts Table 3-2……………………………………………………………...………..3-9 to 3-11 Comparison of survey results from the Hickory Hills Lake Community. Table 3-3…………………………………………………………………...…3-13 to 3-15 Comparison of survey results from the Spring Lake Community. viii List of Figures Figure 1-1……………………………………………………………………………....1-5 Map of the Aquatic Invasive Species documented in Rhode Island Figure 1-2…………………………………………………………………………...….1-6 Illustration of a sign utilized in an educational campaign for boaters Figure 1-3…………………………………………………………………………..…1-12 Photograph and illustration of the typical structure of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray Figure 1-4……………………………………………………………………………..1-13 Photo of the type specimen of Cabomba caroliniana Figure 1-5…………………………………………………………………………..…1-14 Illustration of the plant structure of Cabomba caroliniana, noting the stem and leaf arrangements, along with summer flowering structures. Figure 1-6……………………………………………………………………………..1-20 Map of documented ponds and lakes within Rhode Island containing Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray Figure 2-1………………………………………………………………………………2-3 Google earth Image of Hickory Hills Lake in Lunenburg, MA, USA Figure 2-2………………………………………………………………………………2-5 Profile of Herring Pond