HYDRILLA VERTICILLA By Daja Harrell And Fasia Amara

Hydrilla SSSScientific name- Hydrilla verticilla royle  C C C Common name – Hydrilla  K K K Kingdom- Plantae PPPPhylum- Magnoliophyta CCCClass- Liliopsida

Distribution  Native to Africa, Australia, Europe, and parts of Asia  Introduced in Florida around the 1950s or 1960s  Can now be found in Florida, California, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia  It was introduced because a it was brought here as a aquarium plant

Effects on people HHHHydrilla cost lots of money to control because millions of dollars are being spent on herbicides and mechanical harvesters. HHHHydrilla interferes with boating, swimming and fishing because it is too much in the water. SSSSlows water flows and clogs irrigation and flood control canals. HHHHydrilla is also classified as a noxious weed.

Effects on ecosystem  Hydrilla is seen on the surface of the ocean  Hydrilla dominates other plants like pondweed and tapegrass

Food web

Reasons for success  Fishermen say that Hydrilla brings in big fish.  It provides protection for fish, frogs turtles and aquatic insects because they can hide in Hydrilla.

Issues For the Future  There are attempts to control the species. Materials like mechanical harvesters, and biocontrol fish and insects are being used to lessen the amount of Hydrilla.