Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2021
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
The aquatic macrophyte, Elodea canadensis is invasive in Alaska, and can be found in coastal wetland ponds on the Copper River Delta. Elodea may outcompete native macrophytes and may alter insect populations. The herbicide fluridone (Sonar®) was used to target Elodea infestations. The goal of this analysis was to assess the effects of fluridone on aquatic insect communities. Aquatic insects were collected from Elodea and native macrophyte samples. Six genera had significantly different densities between years. This research provides insight into the effects of fluridone on aquatic insects and has important implications for a proposed broad scale fluridone application.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Martin B. Berg, Professor, Department of Biology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Effects of treatment for invasive Elodea canadensis on aquatic insect communities of the Copper River Delta, Alaska
The aquatic macrophyte, Elodea canadensis is invasive in Alaska, and can be found in coastal wetland ponds on the Copper River Delta. Elodea may outcompete native macrophytes and may alter insect populations. The herbicide fluridone (Sonar®) was used to target Elodea infestations. The goal of this analysis was to assess the effects of fluridone on aquatic insect communities. Aquatic insects were collected from Elodea and native macrophyte samples. Six genera had significantly different densities between years. This research provides insight into the effects of fluridone on aquatic insects and has important implications for a proposed broad scale fluridone application.