Invasive Plant Blog

Scientific Name: Alternanthera philoxeroides
Common Name: Alligator Weed
Description: An aquatic weed with a white flower growing on it.
Reproduction: Through seeds and broken plants
Problems Caused: can reduce the flow of water, prevent the penetration of light and prevent the oxygenation of the water
Prevention: Unleash the Alligator Weed Flea Beetle to wreck havoc on the Alligator weeeds.

Scientific Name: Hydrilla verticillata
Common Name: Hydrilla
Description: Plant with upward sloped leaves that grows up to 1 inch a day
Reproduction: Spreads through tubers, turions, stolons, and fragments
Problems Caused: Shades out desirable native vegetation, impedes navigation of boats
Prevention: Herbicide

Scientific Name: Myriophyllum spicatum
Common Name: Eurasian Watermilfoil
Description: submerged aquatic plant, and grows in still or slow-moving water.
Reproduction: Spreads by seeds, fragments and stolens
Problems Caused: can create dense mats that interfere with recreational activity
Prevention: use of the water veneer moth to eat the plant

Scientific Name: Eichhornia crassipes
Common Name: Water Hyacinth
Description: Weed with a purple flower
Reproduction: Reproduces by daughter plants and forms thousands of seeds
Problems Caused: Uptakes nutrients in the water and releases H ions which acidify the water
Prevention: aquatic weed harvester, herbicides and insects

Scientific Name: Pistia stratiotes
Common Name: Water Lettuce
Description: looks like lettuce but grows on water
Reproduction: Reproduces through daughter plants
Problems Caused: Forms large mats that can affect habitat and impede navigation
Prevention: South American Weevil and the Thailand Moth

Scientific Name: Slavinia molesta
Common Name: Salvinia
Description: Root hairs on the leaves resemble “egg beaters” structure.
Reproduction: Forms dense mats, spreading rapidly by buds
Problems Caused: Reduces oxygen exchange and negatively effects water quality and habitat
Prevention: Herbicides

Scientific Name: Lythrum salicaria
Common Name: Purple Loosestrife
Description: looks like a purple blubeonnet that grows in water
Reproduction: fruit containing seeds
Problems Caused: Replaces native vegetation
Prevention: beetles

Amphibians

Toads and Frogs may look very similar, however, they are different in many ways. One way the frog and toad are different is their skin. Toads have very bumpy and dry skin while frogs have smooth and oily skin.

Another difference between frogs and toads is the fact that frogs hop everywhere and toads walk. Amphibians are considered to be a good indicator of health in an ecosystem because the ecosystem must be healthy in order for the amphibious population to remain high. There has been a decease in the population of amphibians because of the changes in the ozone which allow more UV rays through which harm amphibian's skin. To prevent this, we must try to cut down on the many ways we are destroying the ozone layer.

Pond Assessment

Step 1: Observation

                   Look for an algae bloom, foam/oil, and dead things

Step 2: Take water sample

                   Look at the types of algae/insects to see if the pond water is polluted or not

Step 3: Water quality testing

                   Test water's ammonia, nitrate, temp/, conductivity, nitrite and oxygen levels

Step 4: Chemical Panel

                   Use a chemical panel to run any further tests on the water