13th Aug 2009
Eurasian Milfoil, an Invasive Threat to U.S. Lakes
Eurasian milfoil is a fragile looking flora that was once a everyday flora to find in fresh water fish tanks.
Even So, It did not stay there. Now it is thought to be an predatory species that threatens The northern Us fresh water streams, rivers, pools and lakes.
In its indigenous Eurasian environment it is a relatively harmless flora (but still a bit of a pest) but here, out of its regular waters, it takes over and demolish ecosystems, clogs water intakes and power plants, and makes them undesirable for recreational purposes.
Several theories are around that explain its introduction. One is that it caught a ride on the ballast of a ship coming from Europe or Asia. That is a good guess. When they tested boats leaving occupied water, 25% carried some milfoil with it. The other main theory is it was introduced by people throwing out fish tank plants or packing material used to ship live worms.
The most hazardous thing about this flora is that it can adapt to live in nearly every kind of aquatic habitat in North America. It can live in the cold of Washington State or the warmth of Florida. From pristine waters of the Rockies to the brackish waters of the salt marshes it can thrive. To make its life easier, nothing seems to like eating it.
Once established it spreads fast in waters that range from 2 feet to up to thirty feet, matting up just below the surface and clogging out the native vegetation. Some floras like millet are given little chance to grow, which causes problems because they are a food source for many and a home for small marine creatures. This matted growth also causes problems for any mammals or birds that fish for their food. Further more, the large mats keep the wind from properly oxygenizing the water and suffocating adult fish as well as helping spawn algae blooms which further exacerbate the problem.
These plants are problematic to individuals as well. Not only does milfoil decrease water quality but the mats make shoreline bathing impossible. Milfoil hinders fish breeding, which means fewer fishermen. Milfoil is also a problem for boaters because it can become entangled on the engine, cause dangers for water skiers and block navigation hazards from the watermen view.
Residential Districts and companies are also put at a disadvantage because of this small water plant. Water intakes or over flows can get blocked leading to deficits in some areas and flooding in others. Dikes and electricity output can also be affected if the water flora mats get caught up in the dams.
Milfoil control has been difficult. Broadly Speaking poisons are out of the question as they demolish the very ecosystem they were meant to save. Manual removing the plant isn’t fully productive because the parts that break off can form new plants somewhere else. For that reason the large mechanical harvesters are only used in the worst cases and then only as a first step. Milfoil has been more successfully removed by vacuum dragging, which can pick up any damaged pieces left behind. A weevil maybe the answer to the milfoil dilemma as it love to eat the water flora and is a natural way to battle the weed.
Milfoil is just one type of invasive species that has overstayed its welcome; many other invasive aquatic plants are still thriving across the nation. When plants or creatures are inserted outside their natural surroundings, you can’t anticipate the significances.
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