Dispersal and management of invasive aquatic plants in Mississippi waterways

To understand the flow of water as a factor that influences aquatic vegetation communities and aquatic plant dispersal, custom-made Global Positioning System (GPS) drones were used to monitor the movement of water in Aliceville Lake, Columbus Lake, and Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS. In each reservoir, the drones drifted in the wind-generated surface current. Analysis of wind speeds suggests that a certain wind speed may be necessary to overcome gradient flow. Wind direction and wind speed should be incorporated in future spatial simulation models for aquatic plant dispersal and distribution. An herbicide evaluation on Cuban bulrush (Oxycaryum cubenese) was conducted to determine what herbicides would effectively control the invasive species. Applications made pre-flowering were more successful than post-flowering applications for all herbicides tested with glyphosate, 2,4-D, triclopyr, diquat, imazamox, and imazapyr resulting in 100% mean biomass reduction. For post-flowering applications, glyphosate, triclopyr, and diquat are recommended.