Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray

Title: Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray

Scientific Name:

Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray

Common Name:

cabomba, fanwort

Source & more images (via ALA)

Habitat: Grows rooted in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water, including streams and smaller rivers. Also grows in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, sloughs, ditches and canals. Can survive temperatures of less than 0 degrees but it prefers a warm, humid climate with a temperature range of 13 – 27 degrees C (ISSG 2005).

Distribution:

Original source

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? Requires direct sunlight to grow’ (ISSG 2005). ‘Factors believed to be important in affecting germination are red light, temperature and high carbon dioxide levels (Sanders 1976 cited in Mackey & Swarbrick 1998). Score as medium as insufficient evidence to determine specific germination requirements.

2. Establishment requirements? ‘Grows well in eutrophic conditions with low pH but conditions above pH8 tend to defoliate the stems’(ISSG 2005). Requires direct sunlight to grow. Requires more specific conditions to establish.

3. How much disturbance is required? ‘.. grows in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water, including streams, and smaller rivers, and also ponds, lakes, reservoirs, sloughs, ditches, and canals’ (ISSG 2005). Can establish in relatively intact natural ecosystems.

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Fully submerged aquatic plant (ISSG 2005).

5. Allelopathic properties? ‘Extracts of cabomba have allelopathic effects at medium and high concentrations’ (Mackey & Swarbrick 1998). Allelopathic properties seriously affecting some plants.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? ‘In its native habitat, C. caroliniana is eaten by waterfowl and some fish’ (ISSG 2005). Consumed but capable of reproduction.

7. Normal growth rate? Is a ‘fast-growing’ plant. Stated to be extremely competitive but can be outcompeted by such weeds as Egeria densa (Mackey & Swarbrick 1998). Moderately rapid growth that will equal competitive species of same life form.

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? ‘Can survive temperatures of less than 0 degrees (ISSG 2005). Stated to be a threat to freshwater plants and habitats only (Mackey & Swarbrick 1998). Aquatic plant – not drought tolerant. Tolerant to at least 2 and susceptible to at least 2.

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system? Grows and sprouts mainly from fragmentation. Can reproduce by seed but seeds have not been recorded from Australian plants (Mackey & Swarbrick 1998).

10. Number of propagules produced? Seeds have not been recorded from Australian plants (Mackey & Swarbrick 1998). Mainly vegetatively reproduces. Score medium.

11. Propagule longevity? ‘In Louisiana seed is produced but viability is low and only about 25% of seeds germinate naturally’. Seeds can remain viable for more than two years (Mackey & Swarbrick 1998).

12. Reproductive period? ‘Can form dense stands’ (ISSG 2005).

13. Time to reproductive maturity? Reaches maturity and produces viable propagules in under one year (Mackey and Swarbrick 1998).

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Ørgaard (1991 cited in Mackey & Swarbrick 1998), suggested that like most water plants, seed dispersal is due to birds. Also spread through motorboats.

15. How far do they disperse? Ørgaard (1991 cited in Mackey & Swarbrick 1998), suggested that like most water plants, seed dispersal is due to birds. Also water dispersed. Very likely that some propagules will disperse greater than 1 km.

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? Aquatic species (Panetta, et al 1998). Access to recreational areas not affected.

2. Reduce tourism? As a potentially invasive aquatic weed, water-based recreations may be seriously affected. “…water skiers or swimmers could easily become entangled by the weed’s long thick stems and drown” (Panetta, et al 1998).

3. Injurious to people? No known toxic principles.

4. Damage to cultural sites? Moderate negative visual effect.

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? Cabomba could grow in irrigation channels, “…where it could impede water flow, cause overflows and blockages” (Panetta, et al 1998). Serious impact on flow.

6. Impact water quality? “Oxygen depletion can occur when massive dieback and consequent decomposition occurs. In Queensland, cabomba infestations may deleteriously affect water quality through increasing water colour” (Panetta, et al 1998). High effect on dissolved O2 levels.

7. Increase soil erosion? “Cabomba is found in ponds, ditches, small shallow lakes and slow flowing streams. If present in water storages, heavy infestations, because of the large volume of plant material, could cause water loss from overflow or seepage” (Panetta, et al 1998). Although water flow may not be significant, overflows may create some minor soil erosion,..

8. Reduce biomass? “Cabomba is capable of rapid spread once it has been introduced in to a suitable water body. It was first reported from Lake MacDonald in April 1992, and by 1995 had invaded almost the whole of the lake’s extensive littoral zone” (Panetta, et al 1998). As an aquatic species, the significant increase in biomass is a negative attribute.

9. Change fire regime? Aquatic species.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? Basin=Snowy River- Brodnibb River (ISC=excellent); CMA=East Gippsland; CLIMATE=VH. “It is extremely persistent and can establish a monoculture by excluding native plant species” (ARMCANZ 2000). Monoculture within a specific layer.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? Aquatic species. All Victorian water bodies considered to comprise high value EVCs only (Weiss pers. coms.)i.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? Aquatic species. All Victorian water bodies considered to comprise high value EVCs only (Weiss pers. coms.)ii.

11. Impact on structure? “It is extremely persistent and can establish a monoculture by excluding native plant species” (ARMCANZ 2000).

12. Effect on threatened flora? This species is not documented as posing an additional risk to threatened flora.

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna? This species is not documented as posing an additional risk to threatened fauna.

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? “Its ability to replace native aquatic plants, with the likely displacement of native fish and invertebrate populations, together with the ability to infest large areas of water, suggest that native aquatic life would be considerably endangered” (Panetta, et al 1998). Reduction in habitat leading to reduced populations.

15. Benefits fauna? “In regions where it is invasive, it is not clear whether native fish and invertebrates utilize it readily as a habitat” (Panetta, et al 1998). Assume limited or no benefits.

16. Injurious to fauna? Not known to be injurious.

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? Aquatic species (P & C 2001).

18. Provides harbor? Aquatic species (P & C 2001).

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? No evidence. Not known as a weed of agriculture. It can occur in irrigation systems and demonstrate allelopathy on seed germination in wheat and lettuce (P & C 2001). Potential to affect irrigated crops. Impact unknown.

20. Impact quality? Not weed of agriculture.

21. Affect land values? Not a weed of agriculture.

22. Change land use? Not a weed of agriculture.

23. Increase harvest costs? Not a weed of agriculture.

24. Disease host/vector? None evident.

Feedback

Do you have additional information about this plant that will improve the quality of the assessment? If so, we would value your contribution.

Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of an anonymous donor.

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referenced by (2)

wra1000: Common Name - F (via fanwort)wra997: Common Name - C (via cabomba)

Article: wra5072 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:c, :wra:inv1, :wra:invm, :wra:inv2, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv3, :wra:inv4, :wra:inv5, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:impmh, :wra:inv8, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:imp2, :wra:imp3, :wra:imp4, :wra:imp5, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:imp9, :wra:imp10a, :wra:imp10b, :wra:imph, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:impl, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 19 November 2009; 2:47:54 PM AEDT

Author Name: Niharika Anand
Author ID: anandn