| Program/Project: Sustainable management strategies for control of aquatic and wetland weeds |
3205 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
Phone (954) 475-0541
Fax (954) 476-9169
To develop sustainable methods based primarily on biological and integrated control technologies to manage aquatic and wetland weeds in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the South Florida and Southwest Florida Water Management Districts, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the University of Florida.
The primary objective of this program is to permanently reduce deleterious impacts of invasive, non-native aquatic and wetland weeds in natural and agro-ecosystems. These weeds restrict irrigation, increase water loss, clog flood control structures, displace native vegetation, slow water flow, speed siltation rates, increase detritus production and degrade wildlife habitat. Traditional control practices contribute to water quality degradation and provide only temporary relief from the weed problems. Successful biological control agents mitigate against deleterious effects by slowing weed growth and decreasing reproductive output, thereby limiting weed biomass. They also reduce the weed's competitive advantage over native species. Biological controls are persistent and spread naturally, thereby providing long-term control and impacting infestations inaccessible to traditional control technologies.
The basic approach involves recognition that an exotic species has (or may) become problematic, exploratory surveys for potential bioagents in the plant's native range, screening the most promising of these agents for safety (host-specificity), establishment of self-perpetuating populations of safe bioagents, and developing management strategies to enhance efficacy of naturalized bioagents. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, integrated pest management practices combining bioagents, plant growth regulators, and low levels of herbicides. A strong multi-disciplinary team investigates plant and insect demographics, plant and insect reproductive biology, plant tissue biochemistry, insect eco-physiology and nutritional ecology, intraspecific and interspecific plant competition, and plant and insect ecological genetics by means of DNA fingerprinting. These capabilities permit the study of indigenous plants and insects as well as invasive, non-native species. The program has, thus far, developed a total of thirteen insects for use against five invasive, non-native plants. As a result, permanent control of alligatorweed now occurs in most areas of the southeastern US from the introduction of three South American insects. Waterhyacinth populations are maintained at historically low levels throughout the southern US by three other bioagents from South America. Control of waterlettuce has been achieved at multiple sites through the damage of a South American weevil. Three Asian and Australian insects are impacting hydrilla and the first biological control agent for melaleuca has just been released (Spring 1997). Additional bioagents are at various stages of development for control of melaleuca, Eurasian watermilfoil, waterhyacinth, and Old World climbing fern. The possible use of biological control is being examined for other weeds (e.g., skunk vine). Ecological, agricultural, and economic benefits continue to accrue from past biological control successes, and future successes will strongly contribute to efforts towards restoring South Florida ecosystems.
GERI L. BARBER
Administrative technician
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 102
FAX: 954-476-9169
EMAIL:
gbarber@saa.ars.usda.gov
SUE KEUSCH
Secretary
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 101
FAX: 954-476-9169
EMAIL:
adminfl@saa.ars.usda.gov
TED D. CENTER, Research Leader
Research Entomologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 103
FAX: 954-476-9169
EMAIL:
tcenter@saa.ars.usda.gov
GARY R. BUCKINGHAM
Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS
c/o Florida Biological Control Laboratory
P. O. Box 147100
Gainesville, Florida 32614-7100
TEL: 352 372-3505
FAX: 352 955-2301
EMAIL:
grbuck@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
ROBERT W. PEMBERTON
Research Entomologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 106
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
bobpem@saa.ars.usda.gov
THAI K. VAN
Research Plant Physiologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 110
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
thaivan@saa.ars.usda.gov
GREGORY S. WHEELER
Research Entomologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 108
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
wheelerg@saa.ars.usda.gov
wheelerg@eemail.com
MIN B. RAYACHHETRY
Plant Pathologist (Post Doctoral Associate)
TEL: 954-475-0541
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
minray@saa.ars.usda.gov
PHILIP W. TIPPING
Research Entomologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 104
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
ptipping@eemail.com
PAUL D. PRATT
Research Entomologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 105
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
prattp@eemail.com
PAUL T. MADEIRA
Plant Physiologist (Support Scientist)
TEL: 954-475-0541 ext. 109
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL:
ptmadeira@saa.ars.usda.gov
F. ALLEN DRAY, Jr.
Ecologist
TEL: 954-475-0541 x 104
FAX: 954-476-9169
E-MAIL: fadray@saa.ars.usda.gov
Last modified: 09/04/2002