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Competition between two floating-leaved aquatic plants
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Aquatic Botany
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2021-04
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Abstract
Water chestnut (Trapa natans L.) is a notorious aquatic invasive species invading wetlands and waterways of the
northeastern United States. In the Great Lakes watershed, specifically Lake Ontario coastal wetlands, water
chestnut grows in areas similar to the native white water lily (Nymphaea odorata Aiton). To understand better the
competitive interactions these species may have, they were grown in mesocosms in a factorial design to simulate
varying levels of invasion. Biomass, percent cover, number of rosettes or leaves, and specific leaf area of both
species, and seed production of T. natans were measured and analyzed. Relative growth rate (RGR) was also
calculated. These data were analyzed using Spitters’ reciprocal-yield model to explore inter-specific and intraspecific
effects. Regressions of T. natans percent cover, N. odorata percent cover, number of T. natans rosettes,
and number of N. odorata leaves against planting density were statistically significant. Inter-specific competition
from N. odorata was 2.27 times more effective than intra-specific competition on T. natans percent cover. These
analyses indicate that N. odorata exerts more competitive pressure on T. natans than T. natans on N. odorata or
either species intra-specifically. However, these analyses also indicate that N. odorata may facilitate T. natans
seed production. Understanding competitive interactions between T. natans and other species can help inform
management decisions.
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Author emails:
K. Monacelli: desjardin@hws.edu
D Wilcox: dwilcox@brockport.edu