Elodea canadensis (Canadian pondweed).

Elodea canadensis is a submerged aquatic plant of slower flowing rivers, native to North America. It has been intentionally introduced into areas outside of its native range as an ornamental aquarium species. This species has a wide ecological tolerance and grows relatively fast. It is a perennial, overwintering in the deeper water, and reproducing asexually. Disturbance increases the dispersal of numerous propagules and the vigorous re-growth is enhanced through changes in availability of nutrients. E. canadensis can form dense mats which can interfere with recreational activities, navigation and port infrastructure. In addition to this, the dense mats outcompete native plant species and therefore decrease the biodiversity in an area. It also accentuates the accumulation of finer organic silts which enhances its growth further as nutrients are released. E. canadensis is considered invasive in Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, Alaska and the majority of European countries where it is present. Control is complicated and loss of fragments should be minimized to prevent further spread. It is included in the IUCN Red List, categorized as being of Least Concern. Thus, no conservation action is proposed or is necessary for this species.

Genetic diversity and differentiation in populations of invasive Eurasian (Myriophyllum spicatum) and hybrid (Myriophyllum spicatum × Myriophyllum sibiricum) watermilfoil

Population genetic studies of within- and among-population genetic variability are still lacking for managed submerged aquatic plant species, and such studies could provide important information for managers. For example, the extent of within-population genetic variation may influence the potential for managed populations to locally adapt to environmental conditions and control tactics. Similarly, among-population variation may influence whether specific control tactics work equally effectively in different locations. In the case of invasive Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), including interspecific hybrids with native northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum Kom.), managers recognize that there is genetic variation for growth and herbicide response. However, it is unclear how much overall genetic variation there is, and how it is structured within and among populations. Here, we studied patterns of within- and among-lake genetic variation in 41 lakes in Michigan and 62 lakes in Minnesota using microsatellite markers. We found that within-lake genetic diversity was generally low, and among-lake genetic diversity was relatively high. However, some lakes were genetically diverse, and some genotypes were shared across multiple lakes. For genetically diverse lakes, managers should explicitly recognize the potential for genotypes to differ in control response and should account for this in monitoring and efficacy evaluation and using pretreatment herbicide screens to predict efficacy. Similarly, managers should consider differences in genetic composition among lakes as a source of variation in the growth and herbicide response of lakes with similar control tactics. Finally, laboratory or field information on control efficacy from one lake may be applied to other lakes where genotypes are shared among lakes.

Submerged aquatic plant (Vallisneria spiralis and Egeria densa) utilisation as a biogas cleaner and feedstock of co-digestion

Biogas was produced from sheep manure and two types of submerged aquatic plant (Vallisneria spiralis and Egeria densa). The gas cleaning was carried out by a water scrubber, where a significant part of CO2 and H2S can be separated from the gas. A part of water from the scrubber was circulated through an aquatic plant growth tank and the growth of used plants was examined. Addition of E. densa to sheep manure increased gas yield by 8% and the mixing of sheep manure and V. spiralis resulted in 21% increase in gas yield. With the used scrubber, 70-80 vol% methane content can be reached in the cleaned biogas, and the water from the scrubber (which contained dissolved CO2 and H2S) resulted in 56-87% increase in size as opposed to 12-44% increase in the control group.

A novel submerged Rotala rotundifolia, its growth characteristics and remediation potential for eutrophic waters

The vegetative growth and remediation potential of Rotala rotundifolia, a novel submerged aquatic plant, for eutrophic waters were investigated on different sediments, and under a range of nitrogen concentrations. Rotala Rotundifolia grew better on silt than on sand and gravel in terms of plant height, tiller number and biomass accumulation. Percent increment of biomass was enhanced at low water nitrogen (ammonium nitrogen concentration ≤10 mg/L). The maximum total nitrogen and total phosphorus removals in the overlying water were between 54% to 66% and 42% to 57%, respectively. Nitrogen contents in the sediments increased with increasing water nitrogen levels, whereas, nitrogen contents in the plant tissues showed no apparent regularity, and the greatest value was obtained at ammonium nitrogen concentration 15 mg/L. Both phosphorus contents in the sediments and tissues of plants were not affected significantly by additional nitrogen supply. Direct nitrogen uptake by plants was in the range of 16% to 39% when total phosphorus concentration was 1.0 mg/L. These results suggested that Rotala Rotundifolia can be used to effectively remove nitrogen and phosphorus in eutrophic waters.

Uranium biosorption from aqueous solution by the submerged aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata

The biosorption characteristics of U(VI) from aqueous solution onto a nonliving aquatic macrophyte, Hydrilla verticillata (dry powder), were investigated under various experimental conditions by using batch methods. Results showed that the adsorption reached equilibrium within 60 min and the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. U(VI) adsorption was strongly pH dependent, and the optimum pH for U(VI) removal was 5.5. Isotherm adsorption data displayed good correlation with the Langmuir model, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 171.52 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies suggested that U(VI) adsorption onto H. verticillata was an exothermic and spontaneous process in nature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the amino and hydroxyl groups on the algal surface played an important role in U(VI) adsorption. The mechanisms responsible for U(VI) adsorption could involve electrostatic attraction and ion exchange. In conclusion, H. verticillata biomass showed good potential as an adsorption material for the removal of uranium contaminants in aqueous solution.