Aquatic Invasive Species WorkshopAquatic Invasive Species Workshop June 22, 2011 June 22, 2011

San Rafael, California San Rafael, California

Ronald SmithRonald SmithUnited States Fish and Wildlife United States Fish and Wildlife

ServiceServiceAquatic Invasive Species ProgramAquatic Invasive Species Program

Pacific Southwest RegionPacific Southwest Region

Troubled Waters: Biological Invasion of Our Aquatic Resources

Outline of the PresentationOutline of the Presentation

Problem Problem

PathwaysPathways

Examples of some invasive flora and Examples of some invasive flora and faunafauna

New invaders of concernNew invaders of concern

What you can doWhat you can do

Problem with Non-native Invasive SpeciesProblem with Non-native Invasive Species

Economic cost to U.S. Economic cost to U.S. Damage to infrastructureDamage to infrastructure Loss of resourcesLoss of resources

2nd leading cause of native species’ 2nd leading cause of native species’ extinction/endangerment extinction/endangerment

Loss of global biodiversityLoss of global biodiversity

Human health riskHuman health risk Asian lung flukeAsian lung fluke West Nile virusWest Nile virus

Pathways of IntroductionPathways of IntroductionHow they get here…How they get here…

Aquaria Aquaria AquacultureAquaculture Ballast waterBallast water Intentional introductionIntentional introduction Live baitLive bait Live seafoodLive seafood AquascapingAquascaping

Pathways of IntroductionPathways of Introduction How they are spread once there are here…How they are spread once there are here…

StowawaysStowaways Boats and equipmentBoats and equipment Shipping cratesShipping crates Recreational activitiesRecreational activities Infrastructure maintenanceInfrastructure maintenance Field crewsField crews

Examples of Invasive Aquatic Plants in Examples of Invasive Aquatic Plants in CaliforniaCalifornia

Water HyacinthWater Hyacinth HydrillaHydrilla Eurasian WatermilfoilEurasian Watermilfoil Giant SalviniaGiant Salvinia Brazilian ElodeaBrazilian Elodea Curly Leaf PondweedCurly Leaf Pondweed South American Sponge South American Sponge

PlantPlant

Characteristics of Invasive Aquatic Characteristics of Invasive Aquatic PlantsPlants

Form dense mats can clog entire lakes & waterwaysForm dense mats can clog entire lakes & waterways Interferes with commercial and recreational water Interferes with commercial and recreational water

navigationnavigation Displace and reduce the diversity of native aquatic plantsDisplace and reduce the diversity of native aquatic plants Supports a lower abundance and diversity of Supports a lower abundance and diversity of

invertebratesinvertebrates Less valuable food source for waterfowlLess valuable food source for waterfowl Clogs water diversions and pumpsClogs water diversions and pumps Depletes dissolved oxygen levels Depletes dissolved oxygen levels Increased sedimentationIncreased sedimentation Causes floodingCauses flooding

Water Hyacinth Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)(Eichhornia crassipes)

Grows in all types of freshwater habitats Grows in all types of freshwater habitats

Vary in size from a few inches to over three Vary in size from a few inches to over three feet tallfeet tall

Showy lavender flowersShowy lavender flowers

Leaves are rounded and leathery, attached Leaves are rounded and leathery, attached to spongy inflated stalksto spongy inflated stalks

Dark feathery roots with end capsDark feathery roots with end caps

Hydrilla Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)(Hydrilla verticillata)

Submersed plant, can grow to the Submersed plant, can grow to the surface and form dense matssurface and form dense mats

Stems are slender, branched and up to Stems are slender, branched and up to 25 feet long25 feet long

Leaves are strap-like and pointed, grow Leaves are strap-like and pointed, grow in whorls of four to eight around the in whorls of four to eight around the stemstem

Leaf margins are distinctly saw-toothedLeaf margins are distinctly saw-toothed Tiny white flowers on long stalksTiny white flowers on long stalks Potato-like tubers attached to the roots Potato-like tubers attached to the roots

in the mudin the mud

Eurasian WatermilfoilEurasian Watermilfoil ((Myriophyllum Myriophyllum spicatumspicatum))

Tolerates a wide range of water conditions and Tolerates a wide range of water conditions and often forms large infestationsoften forms large infestations

Stems are reddish-brown to whitish-pink; Stems are reddish-brown to whitish-pink; branched and commonly grow to lengths of six branched and commonly grow to lengths of six to nine feetto nine feet

Leaves are deeply divided, soft and feather-Leaves are deeply divided, soft and feather-like, about two inches long, and arranged in like, about two inches long, and arranged in whorls of three to six leaves about the stemwhorls of three to six leaves about the stem

Flowers are reddish and very small, held above Flowers are reddish and very small, held above the water on an immersed flower spike that is the water on an immersed flower spike that is several inches longseveral inches long

Giant salvinia Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)(Salvinia molesta)

Looks like free floating fern; Looks like free floating fern; stems rootless, hairy, about 10 stems rootless, hairy, about 10 cm longcm long

Leaves in threes, looks like two, Leaves in threes, looks like two, rounded to somewhat broadly rounded to somewhat broadly elliptical 2 cm long, upper elliptical 2 cm long, upper surface with 4-pronged hairs surface with 4-pronged hairs joined at the tips (resembling an joined at the tips (resembling an egg beater), lower surface hairy egg beater), lower surface hairy

Brazilian Waterweed Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa)(Egeria densa)

Submersed plant is rooted, occurs in Submersed plant is rooted, occurs in streams, ponds, springs, and lakesstreams, ponds, springs, and lakes

Stems are usually a foot or two long, but Stems are usually a foot or two long, but can be much longercan be much longer

