Control of Aquatic Invasive Species and Restoration of Natural Communities in Ireland Dr Joe Caffrey...
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Transcript of Control of Aquatic Invasive Species and Restoration of Natural Communities in Ireland Dr Joe Caffrey...
Control of Aquatic Invasive Species and Restoration of Natural
Communities in Ireland
Dr Joe Caffrey
Central Fisheries Board
QUB, Belfast – 7th April 2009
Scope
High impact aquatic invasive species in Ireland
Case study Lagarosiphon major (Curly Waterweed)
Future work and funding
High Impact Aquatic Invasive Species
Curly Waterweed Lagarosiphon major
Nuttall’s Waterweed Elodea nuttallii
Dace Leuciscus leuciscus
Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha
New Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsii
Parrot Feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
Fringed Water lily Nymphoides peltata
Water Fern Azolla filiculoides
Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis
Chub Leuciscus cephalus
Bloody Red Shrimp Hemimysis anomala
Floating Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Potentially High Impact Aquatic Invasive Species
Curly Waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
Submerged aquatic
‘Oxygenating weed’
Artificial watercourses
~ Only natural habitat is Lough Corrib
Why is Lagarosiphon a Problem?
No natural enemies in Ireland
Rapid growth rate
Dispersal through fragmentation
Actively grows in winter
Canopy forming – excludes indigenous macrophytes
Alters macroinvertebrate community structure
Creates improved conditions for coarse fish
No legislation to prohibit its sale and distribution
Lagarosiphon Control Methods Currently Employed
Hand removal using Scuba
Mechanical cutting and harvesting
Herbicides
Light exclusion
Life cycle studies
[Biological control]
Hand Removal using Scuba
Lagarosiphon in low abundance
- recently colonised sites
- edge of large stands
- following other treatment methods
Herbicides for Lagarosiphon Control
Lough Corrib is a SAC and drinking water supply !!!
Only one approved herbicide to treat submerged weeds
Lagarosiphon is susceptible to dichlobenil
Applied locally in upper lake
Mechanical Cutting in Lough Corrib
Deep cut with trailing knives (V-blades)
10 infested sites treated in 2008
4,700 tonnes of Lagarosiphon removed
29.2 hectares of infested lake bed cleared
Light Exclusion using Biodegradable Geotextile - 2008
Trials commenced in August 2008
1,750 sq m at 4 sites treated
Early indications positive
Little is known about the life cycle strategies or adventive traits of Lagarosiphon under Irish conditions
Life Cycle Studies as an Aid to Lagarosiphon Control
Less is known about the factors that influence its growth in Irish waters
This information is vital if potential weak links in Lagarosiphon’s life cycle are to be identified and targeted for specific control
Restoration of Natural Communities
Natural recolonisation of indigenous species from spores, seeds, fragments
Transplant indigenous species
Create conditions favourable for indigenous species
Funding & Future Research
Primary source of funding for 2009 - 2013 is Life+ (EU & NPWS)
€1.5 million
2 ProjectsLagarosiphon control in Lough Corrib
Invasive species in Grand Canal / Barrow corridor
Worth approx. €180k per annum per project (vs c. €200k for 6 months on Lagarosiphon in 2008)
Road Map for Lagarosiphon Control in Lough Corrib
2009 Q2
2009 Q3
2009 Q4
2010 Q1
2010 Q2
2010 Q3
2010 Q4
2011 Q1
2011 Q2
2011 Q3
2011 Q4
Recruit & Train
Review & Report
Review & Report
Literature review
Report Report
2012 Q1
2012 Q2
2012 Q3
2012 Q4
2013 Q1
Final Report
BiocontrolControlled Experiments in Corrib
Research
Monitoring Program
Monitoring Program
Education and awareness
Education and awareness
Implementation Eradication
Eradication
Experiments in QuarantineControlled Experiments under
licence
Biocontrol
Road Map for Lagarosiphon Control in Lough Corrib
Biocontrol
PhD to be funded – commencing in summer 2009
Collaboration with University of Grahamstown in SA
No. of candidate species already identified
Photos J-R Baars