Survival of invasive aquatic plants after air exposure and implications for dispersal by recreational boats

How do freshwater organisms cross the “dry ocean”? A review on passive dispersal and colonization processes with a special focus on temporary ponds

“…Although papers documenting passive dispersal of adult microcrustaceans, water mites and plants are available in the literature (Dahms, 1995;Di Sabatino et al, 2004;Allen, 2007;Frisch & Green, 2007;van Leeuwen et al, 2013;Bruckerhoff et al, 2014), passive dispersal mechanisms more generally require the production of resting stages able to survive unfavourable environmental conditions and to act as dispersal propagules, functionally performing as plant seeds (see Van Damme & Sinev, 2013). Resting stages are the most important propagules for many aquatic taxa (Rundle et al, 2002) and are easily transported by different physical and biological vectors (Fig.…”

“…What Old Romans called ''Mare Nostrum'' was crossed by several trade routes and people living on its shores have been sailing across it since at least 5,000 years, founding settlements and actively transporting goods (and drinking water) all around the lands surrounding this sea (Abulafia, 2011). Further to historical reasons, other more recent human activities still contribute to freshwater organisms dispersal: construction of canals connecting separated watersheds (Dumont, 1995), recreational boating (Albrecht et al, 2009;Bruckerhoff et al, 2014), trade in ornamental species for aquaria (Padilla & Williams, 2004;Marrone & Naselli-Flores, 2011;Havel et al, 2014), and ecotourism and/or scientific field-work (Waterkeyn et al, 2010) have been found to be responsible of dispersal and new species (even invasive) introductions. Trading of living fish for sport and professional fishing can be also responsible for the accidental introductions of (micro)organisms and a huge number of nonindigenous species are reported as ''invaders'' in freshwater ecosystems at a high frequency (Ruiz & Carlton, 2003;Havens & Beaver, 2014).…”

“…Although the dispersal of adult snails and ostracods, or plant fragments (Karanovic, 2012;Havel et al, 2014;Bruckerhoff et al, 2014) can be related to their relatively high resistance to desiccation and UV radiation (e.g. Van den Broecke et al, 2012), or, as regard nematodes, to their ability to undergo anhydrobiosis (Ptatscheck & Traunspurger, 2014), resting stages are the main dispersal propagules for several organisms in temporary ponds (Rundle et al, 2002).…”

Aquatic invasive species: general trends in the literature and introduction to the special issue

“…In a series of five field experiments conducted in northern Wisconsin USA under mild summer conditions (13-23°C), Bruckerhoff et al (2015) showed that the widespread nuisance exotics Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and curly leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) survive less than a day as single fragments but up to three days as clumps (M. spicatum). Typical boaters in this region visit multiple lakes within a couple of days, suggesting that these common weeds can be readily transported and colonize new ecosystems.…”

Effects of wind-induced sediment resuspension on distribution and morphological traits of aquatic weeds in shallow lakes

“…Recently, negative human perception increased against aquatic weeds, due to a spread of lake's recreational uses (sealing, motor boating, hunting and fishing). settlement of the two non-native hydrophytes through fragments dispersal (Bruckerhoff et al, 2015). Management actions for removing biomass from harbours accounted for several tens of thousands euros between 2010 and 2015 (SIAEBVELG and Géolandes local authorities); those actions were, however, spatially restrained in order to limit negative impacts caused by nutrients regeneration from sediments (van Nes et al, 2002).…”