[Editorial]
Fish tanks! That is where the invasion began.
Someone didn’t want to kill their pet goldfish, so by a unanimous family vote, they decided to give "Charlie" the goldfish his freedom. They went down to the local brook and read a proclamation freeing Charlie. By the word of "Lord Dad," they tearfully gave him his liberty—and a new invasive species was introduced into the environment!
Many of you know that I have a wetland in my backyard. We’ve had a lot of rain and snowmelt recently, so the water level is quite high. Normally, there is only a seasonal stream, but now it is a couple of feet wide and about half a foot deep with very little current.
Today, I noticed a big green mat in the middle of the brook. Upon closer inspection, I found that it is Hydrilla!
The town has been spending tens of thousands of dollars to keep this weed out of our local waters. How did it get into my backyard? It probably hitched a ride on the family living back there in the wetland: the ducks. Just like boats carrying Hydrilla between lakes, birds and animals carry it too.
How Was It "Let Loose"?
Someone didn’t want to kill their pet goldfish, so by a unanimous family vote, they decided to give "Charlie" the goldfish his freedom. They went down to the local brook and read a proclamation freeing Charlie. By the word of "Lord Dad," they tearfully gave him his liberty—and a new invasive species was introduced into the environment!
Many of you know that I have a wetland in my backyard. We’ve had a lot of rain and snowmelt recently, so the water level is quite high. Normally, there is only a seasonal stream, but now it is a couple of feet wide and about half a foot deep with very little current.
Today, I noticed a big green mat in the middle of the brook. Upon closer inspection, I found that it is Hydrilla!
The town has been spending tens of thousands of dollars to keep this weed out of our local waters. How did it get into my backyard? It probably hitched a ride on the family living back there in the wetland: the ducks. Just like boats carrying Hydrilla between lakes, birds and animals carry it too.
How Was It "Let Loose"?
- Intentional Planting: In the early 1950s, an aquatic plant dealer in the Tampa Bay area reportedly discarded bundles of Hydrilla directly into local canals after it failed to sell.
- Aquarium Dumping: Many infestations result from individuals dumping the contents of their home aquariums—both fish and plants—into local ponds and rivers.
- Misidentification: At first, many dealers and hobbyists didn't realize how dangerous it was because it looks so similar to the native plant Elodea.
[/Editorial]
No comments:
Post a Comment