Establishment and Competitive Ability of Nelumbo Lutea in Relation to Myriophyllum Spicatum

• Main Author: Snow, Joe R.
• Other Authors: Doyle, Robert D.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2000
• Subjects: Nelumbo lutea.; Eurasian watermilfoil.; Aquatic ecology.; aquatic ecosystem; Nelumbo lutea; Myriophyllum; spicatum
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2694/

Limitations from reduced light and increasing water depth on Nelumbo lutea seedlings were determined in tank experiments. Survival was high in all tested light levels. Total biomass increased significantly with increasing light. Biomass allocation shifted significantly to root production between 3 and 6 weeks in the 10 and 24% levels. Survival decreased with increasing planting depth, and biomass of survivors reduced significantly between 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m depths. Nelumbo lutea and Myriophyllum spicatum populations were monitored for one season in a 0.7 ha pond to track changes in species dominance. Myriophyllum spicatum dominated early, and N. lutea dominated from July through October, suppressing M. spicatum at all depths. Competitive interactions between N. lutea and M. spicatum were investigated for two seasons in a container experiment situated within a pond. Where established, N. lutea dominated in the presence of M. spicatum. However, N. lutea could not be established in depths greater than 1 meter.