Wanted
Water Chestnuts
Water Chestnut facts:
- Physical Description: Floating leaves with sharply toothed edges. 30 centimetres in diameter. The leaf stems are up to 15 centimetres.
-Pathway to Ontario: Water Chestnut was introduced into North America before 1879 by gardener in Massachusetts. The farmer had planted the seeds into lakes and rivers which caused it to spread.
-Habitat: It can be found in Quebec and in tributaries of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario.
-Role in the environment: It directly competes with native submerged aquatic vegetation for resources by growing in dense patches. It has a lack of nutrients and so it has no native predators. Water Chestnuts cause eutrophication.
Impact on ecosystems:
The ability of Water Chestnut to cover nearly all the water surface at times causes it to block 95% of the sunlight from penetrating the water. This affects the plants underneath by shading them out and not allowing them to grow. By replacing these native plants, there is a subsequent loss of many animal species that depend on these native plants to survive. Eventually there is a loss in biodiversity.
Control Method:
Water Chestnut roots are very shallow and easily pulled by raking with a Water Weed Rake or a Weed Raker.
Aquacide Pellets are a good systemic control option, especially when applied early. Aquacide Pellets can be used for spot treatment or treatment of the entire pond.
Bibliography:
Invading Species. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Aquacide — Aquatic Weed Control: Two Ways to Kill Water Chestnut."Aquacide — Aquatic Weed Control: Two Ways to Kill Water Chestnut. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2016.