Submersed macrophytes in the canadian prairies: Dealing with home-grown problems

Abstract

There are no reports of exotic macrophyte species causing management problems in the Canadian prairies. However, the spread of Myriophyllum spicatum throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada poses concerns to water managers in the Canadian prairie provinces. Given the wide range of environmental conditions that this species can tolerate, it is unlikely that environmental factors prevent its establishment in prairie waterbodies. It is most likely that climatic and geographic constraints have, to date, prevented introduction of M. spicatum in to the Canadian prairies. In the event that this or other exotic species are introduced to the Canadian prairies, it is difficult to predict whether they will grow to nuisance levels, since many of these lakes already support high submersed macrophyte biomass. In lakes and large rivers of the Canadian prairies, aquatic macrophyte growth is favored by nutrient-rich sediments and, in rivers, high water clarity. At present there are no provincial or federal agencies whose mandate is aquatic plant control. Since existing aquatic plant problems are caused by native species, these problems are viewed as a natural state. © 1994 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.