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Aquatic Invasive Species and Water Gardening Eleanor Burkett Linda Whitlock Consumer Horticulture Partnership of MSU Extension Fisheries & Wildlife, Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Forestry Department, Habitattitude,

It's Not About the Fish & Plants, It's About the Behaviors! seeks to eliminate the transfer and survival of any species outside of your enclosed, artificial system which has the potential to cause the loss or decline of native plants and animals.

The Message: Keep non-native plants out of lakes streams, wetlands or storm water ponds

Properly dispose of aquatic plants and animals: Will composting work? Bag and send to landfill Return to store, move into aquarium, contact local veterinarian feather Parrot feather

Do not possess prohibited and restricted aquatic plant species (NREPA 451 of 1994, Section )

Learn how invasive plants spread - by seed, rhizome, or tiny plant fragments rhizome Eleanor Burkett

Examine new plants for unwanted and potentially invasive hitchhikers Rinse floating plants to remove duckweed or fragments Pull hitchhikers from potted plants, or Remove from pot, rinse roots and re-pot to eliminate hitch- hikers Eleanor Burkett Barbara Liukkonen

Recognize which plants and fish are potentially invasive in our climate zone Flowering Rush Clayton & Michele Oslund Water chestnut Japanese knotweed Brazilian elodea

Recognize which plants and fish are potentially invasive in our climate zone Flowering Rush Hydrilla Parrot’s feather African oxygen weed

Recognize which plants and fish are potentially invasive in our climate zone European frogbit Giant hogweed Giant salvinia

Keep non-native plants contained in your water garden Water gardens connected to natural waters should not contain non-native plants or animals Water gardens separated from natural waters may contain non-native species Robert Liukkonen

Non-native plants can cause ecological, economic, and recreational problems…. Cathy Larson

Non-native animals can crowd out native species or disrupt the food web … Clayton & Michele Oslund

Non-native plants or animals … very difficult to control once established degrade the environment, diminish recreational opportunities, impact native species, and cost billion$ for control also known as “exotic species” introduced intentionally or accidentally

Invasive species may be introduced … Intentionally: –improper disposal of fish or plants from water gardens or aquaria –planting shorelines to add beauty or stabilize shore –stocking fish or for biological control of other species (by natural resource professionals)

Invasive species may be introduced … Unintentionally –seeds carried by birds or blown by wind –flooding or stormwater runoff –hitchhikers in plant purchases or exchanges Barbara Liukkonen -on boats or trailers, in live wells or bait buckets

Research on AIS and horticulture trade Conducted in 2002 at UMN Horticulture Department Assessed risks of importing aquatic plants Ordered plants from nurseries nationwide

Research showed … 92.5% of orders contained plant or animal not specifically requested; –90% included plants –80% included animals (including 2 live fish!) –63% included algae, moss, or fungi –41% contained unordered seeds 8-10% of hitchhikers were prohibited species in Minnesota

2004 Consumer Survey … 77 surveys completed from MN, MI, other states By water gardeners and shoreline property owners Asked about awareness & knowledge, sources of plants, and willingness to pay. Water hyacinth

Consumers reported … Most buy their plants locally 17% exchange plants 30% purchase animals 80% recognize loosestrife; only 6% know yellow heart Many over winter plants and animals outdoors

Aquatic Invasive Species and Water Gardening Eleanor Burkett Partnership of MSU Extension Fisheries & Wildlife, Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Forestry Department, Habitattitude