Eurasian Milfoil, an Invasive Threat to American Lakes
Eurasian milfoil is a delicate looking flora that was once a familiar flora to find in fresh water aquariums.
Yet, It did not stay there. Now it is thought to be an predatory species that threatens The northern Us fresh water streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.
In its native Eurasian environment it is a comparatively harmless flora (but still a bit of a pest) but here, out of its regular waters, it takes over and destroys ecosystems, clogs water intakes and power plants, and makes them undesirable for recreational purposes.
Several hypotheses are around that explain its introduction. One is that it hitched a ride on the ballast of a ship coming from Europe or Asia. That is a good guess. When they tested ships departing occupied water, 25% carried some milfoil with it. The other main theory is it was introduced by people throwing away fish tank plants or packing material used to ship live worms.
The most dangerous thing about this flora is that it can adapt to live in almost every kind of marine habitat in the Northern states. It can live in the cold of Washington State or the warmth of Florida. From clear waters of the Rockies to the salty waters of the salt marshes it can prosper. To make its life easier, nothing seems to like eating it.
Once established it spreads quickly in waters that range from two feet to up to thirty feet, matting up just below the surface and clogging out the native vegetation. Some plants like millet are given little chance to grow, which causes troubles because they are a food source for many and a home for small marine animals. This tangled growth also causes difficulty for any mammals or birds that fish for their food. Further more, the huge mats keep the wind from properly oxygenizing the water and suffocating adult fish as well as helping spawn algae blooms which further worsen the problem.
These plants are problematic to people as well. Not only does milfoil reduce water quality but the mats make shoreline bathing hopeless. Milfoil impedes fish reproduction, which means fewer fishermen. Milfoil is also a problem for boatmen because it can become trapped on the engine, cause dangers for water skiers and block navigation hazards from the sailors view.
Residential Areas 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. Dykes and electrical energy output can also be touched if the water flora mats get caught up in the dams.
Milfoil control has been difficult. In The Main poisonous substances are out of the question as they demolish the very ecosystem they were meant to save. Manual removing the plant isn’t fully successful because the bits that break off can form new plants elsewhere. 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 dredging, 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 plant and is a natural way to battle the weed.
Milfoil is just one type of unwanted species that has outstayed its welcome; many other unwanted aquatic plants are still thriving across the country. When plants or creatures are introduced outside their natural surroundings, you can’t anticipate the implications.
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