Aquatic nuisance plants (ANS), like watershield (Brasenia schreberi), negatively affect water chemistry, ecosystem ecology, and human uses of waterbodies if not properly managed. Understanding ecological predictors as well as efficient control strategies is needed for successful control of ANS. This research assessed 1) potential environmental and ecological predictors of watershield prevalence along with 2) submersed injections of flumioxazin herbicide for watershield control. Twenty-one lakes in the state of Mississippi were surveyed for watershield presence. Watershield prevalence was not correlated to water clarity or plant diversity suggesting these are not drivers of watershield prevalence. A series of mesocosm and field trials were conducted to assess flumioxazin rate reductions for watershield control. In the mesocosm study, 100 ppb flumioxazin injections reduced water shield biomass to >70% 8 weeks after treatment (WAT). This was validated on a field population (>88% reduction) and provides a new control measure for Mississippi resource managers and landowners.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-7145 |
| Date | 10 May 2024 |
| Creators | Lee, MacKenzie M. |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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