Last year, Leamington, Ontario became the first place in Canada to identify one of North America’s most invasive aquatic plants. Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla) was discovered in Hillman Marsh near Point Pelee National Park by Biology Professor Dr. Rebecca Rooney and her research team during a survey of wetlands. Now, her Waterloo Wetland Laboratory at the University of Waterloo is taking charge to remove this plant before it can spread throughout Ontario.
Key to this research is Master of Science in Biology student Kayla Martin, who is keeping track of the marsh’s native plants, water quality, and benthic invertebrates (the tiny creatures that inhabit lake and river bottoms) to assess how hydrilla affects the ecosystem. This effort aligns with the University of Waterloo’s mission to protect ecosystems and promote a sustainable future.
Hydrilla grows in such thick mats that they can obscure the water beneath them completely. These dense mats degrade water quality, prompting Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) to hire licensed applicators to use herbicides on the affected area for eradication efforts. The Waterloo Wetland Lab is also monitoring how effective these treatments are. The aim is to eliminate it before it can expand further, which may take several years.
“Invasive hydrilla can throw an entire ecosystem off balance,” says Martin. “If there aren’t invertebrates, fish don’t have food, which then impacts the animals that rely on fish. It can also reduce the presence of native plants that animals depend on.”
Fortunately, Hillman Marsh consists of two separate wetland cells, both cut off from Lake Erie. While hydrilla has taken hold in the west cell, the east cell remains unaffected by this invasive species, allowing Martin a chance to compare its effects directly. The west cell is hydrologically managed, giving ERCA an opportunity to lessen hydrilla’s chances of spreading further.
On the left: Young hydrilla plant. On the right: Mature hydrilla plant.
“In addition to closing all activities in and around the West Cell, ERCA continues to engage in significant outreach and education in an effort to stop the spread of invasive hydrilla,” said Kevin Money, ERCA’s Director of Conservation Services. “We’re very grateful to the many partners who continue to collaborate in this important effort.”
This coming spring, Martin will evaluate how well different treatments have worked against hydrilla growth. The lab hopes to develop a reliable treatment strategy so that if this invasive plant shows up elsewhere again, there will be an established method for removing it effectively.
Martin’s passion for aquatic ecology stems from her love for nature. She volunteered for environmental cleanups and tree planting projects during school years as part of her commitment to preserving our surroundings. In her free time, she’s an enthusiastic scuba diver who has witnessed firsthand how harmful invasive species can be; this makes her involvement with this project even more meaningful. When choosing where to pursue her master’s degree, she found that the University of Waterloo’s strong reputation in water science made it a clear choice.
“I am proud to be a part of a group of Waterloo researchers contributing to a sustainable future,” says Martin. “I am thrilled to be working on a project that will have a lasting impact on the environment.”
With hydrilla posing a serious threat across Ontario, addressing its impact couldn’t be more pressing; thus far, the Faculty of Science at Waterloo stands proudly at the forefront fighting against it.
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On the left: Young hydrilla plant. On the right: Mature hydrilla plant.
“In addition to closing all activities in and around the West Cell, ERCA continues to engage in significant outreach and education in an effort to stop the spread of invasive hydrilla,” said Kevin Money, ERCA’s Director of Conservation Services. “We’re very grateful to the many partners who continue to collaborate in this important effort.”
This coming spring, Martin will evaluate how well different treatments have worked against hydrilla growth. The lab hopes to develop a reliable treatment strategy so that if this invasive plant shows up elsewhere again, there will be an established method for removing it effectively.
Martin’s passion for aquatic ecology stems from her love for nature. She volunteered for environmental cleanups and tree planting projects during school years as part of her commitment to preserving our surroundings. In her free time, she’s an enthusiastic scuba diver who has witnessed firsthand how harmful invasive species can be; this makes her involvement with this project even more meaningful. When choosing where to pursue her master’s degree, she found that the University of Waterloo’s strong reputation in water science made it a clear choice.
“I am proud to be a part of a group of Waterloo researchers contributing to a sustainable future,” says Martin. “I am thrilled to be working on a project that will have a lasting impact on the environment.”
With hydrilla posing a serious threat across Ontario, addressing its impact couldn’t be more pressing; thus far, the Faculty of Science at Waterloo stands proudly at the forefront fighting against it.
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