Topic B: Management of invasive alien aquatic/riparian weeds
A call text for this topic is provided below. Please see the Guidelines for national eligibility, available national funding, and application processes
Topic title
Development of methods for eradicating and containing invasive alien (non-native) aquatic and riparian weed species relevant to The Netherlands and the UK, and the wider EU.
Background
Control of invasive alien aquatic weed species (IAAS) is challenging due to the highly invasive nature of many aquatic species, their ease of spread within and between waterways and their potentially large economic, social and biodiversity impacts. Most recent work on alien invasive weeds has focused on risk assessment rather than practical management of outbreaks. Furthermore there are significant constraints imposed on the type of chemical approaches that can be used in watercourses; future requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive, which requires EU waterways to achieve good ecological status by 2015, will provide a future context. There are also problems with physical removal for some species since tiny fragments can regenerate easily and exacerbate spread. There is a need for the development of effective but environmentally sensitive methods for controlling/managing outbreaks of invasive alien aquatic weeds of environmental concern. Associated with this is the need for expertise to be developed and shared at the European level to expand European-wide capability.
Research need
Project applications should address the following areas of work:
- Generic and/or specific methods for the eradication/control of serious invasive, alien aquatic weeds of concern to the funding countries (The Netherlands and the UK) and to the wider EU: currently, the invasive alien aquatic weeds of most concern and relevance to The Netherlands and the UK include, for example, Azolla filiculoides, Cabomba caroliniana, Crassula helmsii, Egeria densa, Elodea nuttallii, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Lagarosiphon major, Ludwigia grandiflora and Myriophyllum aquaticum; proposed work related to alien aquatic weeds might also be extended to invasive alien riparian weeds.
- Decision support systems to help managers: identify water systems that are at risk, e.g. based on water quality parameters; decide what control methods to use and how to make best use of different methods, including integrated approaches which combine appropriate chemical control, physical control, approved biological control agents, or other novel techniques.
Expected benefits
- The project outputs will help Government bodies in the funding countries (The Netherlands and the UK) and wider EU (especially those that are tasked with implementing the EC Water Framework Directive) to eradicate or manage invasive alien aquatic/riparian weeds. The outputs should also contribute to support the EU policy related to invasive alien weed management and, where appropriate, support the activities of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) in this area.
- The project will facilitate sharing of expertise and the development of increased European science capacity/capability in the area of practical invasive alien aquatic/riparian weed control.
Organisations interested in participating in a research consortium
Name:
Dr Jonathan Newman
Organisation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Expertise: Published research into eradication of Ludwigia, Hydrocotyle, Myriophyllum, Crassula, Azolla, Lysichiton, Fallopia, Heracleum and Impatiens species in the UK