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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 #376122
Research Project: Enhancing Water Resources Stewardship through Aquatic and Riparian Weed Management

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: On the move: New insights on the ecology and management of native and alien macrophytes

Author
item HOFSTRA, DEBORAH - National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd
item SCHOELYNCK, JONAS - University Of Antwerp
item FERRELL, JASON - University Of Florida
item COETZEE, JULIE - Rhodes University
item DE WINTON, MARY - National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd
item BICKEL, TOBIAS - Department Of Agriculture - Australia
item CHAMPION, PAUL - National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd
item Madsen, John
item BAKKER, ELIZABETH - Netherlands Institute Of Ecology
item HILT, SABINE - Leibniz Institute Of Freshwater Ecology And Inland Fisheries
item MATHESON, FLEUR - National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd
item NETHERLAND, MICHAEL - Environmental Laboratory, Us Army Engineer Research And Development Center, Waterways Experiment St
item GROSS, ELIZABETH - University Of Lorraine

Submitted to: Aquatic Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/23/2019
Publication Date: 1/15/2020
Citation: Hofstra, D., Schoelynck, J., Ferrell, J., Coetzee, J., De Winton, M., Bickel, T., Champion, P., Madsen, J.D., Bakker, E., Hilt, S., Matheson, F., Netherland, M., Gross, E. 2020. On the move: New insights on the ecology and management of native and alien macrophytes. Aquatic Botany. 162:103190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2019.103190.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2019.103190

Interpretive Summary: Nonnative aquatic plants are one of the multitude of threats facing global freshwater resources. Scientific research needs to address the specific threat of invasive aquatic plants, as well as their linkage to other threats and to freshwater ecological processes.

Technical Abstract: Globally, freshwater ecosystems are under threat. The main threats come from catchment land-use changes, altered water regimes, eutrophication, invasive species, climate change and combinations of these factors. We need scientific research to respond to these challenges by providing solutions to halt the deterioration and improve the condition of our valuable freshwaters. This requires a good understanding of aquatic ecosystems, and the nature and scale of changes occurring. Macrophytes play a fundamental role in aquatic systems. They are good indicators of ecosystem health, as they are affected by run-off from agricultural, industrial or urban areas. On the other hand, alien macrophytes are increasingly invading aquatic systems all over the world. Improving our knowledge on the ecology and management of both native and alien plants is indispensable to address threats to freshwaters in order to protect and restore aquatic habitats. The International Aquatic Plants Group (IAPG) brings together scientists and practitioners based at universities, research and environmental organizations around the world. The main themes of the 15th symposium 2018 in New Zealand were biodiversity and conservation, management, invasive species, and ecosystem response and restoration. A Virtual Special Issue provides a sample of the papers from the symposium, addressing the ecology of native macrophytes, including those of conservation concern, and highly invasive alien macrophytes, and the implications of management interventions. In this editorial paper, we highlight insights and paradigms on the ecology and management of native and alien macrophytes gathered during the meeting.