New decision-support systems for the control of invasive alien macrophytes
In the framework of the European project EUPHRESCO, prototype decision-support systems for optimal control measures have been elaborated for 4 invasive alien aquatic plants: Cabomba caroliniana (Cabombaceae, EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants), Hydrocotyle ranunculoides (Apiaceae, EPPO A2 List), Ludwigia grandiflora (Onagraceae, EPPO A2 List), and Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae, EPPO List of IAP).
Areas potentially at risk in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have been predicted using the habitat characteristics where these species are already present in these two countries. Based on a literature review and field experiments on Cabomba caroliniana and Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, the life cycles of the 4 target species have been analyzed in order to predict the ‘vulnerable’ stages and improve control measures.
As an outcome of the project, the following documents are freely available on the Q-bank website:
- Background information for Cabomba caroliniana, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Ludwigia grandiflora and Myriophyllum aquaticum;
- One page field recognition cards for Cabomba caroliniana, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Ludwigia grandiflora and Myriophyllum aquaticum both for the United Kingdom (in English) and for the Netherlands (in Dutch);
- A risk assessment field sheet, to report new sightings in the field;
- A guide for Cabomba caroliniana, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Ludwigia grandiflora and Myriophyllum aquaticum describing for each species the biology, ecology, morphology, life cycle, management weak points, management restrictions and techniques (both for the United Kingdom and the Netherlands);
- Bibliography for Cabomba caroliniana.
The Q-bank website also provides a tool to report new sightings of exotic aquatic plants on-line.
Sources
Johan van Valkenburg, Plant Protection Service, NL, Email: j.l.c.h.van.valkenburg@minlnv.nl
Jonathan Newman, CEH Wallingford, UK, Email: jone@ceh.ac.uk
De CLAIM Project, Q-bank Website, under the header ‘control’. http://www.q-bank.eu/Plants/