Dispersal of Spores of Fusarium culmorum in Aquatic Systems

The dispersal of spores of Fusarium culmorum, a biological control agent for the aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata, was investigated in aquatic systems. Macroconidia and chlamydospores that were applied to the surface of the liquid settled rapidly in deionized water, tap water, 5% Hoagland's solution, natural spring water, or river water held in glass containers. The rate of fall, as measured for 50% of the spores, was determined to be 9 cm h-1. Rapid lateral dispersal of spores from a point source occurred in still water. This initial spore movement occurred at a rate of >9 m h-1 (15 cm min-1), approximately 100 times faster than the rate of settlement. The spores attained an even lateral distribution in a still, closed system. Spores dispersed rapidly in moving water and were transported with the water current. Spores were determined to carry positive electrostatic charges as they migrated towards the negative pole during electrophoresis. The physical components of dispersal of F. culmorum spores were defined in a still aquatic system to consist of rapid lateral dispersal and sinking due to gravity. In moving water, the dynamics of water movement was superimposed over the other two factors.

Downstream and Lateral Transport of Nymphs of Two Mayfly Species (Ephemeroptera)

By releasing live and dead nymphs of two mayfly species, Baetis tricaudatus Dodds and Ephemerella inermis Eaton, into the water column of a river and catching them downstream in a series of contiguous nets, I estimated settling and lateral dispersal rates. Live animals settled over shorter distances than dead individuals, and became more widely laterally dispersed for any given distance downstream and mean current velocity. Transport of suspended organisms in a river in which mean current velocity increases with increasing distance from shore may produce a skewed cross-river benthic distribution of animals. The degree of skewness will depend on the current velocity gradient and on suspended animals' settling behavior.