Thesis (M. Sc. (Zoology and Entomology))--Rhodes University, 2006.

Water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes Lamarck (Araceae) is a South American plant that has the potential to be a very damaging and important aquatic weed in many tropical countries, including South Africa. It has the potential to rapidly multiply vegetatively and completely cover watercourses in a very short space of time outside of its natural range under ideal conditions and without its natural enemies. In such instances, the weed may cause hindrances to water transport and fishing, increasing chances of malaria, as well as affecting the natural ecology of the system. Water lettuce can also set seed, which may lay dormant for long periods, germinating when conditions are favourable. It is therefore very necessary to adopt control methods against the weed where it is a problem. However, water lettuce has also been effectively and completely controlled in many countries by the leaf-feeding weevil, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache. High nutrient levels in the form of nitrates and phosphates have been shown to have largely negative effects on biological control in several studies, with control being incomplete or taking longer than in similar areas with lower nutrient levels. The effectiveness of N. affinis on the biological control of water lettuce was investigated in a laboratory study, growing P. stratiotes plants with and without insects at different nutrient concentrations. In these studies biological control of water lettuce with N. affinis was found to be complete under eutrophic nutrient conditions, although control took longer when higher nutrient levels were tested. A field site study was conducted at a sewage settlement pond in Cape Recife Nature Reserve near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This highly eutrophic system was used as a field example for the effectiveness of biocontrol of P. stratiotes by N. affinis under eutrophic conditions. The weevils at Cape Recife caused a massive and rapid crash in the percentage coverage of the weed, from 100% in May 2003, to approximately 0.5 % in September 2003. Plant growth parameters were also found to decrease considerably in size correspondingly with this crash from May 2003 until spring 2003. Plant size only again started to increase gradually but steadily through spring 2003 and into summer. In the laboratory studies, the fecundity of weevils was shown to be much higher on plants grown under higher nutrient concentrations than on plants grown in lower nutrient concentrations. The results from the wing-muscle analysis under different nutrient concentrations were not easy to interpret, and there were few differences in wing muscle state between most of the concentrations. From these findings it is suggested that nutrient concentration, particularly high levels of nitrates and phosphates is not a limiting factor in terms of effective biological control of P. stratiotes with N. affinis, but that under high nutrient conditions biological control might take longer.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-03-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:00:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 marchi_sr_dr_botfca.pdf: 984466 bytes, checksum: 1469adadcc88f867eee451598ff9f2f3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a quantidade de calda de pulverização depositada na água e em folhas de Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Salvinia auriculata Aubl e Pistia stratiotes L. em condições variáveis de arranjos populacionais e dois tipos de pontas de pulverização (ConeJet TXVK-8 e TeeJet DG 11002 VS). Para tanto, foi conduzido um experimento em caixas d água composto por três Situações distintas. Na Situação Aguapé, além da proporção de dominância total correspondente à cobertura de 100% da caixa d água pelas plantas de aguapé, foram utilizados os arranjos (ou proporções) com as espécies de salvinia ou alface d água a 75%:25%, 50%:50%, 25%:75%. Adotou-se as mesmas proporções na Situação Salvínia e na Situação Alface d água, sendo que cada Situação foi determinada pela predominância total de salvínia ou alface d água, respectivamente, na caixa d água. Uma densidade tripla, onde as três espécies foram igualmente dispostas na proporção de 33,33%, foi utilizada como testemunha. Soluções dos corantes Amarelo Tartrasina FDC-5 a 3.500 ppm e Azul Brilhante FDC-1 a 1.000 ppm foram utilizados como traçadores para as pontas TXVK-8 e DG 11002VS, respectivamente. A pulverização de ambas soluções foram efetuadas na mesma unidade experimental, com um intervalo de 30 minutos entre si, através de um pulverizador costal pressurizado com CO2 e calibrado de modo a proporcionar um volume de aplicação aproximado de 200 L/ha. Amostras de água dos reservatórios foram coletadas antes e após as aplicações com o objetivo de avaliar a quantidade de calda de pulverização que não atingiu o alvo. Imediatamente após a coleta da 2 água, as plantas presentes nos reservatórios foram lavadas com água destilada até remoção total dos corantes depositados nas folhas. Placas de plástico contendo... / The present research had as objective to quantify the spray deposition on water and leaves of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms), water fern (Salvinia auriculata Aubl.) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) according to various population arrangements and two nozzle type (ConeJet TXVK-8 and TeeJet 11002VS). The trial was carried out under reservoirs conditions using three different Situations. At Water hyacinth Situation, besides the total dominancy proportion equivalent to 100% of reservoir covering by water hyacinth plants, it was used three others combinations involving water hyacinth and water fern or water lettuce plants, as following: 75%:25%, 50%:50% and 25%:75%. The same combinations were also used at Water Fern Situation and Water Lettuce Situation, being each Situation determined by total dominancy of water fern or water lettuce in the 4 reservoirs, respectively. A triple ratio, where the three species were equally disposed at proportion of 33,33%, was used as check. Dye solutions of FD&C Yellow n. 5 at 3,500 ppm and FD&C Blue n. 1 at 1,000 ppm were used as spraying tracers for TXVK-8 and DG 11002 VS nozzles, respectively. Both solutions were sprayed at same plot within at 30 minutes interval each one through a CO2 pressured backpack knapsack calibrated to delivery a spray volume around 200 L/ha. Samples of reservoirs water were taken before and after sprays in order to evaluate the carrier quantity that not reaches the target. After that, the plants present at reservoirs were washed with distillated water until totally dyes removal deposited on the leaves. Plastic dishes containing 20 mL of distillated water were disposed in each experimental plot in order to check the spray efficacy and possible drift losses. Absorbance measures at 427 and 630 nm of wavelength were procedures... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

