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Potential spread of the invasive plant Hydrilla verticillata in South Africa based on anthropogenic spread and climate suitability

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Abstract

Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle is a submerged aquatic plant native to Asia and Australia that is highly invasive in the USA and was first recorded in South Africa in 2006. It is only known from one locality, Pongolapoort Dam in KwaZulu-Natal Province, but there are fears that it might spread to other sites. The primary vector of spread in the USA is recreational boaters and anglers. A survey at a fishing competition on Pongolapoort Dam showed that anglers travel considerable distances around South Africa (73% of water bodies were >200 km, visited by 68% of the respondents). A Threat Index for freshwater bodies throughout South Africa visited by participants of the competition was calculated showing that dams in the vicinity of the infestation were more at risk from invasion. Further, the potential distribution of the weed based on climatic matching with the region of origin showed that most of the country was suitable for establishment, with the exception of the high-lying interior of the country. Recommendations for reducing the potential spread of hydrilla in South Africa are presented.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the students from the University of the Witwatersrand who conducted the questionnaires with the anglers, in particular, Luke Schutz, Taryn Morris and Christopher Barichievy. The Invasive Alien Species Programme of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agricultural and Environmental Affairs, South Africa is acknowledged for funding aspects of this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

    Julie A. Coetzee, Martin P. Hill & Dieter Schlange

  2. Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood, 0121, South Africa

    Julie A. Coetzee

Authors
  1. Julie A. Coetzee
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  2. Martin P. Hill
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  3. Dieter Schlange
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie A. Coetzee.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

How many times was your boat used on Pongolapoort Dam in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

  1. a.

    0

  2. b.

    1

  3. c.

    2–5

  4. d.

    5–11

  5. e.

    11–20

  6. f.

    21–40

  7. g.

    Other: Please specify

2a. How many times was your boat used on a dam/lake in KwaZulu-Natal, other than Pongolapoort, in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

  1. a.

    0

  2. b.

    1

  3. c.

    2–5

  4. d.

    5–11

  5. e.

    11–20

  6. f.

    21–40

  7. g.

    Other: Please specify

2b. Which dam(s)/lake(s) did you use your boat on in KwaZulu-Natal, other than Pongolapoort, in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

3a. How many times was your boat used on a dam/lake in the rest of South Africa, excluding KwaZulu-Natal, in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

  1. a.

    0

  2. b.

    1

  3. c.

    2–5

  4. d.

    5–11

  5. e.

    11–20

  6. f.

    21–40

  7. g.

    Other: Please specify

3b. Which dam(s)/lake(s) did you use your boat on in the rest of South Africa, excluding KwaZulu-Natal, in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

4a. How many times was your boat used on a river system in KwaZulu-Natal in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

  1. a.

    0

  2. b.

    1

  3. c.

    2–5

  4. d.

    5–11

  5. e.

    11–20

  6. f.

    21–40

  7. g.

    Other: Please specify

4b. Which river systems did you use your boat on in KwaZulu-Natal in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

5a. How many times was your boat used on a river system in the rest of South Africa in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

  1. a.

    0

  2. b.

    1

  3. c.

    2–5

  4. d.

    5–11

  5. e.

    11–20

  6. f.

    21–40

  7. g.

    Other: Please specify

5b. Which river systems did you use your boat on in the rest of South Africa in the last 18 months? (January 2005–June 2006)

6. How far did you travel on your last boating trip by road to get your destination?

  1. a.

    Less than 20 km

  2. b.

    20–100 km

  3. c.

    100–200 km

  4. d.

    200–400 km

  5. e.

    400–800 km

  6. f.

    800+ km

B. Plant survey

1. Have you noticed an increase in submerged aquatic plant vegetation on Pongolapoort Dam, and if so when?

  1. a.

    No increase

  2. b.

    Within the last 6 months

  3. c.

    6–12 months ago

  4. d.

    12–18 months ago

  5. e.

    18–24 months ago

  6. f.

    more than 2 years ago

2. If you noticed an increase, was this because (circle as many as appropriate):

  1. a.

    the plants got caught in your propeller

  2. b.

    the plants got caught in your anchor

  3. c.

    your fishing line got caught in the plants

  4. d.

    you saw the plants from your boat

  5. e.

    you saw the plants from the land

  6. f.

    other (please specify)

3. Does the presence of submerged plants affect your fishing?

  1. a.

    No effect

  2. b.

    Improves it

  3. c.

    Harms it

4. Have you noticed similar submerged aquatic plant vegetation on dams elsewhere in KwaZulu-Natal? If yes, on what dam.

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Coetzee, J.A., Hill, M.P. & Schlange, D. Potential spread of the invasive plant Hydrilla verticillata in South Africa based on anthropogenic spread and climate suitability. Biol Invasions 11, 801–812 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9294-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9294-2

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