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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #336961
Research Project: Enhancing Water Resources Stewardship through Aquatic and Riparian Weed Management

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: Designing and using phenological studies to define management strategies for aquatic plants

Author
item WERSAL, RYAN - Lonza Corporation
item Madsen, John

Submitted to: Journal of Aquatic Plant Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2017
Publication Date: 1/1/2018
Citation: Wersal, R.M., Madsen, J.D. 2018. Designing and using phenological studies to define management strategies for aquatic plants. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 56:83-89.

Interpretive Summary: This manuscript describes the processes and tools used to study the phenology and life history of aquatic weeds, and the uses of these information for planning management of target species.

Technical Abstract: Scientists and managers alike have recognized that weed management activities in the past were timed more for the convenience of the applicator or response of the resource manager than in consideration of the biology of the target plant. A thorough understanding of the life history and phenology of target weed species may elucidate points in the life history which may maximize management efficacy, and even halt the reproduction of the target weed. These studies, however, are difficult and lengthy to accomplish. The approaches to accomplishing these studies have been developed in numerous examples utilizing both small-scale (mesocosm) and field settings. Target aquatic weeds that have been examined include emergent (alligatorweed), floating (waterhyacinth), and submersed (hydrilla, Eurasian watermilfoil) species.