Geographic distribution and the invasive scope of aquatic plants in México

Abstract

Aquatic plants are expanding their geographic distributions necessitating updated inventories that include evaluations of potential impacts on biodiversity, environmental services, and water management. This study describes the geographic distribution of native and non-native aquatic plants from 11 hydrological regions and basins of México, including 56 reservoirs, 14 lakes, two irrigation channels, two drainages, and one river. Forty-two aquatic plant species were recorded, of which eleven were non-native and invasive, and 31 were native. Of the native species, all but four are considered to have the potential to become invasive in novel habitats. The estimated percent surface coverage by different species of plants recorded in this survey ranged from 5% to 100% of the water bodies. Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) was the most common, non-native species observed in the Mexican inland waters. This is the first report on the geographic distribution of invasive aquatic plants that affect biodiversity, water availability and uses in México.