Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory (0.2 FTE technical support). Cyrtobagous salviniae now well established in Texas and Louisiana and significantly reducing salvinia biomass and coverage. Two sites have had salvinia reductions of more than 90% and open water is now present for the first time in many years. Texas A&M Entomology (0.5 FTE Graduate Student). We found significant differences between the two weevil populations only on S. minima, where significantly fewer Brazilian weevil larvae and adults were captured, and with less damaged inflicted. The Florida weevil population was equally effective against both Salvinia species. Texas A&M Fisheries (scientist 0.05 FTE, professional 0.05 FTE). Twenty-five educational programs on aquatic vegetation management were conducted for over 1900 attendees which included information on Salvinia problems. Florida A&M University (scientist 0.1 FTE, graduate student 0.5 FTE). Identified to species a set of 53 salvinia weevils
samples. Vouchered 11 specimens. USGS-BRD Florida Caribbean Science Center (scientist 0.3 FTE, technical support 0.9 FTE). In addition to online services, technical information was provided to state, federal, educational and non-profit organizations. Responses involved specimen identification, student field days, provision of GIS coverages for status reports, custom maps and distribution summaries for resource management plans, and provision of maps and digital images for websites.
Impacts
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory. Establishment of biocontrol agents now ensures the sustainable suppression of giant salvinia throughout North American, thereby restoring wetlands now dominated by this weed. Texas A&M Entomology. We will be able to recommend conditions of temperature and host plants in which each weevil population may be expected to be successful. Texas A&M Fisheries The general public, program attendees, and County Extension personal are aware of the Salvinia problem, know how to identify it, and were to report infestations due to our educational efforts. Florida A&M University. This work confirmed the molecular techniques which identified two separate species of Cyrtobagous and grouped the Florida population and the Brazilian population together, indicating that they are most likely the same species. USGS-BRD Florida Caribbean Science Center. From 01 Oct 02 through 30 Sept 03 the web site received 115,517 visits from approximately 11,000
distinct Internet addresses. Additionally, the Salvinia website had been linked to by 140 other web servers. Reports received through both the website and a telephone hotline resulted in the confirmation of 18 new occurrences and updates on 6 sites in a total of 10 states. New records of Salvinia minima were documented from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.
Publications
- Tipping, P. W. and T. D. Center. 2003. Cyrtobagous salviniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) successfully overwinters in Texas and Louisiana. Florida Entomol. 86: 92-93.
- Madiera, P. T., C. C. Jacono, P. W. Tipping, T. K. Van, and T. D. Center. 2003. A genetic survey of Salvinia minima in the southern United States. Aquatic Bot. 76: 127-139.
- Rayachhetry, M. B., T. R. Center, T. D. Center, P. W. Tipping, P. D. Pratt, and T. K. Van. 2002. First report of the association and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani on Salvinia molesta and S. minima in Florida. 2002. Plant Dis. 813.
- Tipping, P. W. 2003. Giant Salvinia. In: Biological Control of Weeds in the United States. Montana State Univ. Press.
- Julien, M. H., T. D. Center, and P. W. Tipping. 2002. Floating Fern (Salvinia). In: Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. pp 17-32. USDA Forest Service Publ FHTET-2002-04.
- Dye, J. 2003. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SALVINIA SPECIES. Poster presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America.
- Dye, J. 2003. Biological control of Salvinia species using Cyrtobagous salviniae. Paper presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Texas Aquatic Plant Management Society.
- Masser, M. and J. Summerlin. 2003. Common and Giant Salvinia (video). 23 minutes. Texas Cooperative Extension.
- Dye, J. 2003. Implications of natural enemy strain differences for biological control of aquatic weeds (Salvinia spp.). Paper presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America.
- Salvinia Blankets Southern Waterways (poster). 2003. Texas Cooperative Extension. L5432.