Orientador: Dagoberto Martins / Banca: Robinson Antonio Pitelli / Banca: Gerson Augusto Gelmini / Banca: Mario Sergio Tomazela / Banca: Marcus Barifouse Matallo / Resumo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a quantidade de calda de pulverização depositada na água e em folhas de Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Salvinia auriculata Aubl e Pistia stratiotes L. em condições variáveis de arranjos populacionais e dois tipos de pontas de pulverização (ConeJet TXVK-8 e TeeJet DG 11002 VS). Para tanto, foi conduzido um experimento em caixas d’água composto por três Situações distintas. Na Situação Aguapé, além da proporção de dominância total correspondente à cobertura de 100% da caixa d’água pelas plantas de aguapé, foram utilizados os arranjos (ou proporções) com as espécies de salvinia ou alface d’água a 75%:25%, 50%:50%, 25%:75%. Adotou-se as mesmas proporções na Situação Salvínia e na Situação Alface d’água, sendo que cada Situação foi determinada pela predominância total de salvínia ou alface d’água, respectivamente, na caixa d’água. Uma densidade tripla, onde as três espécies foram igualmente dispostas na proporção de 33,33%, foi utilizada como testemunha. Soluções dos corantes Amarelo Tartrasina FDC-5 a 3.500 ppm e Azul Brilhante FDC-1 a 1.000 ppm foram utilizados como traçadores para as pontas TXVK-8 e DG 11002VS, respectivamente. A pulverização de ambas soluções foram efetuadas na mesma unidade experimental, com um intervalo de 30 minutos entre si, através de um pulverizador costal pressurizado com CO2 e calibrado de modo a proporcionar um volume de aplicação aproximado de 200 L/ha. Amostras de água dos reservatórios foram coletadas antes e após as aplicações com o objetivo de avaliar a quantidade de calda de pulverização que não atingiu o alvo. Imediatamente após a coleta da 2 água, as plantas presentes nos reservatórios foram lavadas com água destilada até remoção total dos corantes depositados nas folhas. Placas de plástico contendo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present research had as objective to quantify the spray deposition on water and leaves of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms), water fern (Salvinia auriculata Aubl.) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) according to various population arrangements and two nozzle type (ConeJet TXVK-8 and TeeJet 11002VS). The trial was carried out under reservoirs conditions using three different Situations. At Water hyacinth Situation, besides the total dominancy proportion equivalent to 100% of reservoir covering by water hyacinth plants, it was used three others combinations involving water hyacinth and water fern or water lettuce plants, as following: 75%:25%, 50%:50% and 25%:75%. The same combinations were also used at Water Fern Situation and Water Lettuce Situation, being each Situation determined by total dominancy of water fern or water lettuce in the 4 reservoirs, respectively. A triple ratio, where the three species were equally disposed at proportion of 33,33%, was used as check. Dye solutions of FD&C Yellow n. 5 at 3,500 ppm and FD&C Blue n. 1 at 1,000 ppm were used as spraying tracers for TXVK-8 and DG 11002 VS nozzles, respectively. Both solutions were sprayed at same plot within at 30 minutes interval each one through a CO2 pressured backpack knapsack calibrated to delivery a spray volume around 200 L/ha. Samples of reservoirs water were taken before and after sprays in order to evaluate the carrier quantity that not reaches the target. After that, the plants present at reservoirs were washed with distillated water until totally dyes removal deposited on the leaves. Plastic dishes containing 20 mL of distillated water were disposed in each experimental plot in order to check the spray efficacy and possible drift losses. Absorbance measures at 427 and 630 nm of wavelength were procedures... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below) / Doutor

In Mozambique, establishment of aquatic weeds has been enhanced through the increased enrichment of water bodies by nutrient runoffs from human and agricultural wastes that lead to an increase in nitrate and phosphate in the water. The aquatic weeds, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), red water fern ( Azolla microphylla), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and salvinia (Salvinia molesta) were found in most watercourses in Mozambique and are becoming aggressive in some watercourses, especially in the Umbeluzi and Incomati rivers. Farmers and people living along the rivers are aware of the negative impact of the water weeds because the large mats of weeds cause loss of shoreline and navigability along the rivers. Other commonly perceived effects of aquatic invasive plants in Mozambique rivers include: reduced navigable surface area; difficulties for fishermen, which reduces income; increased prevalence of insects and insect-borne disease, and decreased aesthetic value. The methods currently used for the control and management of the aquatic weeds are mechanical and manual control. Both methods are costly, time consuming, and only provide a short-term solution to the problem. The study found that the weevils Neochetina eichhorniae and N. bruchi were effective biological control agents in the study area but their impact is too gradual compared to the aggressive proliferation of water hyacinth. The one year lab-experiment clearly demonstrated that the water lettuce weed had a significant impact on the recruitment of macro-invertebrates to the artificial substrates, and water lettuce contributed to the reduction of oxygen in the water and consequent reduction of macro-invertebrate abundance and diversity. The biodiversity recovered at the same time in the pools containing water lettuce controlled by N. affinis and water lettuce controlled by herbicide, but richness and diversity of macro-invertebrates was higher in the water lettuce controlled by N affinis during the first sampling occasion compared to the water lettuce in pools controlled by herbicide, where macro-invertebrates increased only when DO levels recovered after water lettuce mat decay. The number of taxa recorded in this study is an indication of the significance of macro-invertebrates in an aquatic environment. This therefore emphasizes the need for more research efforts into macrophyte and macro-invertebrate associations in the aquatic system to better understand the implications of habitat modification arising from human activities. It will also enable us to be better equipped with a more appropriate ecological understanding for aquatic resources management.