Leaves are strap-shaped, about one inch Leaves are strap-shaped, about one inch long, 1/4 inch wide and occur in whorls of long, 1/4 inch wide and occur in whorls of three to six around the stemthree to six around the stem

Leaf margins have very fine saw teethLeaf margins have very fine saw teeth Flowers are on short stalks about one inch Flowers are on short stalks about one inch

above the water; have three white petals above the water; have three white petals and are about 3/4 inch acrossand are about 3/4 inch across

Curly-leaf Pondweed (Curly-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Potamogeton crispuscrispus))

Stem is flat, reddish-brown and Stem is flat, reddish-brown and grows from 1 to 3 feet longgrows from 1 to 3 feet long

Leaves are reddish-green, oblong Leaves are reddish-green, oblong and about 3 inches longand about 3 inches long

Distinct wavy edges that are finely Distinct wavy edges that are finely toothedtoothed

Flowers are reddish-white and Flowers are reddish-white and emergent from a short stememergent from a short stem

New Invader: New Invader: South American SpongeplantSouth American Spongeplant

Many seeds & small seedlings Many seeds & small seedlings move easily.move easily.

Spongeplant mixed with Spongeplant mixed with duckweed. Red circles show duckweed. Red circles show spongeplant seedlings.spongeplant seedlings.

Seeds survive at least three Seeds survive at least three years.years.

First California infestation in First California infestation in Redding and Arcata 2003.Redding and Arcata 2003.

Outcompetes several other Outcompetes several other aggressive water weeds, like aggressive water weeds, like water primrose and parrots water primrose and parrots feather.feather.

Center for Aquatic and Center for Aquatic and Invasive PlantsInvasive Plants

http://plants.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://plants.ifas.ufl.edu

Examples of Invasive Fauna SpeciesExamples of Invasive Fauna Species

Asian ClamAsian Clam Chinese Mitten CrabChinese Mitten Crab New Zealand MudsnailNew Zealand Mudsnail Florida Watersnake Florida Watersnake

(Nerodia)(Nerodia) Northern SnakeheadNorthern Snakehead

Asian Clam Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea)(Corbicula fluminea)

Introduced in 1800’s for human Introduced in 1800’s for human consumptionconsumption

High densities, out-competes native High densities, out-competes native clamsclams

Impairs water delivery systems by Impairs water delivery systems by clogging pipes, valves and sprinklersclogging pipes, valves and sprinklers

Traps sediment, forms bars in Traps sediment, forms bars in agriculture canals, alters flowagriculture canals, alters flow

Possible cause for pelagic fish decline in Possible cause for pelagic fish decline in the deltathe delta

Bioaccumulation of toxinsBioaccumulation of toxins Control:Control:

mechanical removal mechanical removal chemicalschemicals

Chinese Mitten Crab (Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensisEriocheir sinensis))

Intentional releases for human Intentional releases for human consumption and/or via ballast consumption and/or via ballast water water

Clogs fish salvage facilities Clogs fish salvage facilities Creates losses for fisheriesCreates losses for fisheries Threatens levee stabilityThreatens levee stability Potential host for human lung Potential host for human lung

flukefluke Population cyclic, low at Population cyclic, low at

presentpresent

New Zealand Mudsnail New Zealand Mudsnail ((Potamopyrgus antipodarumPotamopyrgus antipodarum))

From New ZealandFrom New Zealand 750,000 NZMS per square 750,000 NZMS per square

meter meter Competes for space and foodCompetes for space and food Ties up nutrients – not Ties up nutrients – not

digestible by most fish or digestible by most fish or birds, shell takes a long time birds, shell takes a long time to decomposeto decompose

Shells block pipes, filters and Shells block pipes, filters and gratesgrates

Development of biocontrols Development of biocontrols underwayunderway

Ken DavisKen Davis

Distribution of the New Zealand mudsnail in California.

Southern WatersnakeSouthern Watersnake ( (Nerodia fasciata)Nerodia fasciata)

Native to southeastern USNative to southeastern US Threat to CA native and federally listed Threat to CA native and federally listed

giant garter snake (giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigasThamnophis gigas)) Eradication efforts in SoCalEradication efforts in SoCal

Northern SnakeheadNorthern Snakehead (Channa argus)(Channa argus)

Native to China, and possibly Korea and Russia Native to China, and possibly Korea and Russia First discovered in MD in 2002First discovered in MD in 2002 Introduced as food source and through aquarium tradeIntroduced as food source and through aquarium trade Voracious predator – decimate native fish populationsVoracious predator – decimate native fish populations Primitive lung – can breath air and move short distances Primitive lung – can breath air and move short distances

over landover land Some successful eradication effortsSome successful eradication efforts

New Invaders to CaliforniaNew Invaders to California

Zebra mussel (Zebra mussel (Dreissena Dreissena polymorpha) polymorpha)

Quagga mussel Quagga mussel ((Dreissena bugensisDreissena bugensis))

Zebra and Quagga MusselZebra and Quagga Mussel

What can you What can you do…do…

Become aware of AIS and plan your activities accordinglyBecome aware of AIS and plan your activities accordingly

Develop and implement actions to prevent AIS Develop and implement actions to prevent AIS introductionsintroductions

Report all suspected sightings of AIS to 1-877-STOP-ANSReport all suspected sightings of AIS to 1-877-STOP-ANS

Take an active role and spread the word about AIS…Take an active role and spread the word about AIS…

Give us a call… (209) 946-6400Give us a call… (209) 946-6400

Ronald Smith – AIS Program CoordinatorRonald Smith – AIS Program Coordinator Jon Thompson – ISRAP/HACCP CoordinatorJon Thompson – ISRAP/HACCP Coordinator Louanne McMartin – Watershed Louanne McMartin – Watershed

CoordinatorCoordinator

QuestionsQuestions