Alien aquatic plants do not have higher fragmentation rates than native species: a field study from the River Erft

Heidbüchel, Patrick; Kuntz, Katharina; Hussner, Andreas

doi:10.1007/s00027-016-0468-1

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Although the dispersal potential of plant fragments (i.e. propagules) will vary among species, exceptionally small (B 23 mm; Coughlan et al 2018b) and even single node stem fragments can display substantial regeneration of biomass (Bickel 2015;Heidbüchel et al 2016). Fragmentary propagule creation can occur by either self-induced autofragmentation, or allofragmentation as a result of physical disturbance (Riis et al 2009;Heidbüchel et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…propagules) will vary among species, exceptionally small (B 23 mm; Coughlan et al 2018b) and even single node stem fragments can display substantial regeneration of biomass (Bickel 2015;Heidbüchel et al 2016). Fragmentary propagule creation can occur by either self-induced autofragmentation, or allofragmentation as a result of physical disturbance (Riis et al 2009;Heidbüchel et al 2016). This division of aquatic macrophytes into fragmentary propagules can be facilitated by water currents, herbivory, and anthropogenic activities (Johnson et al 2001;Rothlisberger et al 2010;Bakker et al 2016;Hussner et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Full steam ahead: direct steam exposure to inhibit spread of invasive aquatic macrophytes

et al. 2018

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Biosecurity protocols designed to prevent invader spread have become integral to invasive species management strategies. However, application of many proposed spread-prevention practices is inhibited due to low practicality, high expense, undesirable non-target effects and a lack of known efficacy. Here, we examine the use of direct steam exposure to induce substantial fragment (i.e. propagule stage) degradation of seven invasive macrophytes: Ceratophyllum demersum, Crassula helmsii, Egeria densa, Elodea canadensis, Elodea nuttallii, Lagarosiphon major and Potamogeton crispus. Each species was independently exposed to steam treatments in loose clumps of three fragments, steamed at a distance of 2-3 cm from the source, for varied exposure times: 10 s, 30 s, 1 min, 2 min, and 5 min. Furthermore, we develop and apply a novel degradation scale describing visual tissue biodegradation stages and/or resumption of growth for fragmentary propagules. Steam treatments were observed to be highly efficacious, with total degradation being induced by 10 s of direct steam exposure. This was apparent for all species following a seven day recovery period, except C. demersum, which took until 21 days. Conversely, control specimens displayed excellent survival and/or viability (i.e. resumption of growth). Therefore, we argue that this innovative, yet simple technique can be used to improve biosecurity practices to inhibit the spread of invasive macrophytes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Full steam ahead: direct steam exposure to inhibit spread of invasive aquatic macrophytes

et al. 2018

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“…and glutathione reductase) prevent the photosynthetic apparatus from damage through ROS (Kranner & Birtić, 2005;Nayyar & Gupta, 2006 ;Hussner, 2009;Kuntz et al, 2014;Langeland & Sutton, 1980). Here, we used shoot fragments with a length of 6 cm, but the size of fragments found attached to boats and trailers and in the drift of running waters can be distinctly higher (Heidbüchel et al, 2016;Rothlisberger et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, plant fragments of most aquatic plant species are highly viable and may regenerate through the formation of secondary shoots and roots, while the presence of apical tips additionally allows for regeneration through fragment elongation (Barrat-Segretain, 1996). Some of the few existing field studies on the vegetative dispersal of aquatic plants already documented high numbers of fragments in the drift of running waters (Boedeltje et al, 2003;Heidbüchel, Kuntz, & Hussner, 2016;Riis & Sand-Jensen, 2006), which explains the rapid and successful spread of submerged aquatic macrophytes within interconnected water bodies. initiation of new growth), however, differs among species (Hussner, 2009;Riis, Madsen, & Sennels, 2009), with submerged plants being commonly able to regenerate from small shoot fragments consisting only of a single node (Kuntz, Heidbüchel, & Hussner, 2014;Langeland & Sutton, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…through recreation and mechanical weed control (Anderson, 1998;Owens, Madsen, Smart, & Steward, 2001). Some of the few existing field studies on the vegetative dispersal of aquatic plants already documented high numbers of fragments in the drift of running waters (Boedeltje et al, 2003;Heidbüchel, Kuntz, & Hussner, 2016;Riis & Sand-Jensen, 2006), which explains the rapid and successful spread of submerged aquatic macrophytes within interconnected water bodies. Conversely, the dispersal between isolated waters, such as lakes, depends on vectors transporting the fragments to the receiving water bodies (Green, 2016;Rothlisberger, Chadderton, McNulty, & Lodge, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chlorophyll fluorometry sheds light on the role of desiccation resistance for vegetative overland dispersal of aquatic plants