- Masser, M. and J. Summerlin. 2003. Common and Giant Salvinia. Streaming video segments for the AQUAPlant web-site (http://aquaplant.tamu.edu).
- Jacono, C. 2003. A third species of Salvinia which is sold in the horticultural trade but not known in the wild. Web-based article.
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Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01
Outputs
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory. 1. Imported Cyrtobagous salviniae from Australia, cleared through quarantine, and colonized at the laboratory, 2. Conducted or started the following experiments: a. Long term population dynamics studies of S. molesta at research sites in Texas and Louisiana and C. salviniae on S. minima in Florida, b. Two preference studies of adult C. salviniae for S. minima and S. molesta, c. Fecundity and longevity of Florida C. salviniae on S. minima and S. molesta, d. Impact and dispersal of Florida C. salviniae on S. minima and S. molesta, e. Impact of C. salviniae on competition between S. minima and Spirodela polyrhiza, f. Utilization of S. minima and S. molesta buds by Australian C. salviniae, g. Performance of Australian and Florida C. salviniae on S. minima and S. molesta, 3. Wrote new petition in support of field release of Australian C. salviniae which was approved by the Technical Advisory Group, 4. Provided support for
molecular studies of the Salviniaceae, 5. Provided plants in conjunction with USGS for overseas host-range testing of C. salviniae, 6. Shipped Florida C. salviniae to cooperators in Louisiana, 7. Discovered new microsporidia disease in Florida C. salviniae and helicosporium disease in C. salviniae from South Africa, 8. Presented research and other activities at the National Giant Salvinia Conference in Houston, TX. Texas A&M University: Entomology 1. Obtained permits for importation of various Salvinia species and Eichhornia crassipes, 2. Constructing research station for temperature studies on C. salviniae, 3. Started colony of S. molesta and refined rearing methodologies, Texas A&M University: Fisheries 1. Taped interviews with individuals from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Louisiana and Texas extension for production of video on S. molesta and S. minima, 2. Video footage of the plants, biological and chemical control methods, and bodies of water infested with S. minima and
S. molesta have been shot, 3. Segments of presentations from the Giant Salvinia Conference were video taped for future use in educational and news videos. USGS-BRD Florida Caribbean Science Center 1. Technical support and information requests on giant salvinia were provided 47 times to state and federal personnel and the general public. Responses included specimen identification, custom maps and graphics, photographs, and distribution summaries, 2. A Salvinia/Cyrtobagous bibliography, initially provided by P. Room, was updated and posted online. Future objectives were set for supplementation, with input from D. Mitchell. 3. Mapping of S. molesta continued online, 4. Online reporting forms and the toll-free hotline continuously maintained. Florida A&M University: No progress.
Impacts
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University: Entomology. Importing, colonizing, releasing, establishing, and evaluating C. salviniae may prevent the infestation and destruction of vast areas of freshwater ecosystems throughout the southeastern and western U.S. Population dynamics, preference and utilization studies on C. salviniae, as well as taxonomic studies of the target weed, fill important data gaps and provide direction for future efforts. Texas A&M University: Fisheries Approximately 45 educational programs on aquatic vegetation management and aquatic ecology including salvinia were conducted and involved more than 2000 extension clientele. USGS-BRD Florida Caribbean Science Center The GIS system logged 10 new sites with S. molesta in the U.S. The rapid notification and information dissemination provided the most up-to-date reports on S. molesta infestations thereby directing or focusing weed control activities thereby reducing the chances
of spreading the weed further. Florida A&M University: no impact.
Publications
- Goolsby, J. A., Tipping, P. W., Center, T. D. and Driver, F. 2000. Evidence of a new Cyrtobagous species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Salvinia minima Baker in Florida. Southwestern Entomol. 25: 299-301.
- Jacono, C. C., Davern, T. R. and Center, T. D. 2001. The adventive status of Salvinia minima and S. molesta in the southern United States and the related distribution of the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae. Castanea 66: 214-226.
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