Hydrilla - We Need To Control Them

The Hydrilla is an marine freshwater plant.  This plant grows to the surface of the water from a depth as great as 20 feet. This is a very common plant because it can almost grow in any freshwaters such as springs, rivers, marshes, ditches, and lakes.  Hydrillas can grow in as little as a few inches of water or in as much as 20 feet of water.  The Hydrilla can flourish in either oligotrophic (low nutrient) or eutrophic (high nutrient) water conditions.  

The Hydrilla is suited to more mild climates as it will only tolerate temperatures between 20 C and 27 C.  The Hydrilla has long branches that spread out upon getting to the surface, making mats.  The underwater stems of the Hydrilla can be as long as 25 feet.  Rhizomes, another name for the roots, are off-white to yellowish in color.  The Hydrilla has several methods of breeding.  When it is time to reproduce the Hydrilla accomplishes this in one of four ways: fragmentation, seeds, tubers and turions (auxiliary buds).

The Hydrilla has many positives on its side when compared to other aquatic floras.   The Hydrilla only needs 1% sunshine to grow.  indigenous floras in the same area as a Hydrilla get unhealthy amounts of foods because of the Hydrillas absorption rate. Hydrillas can grow very quickly, competing with the indigenous species, and that’s why it is considered a pestilent pest.   The greatest danger of Hydrilla is that it can grow out of control and undetected until it pops out at the surface at the last minute. When it covers a big area, all the marine plants that fall under it die due to the lack of sunlight or nutrition. When Hydrilla encompasses a large area, all the other aquatic plants fail because the do not receive enough sunlight or nutrients.

Every Last year, millions of dollars worth of herbicides and mechanized reapers are used to keep this horrific pest under proper control, so that it doesn’t cross the limit.  Since it harms the vegetation around it, people can’t even fish around areas these grow.  Hydrilla slows down the water flow and totally overloads irrigation and flood-control ducts.   Hydrilla impedes swimmers, boatmen and fishers alike. When a lot of Hydrilla grows together, it can totally take down that areas water oxygen level.

Elodea and Egeria are oftentimes mixed up for Hydrilla. The aquatic plants Elodea and Egeria are frequently thought to be Hydrilla.   Hydrilla can be identified by the teeth found on the bottom of the midrib. But for Elodea and Egeria, this is not present.  Because of the teeth, Hydrilla will feel rough. Hydrilla will feel rough due to the presence of the teeth on the underside of the plant.   Also, Egeria has larger blossoms than the Hydrilla.

Macro and micro invertebrates feed on Hydrilla.  When they die and decompose they turn into food for species like ducks, fish, amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife species.  When this flora dies, their decomposition is done by bacteria and fungi and provides food called “detritus” for many marine invertebrates.  Ducks often eat Hydrilla turions and tubers, but this is not a substantial source of food. Ducks will oftentimes feed on the tubers and turions of Hydrilla, but they don’t make a great diet.