2019

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Submerged aquatic plant species predominantly spread through vegetative propagules, particularly shoot fragments. While it is known that the successful establishment of fragments in isolated water bodies is largely determined by retention of fragment viability during overland transport (i.e. desiccation resistance), detailed information on species‐specific desiccation resistance is still scarce and the underlying mechanisms remain uncharted. We combined measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence (Fv/Fm: maximum quantum yield of photosystem II) with determination of water loss and post‐desiccation survival and regeneration to examine the desiccation resistance of shoot fragments without and with apical tips for six submerged aquatic plant species (Myriophyllum spicatum, Myriophyllum heterophyllum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Lagarosiphon major, Elodea canadensis, Hydrilla verticillata). Overall, the relationship between Fv/Fm and relative water loss was nonlinear, and a decrease in Fv/Fm was significantly related to reduced fragment survival and regeneration. We determined an overall critical minimum of 0.40 in Fv/Fm and a critical maximum of 84% in water loss for regeneration. Differences in the relationships between water loss and desiccation time and between Fv/Fm and water loss were species‐specific rather than fragment type‐specific. Plant fragments of M. spicatum (fragments without apices excluded), M. heterophyllum, and C. demersum maintained a high Fv/Fm even after losing a large proportion of the initial water content, while the Fv/Fm for L. major, E. canadensis, and H. verticillata decreased more rapidly with advancing water loss. Maintaining the function of the photosynthetic apparatus at high water loss can prolong fragment viability during overland transport. Our results suggest that aquatic plants have species‐specific mechanisms to cope with water deficit. Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence can precisely predict the likelihood of fragment regeneration and constitute a useful tool to assess the spread potential of aquatic plants.

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Retention of viability by fragmented invasive Crassula helmsii, Elodea canadensis and Lagarosiphon major

Coughlan

Armstrong

Baker-Arney

et al. 2022

River Research & Apps

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Invasive aquatic macrophytes tend to reproduce and spread through vegetative means, often via fragmentary propagules. Dispersal among aquatic sites may occur overland via attachment to various vectors, or within river systems by directional water currents. However, for many species the relationship between fragment size and resumption of growth is unknown. Here, we assessed resumption of growth of apical and mid‐stem fragments of invasive Crassula helmsii, Elodea canadensis and Lagarosiphon major. Proportionally, apical fragments tended to more readily resume growth than mid‐stem sections, especially for E. canadensis and L. major (80–100%). However, viability did not scale linearly with increasing fragment size, which suggests that fragment size is not a singular determinant of propagule fitness. Nevertheless, longer fragments generally produced greater numbers of shoots and roots, but root production significantly differed among species and was determined through an interaction between plant section, species and fragment length. Overall, all species produced new shoots and roots from fragments as small as 10 mm. C. helmsii mid‐stem fragments standardised by node counts did not display new growth (up to 10 nodes), while E. canadensis tended to show greater shoot and root production with increasing node counts. It is evident that a medium to high proportion of small fragmentary propagules of these invasive macrophytes can retain viability. These data have clear implications for understanding the dispersal of these invasive species and their management. Specifically, cutting and dredging may increase rather than decrease infestations, especially in downstream directions. Thus, in the absence of adequate fragment containment, current short‐term control strategies may in fact be counterproductive.

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Alien aquatic plants do not have higher fragmentation rates than native species: a field study from the River Erft

Cited by 21 publications

References 37 publications

Full steam ahead: direct steam exposure to inhibit spread of invasive aquatic macrophytes

Full steam ahead: direct steam exposure to inhibit spread of invasive aquatic macrophytes

Chlorophyll fluorometry sheds light on the role of desiccation resistance for vegetative overland dispersal of aquatic plants

Retention of viability by fragmented invasive Crassula helmsii, Elodea canadensis and Lagarosiphon major

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