Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps
Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort) is an invasive macroalga subject to substantial control efforts in the Midwestern United States; however, there has not been systematic evaluation of treatment effectiveness. We synthesized management approaches and outcomes using monitoring performed over a dec...
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Canadian Science Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0104 |
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| author | Wesley J. Glisson Michelle Nault Chris Jurek Eric Fischer Keegan Lund Kylie Bloodsworth Cattoor April Londo Nicole Kovar Emelia Hauck-Jacobs Rod Egdell Steve McComas Eric Fieldseth Daniel J. Larkin |
| author_facet | Wesley J. Glisson Michelle Nault Chris Jurek Eric Fischer Keegan Lund Kylie Bloodsworth Cattoor April Londo Nicole Kovar Emelia Hauck-Jacobs Rod Egdell Steve McComas Eric Fieldseth Daniel J. Larkin |
| author_sort | Wesley J. Glisson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort) is an invasive macroalga subject to substantial control efforts in the Midwestern United States; however, there has not been systematic evaluation of treatment effectiveness. We synthesized management approaches and outcomes using monitoring performed over a decade-long period across 38 lakes in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Copper-based algaecide treatments were the primary means of control, followed by physical removal methods or combination treatments. Control efforts and associated monitoring data varied by spatial scale, as did surveyors’ N. obtusa sampling methods. At the largest (whole-lake) scale, we found no evidence that algaecide treatments were slowing expansion or reducing abundance of N. obtusa within infested lakes. At smaller, within-lake scales, we found that algaecide and physical treatments could reduce N. obtusa frequency and biomass, but outcomes were highly variable. At the smallest scales, hand pulling was an effective containment strategy for small, localized populations that were detected early. These results highlight the need to set realistic goals for N. obtusa control and develop improved management techniques. There were also critical gaps in monitoring that limited our ability to evaluate treatment effectiveness. In particular, increased monitoring of unmanaged reference lakes and untreated areas within managed lakes is needed. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e4f47cccecea4df8af05a2ecaab2def22025-08-20T02:47:03ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712025-01-011011410.1139/facets-2024-0104Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gapsWesley J. Glisson0Michelle Nault1Chris Jurek2Eric Fischer3Keegan Lund4Kylie Bloodsworth Cattoor5April Londo6Nicole Kovar7Emelia Hauck-Jacobs8Rod Egdell9Steve McComas10Eric Fieldseth11Daniel J. Larkin12Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology & Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55113, USABureau of Water Quality, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 101 S Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, USAIndiana Department of Natural Resources, 402 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, USAIndiana Department of Natural Resources, 402 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USABlue Water Science, 550 Snelling Ave S, Ste 101, Saint Paul, MN 55116, USAAIS Consulting, 6544 Co. Rd. 6 NW Annandale, MN 55302, USADepartment of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology & Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55113, USANitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort) is an invasive macroalga subject to substantial control efforts in the Midwestern United States; however, there has not been systematic evaluation of treatment effectiveness. We synthesized management approaches and outcomes using monitoring performed over a decade-long period across 38 lakes in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Copper-based algaecide treatments were the primary means of control, followed by physical removal methods or combination treatments. Control efforts and associated monitoring data varied by spatial scale, as did surveyors’ N. obtusa sampling methods. At the largest (whole-lake) scale, we found no evidence that algaecide treatments were slowing expansion or reducing abundance of N. obtusa within infested lakes. At smaller, within-lake scales, we found that algaecide and physical treatments could reduce N. obtusa frequency and biomass, but outcomes were highly variable. At the smallest scales, hand pulling was an effective containment strategy for small, localized populations that were detected early. These results highlight the need to set realistic goals for N. obtusa control and develop improved management techniques. There were also critical gaps in monitoring that limited our ability to evaluate treatment effectiveness. In particular, increased monitoring of unmanaged reference lakes and untreated areas within managed lakes is needed.https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0104algaecidebefore-after-control-impactcopperhand pullingmacrophytestarry stonewort |
| spellingShingle | Wesley J. Glisson Michelle Nault Chris Jurek Eric Fischer Keegan Lund Kylie Bloodsworth Cattoor April Londo Nicole Kovar Emelia Hauck-Jacobs Rod Egdell Steve McComas Eric Fieldseth Daniel J. Larkin Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps FACETS algaecide before-after-control-impact copper hand pulling macrophyte starry stonewort |
| title | Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps |
| title_full | Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps |
| title_short | Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps |
| title_sort | evaluation of a decade of management of a north american aquatic invasive species nitellopsis obtusa highlights scale dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps |
| topic | algaecide before-after-control-impact copper hand pulling macrophyte starry stonewort |
| url | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0104 |
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