Document Type
Article
Abstract
Curly leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus, is a submerged aquatic plant non-native to North America. It was most likely introduced when common carp Cyprinus carpio were intentionally brought to the Midwest. Endothall is an aquatic herbicide commonly used to control curlyleaf pondweed in lakes. This study focused on collecting data from Lake Julia in Sherburne County, MN. Lake Julia is treated annually in the spring to control curlyleaf pondweed. The results show treatment areas saw a significant increase in vegetation density compared to control areas (P < 0.01). Changes in percent vegetation coverage by date were insignificant (P = 0.24). No significant signs of fish kills were observed. Because this study looked at overall vegetation coverage instead of specifically curlyleaf pondweed, we cannot conclude the increase in vegetation coverage was from curlyleaf pondweed alone. Based on the results from Poovey et al. (2002) we would expect lower vegetation coverage in treatment areas instead of the increased vegetation coverage observed in our study. This suggests the possibility that the endothall treatment successfully killed curlyleaf pondweed in treated areas, which allowed for new growth of submerged aquatic plants to take place as water temperatures increased.
Publication Date
2021
Recommended Citation
Sorensen, Jake, "Effectiveness of Endothall Treatment in Reducing Potamogeton crispus in Lake Julia" (2021). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 21.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/21
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program