Quarterly Progress Report: First Quarter FY 07
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EPA Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila in the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes; EPA Grant #X796433105-1 (Hydrilla / Hygrophila Demonstration Projects - Osceola County, FL)
Project description and Goals:
This project is a combination of studies that will result in improved water quality and natural habitat in Osceola County lakes. Hydrilla and Hygrophila are exotic invasive weeds that are dominating the lakes aquatic ecosystem, shading out natural vegetation, reducing oxygen level, increasing the amount of sediments, and impacting flood control in lakes and canals. The project objectives are to evaluate the effectiveness of Experimental Use Permit herbicides, biological controls and application methods of herbicides in the treatment and control of Hydrilla and Hygrophila using small-scale fieldwork, large-scale field demonstrations and public outreach on the progress and findings.
Participants:
Eleanor Foerste, Project Manager, Osceola County
Hilda Hatzell, EPA Project Officer, Region 4
Reporting period:
First Quarter, EPA Fiscal Year 2007 October 1 – December 31, 2006
Project activities during reporting period:
What work was accomplished for this reporting quarter?
- First Draft of the QAPP was submitted and is under revision based on feedback from Denise Goddard, EPA.
- Signed contracts were executed with subcontractors: SePRO and University of Florida and payment for services for 2007 have been made.
- Bids are in process for the purchase of a vehicle for use in association with the grant.
Element 3 Task 1
- Field sites in Osceola County were identified for Mt bioherbicide trials.
- Meeting with NCSU faculty to discuss a more direct collaboration studying Mt pathology on hydrilla. Search for a postdoctoral candidate to assist with the project will occur.
- Potential contacts and sites were discussed in a meeting in mid November. A pond site at the county corrections facility has been secured and several other sites have been discussed but still remain to be secured.
- An application for an APHIS Plant Protection Quarantine permit has been applied for. This will be necessary as interstate movement of Mt is regulated by the USDA-APHIS.
Element 3 Task 2
- Arrangements have been made for a PhD student to work with the hygrophila biological control component. Overseas contacts in India have been made with the Centre for Agriculture ad Biosciences International (CABI) to begin work on hygrophila biological control.
Element 3 Task 3
- UF has made subcontracts with the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) to work in Uganda or Burundi. Initial phase of genetic research on hydrilla DNA has begun with outside funding sources.
Element 4
- Osceola County adopted the revised budget for the grant to include the total amount of $2,881,000 and approved hiring of two positions. Positions were announced, interviews were held and the positions were offered to two outstanding candidates. The Extension Agent-Aquatics position will be filled by Dr. Tina Bond, who starts work with Osceola County 1/8/07. The selected Sr. Biologist candidate declined, therefore the position will be re-advertised.
- Two computers have been purchased for the Extension Agent-Aquatics and Sr. Biologist.
- Eleanor Foerste attended the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Conference, Oct. 30-31, 2006, in Clearwater, FL to attend professional presentations regarding aquatic plant management including hydrilla and hygrophila.
What problems, if any, were encountered? If a problem was encountered, what action was taken to correct it?
- Administrative processes delayed release of funds until late in the first quarter.
- The QAPP is being revised to include input from multiple participants and approval of the revised draft is anticipated early in the second quarter.
Is the project on schedule for the quarter? For the project?
- The QAPP must be approved before data collection can begin, so the project is slightly behind predicted schedule for first quarter tasks. However, it is anticipated that this will not delay the project significantly and no extension or budget changes are needed at this time.
Are there any changes in key contacts?
- There are no changes in key contacts at this time.
Project spending for reporting period:
$442,353.46 was expended this quarter; therefore the remaining balance is $ 2,438,646.54.
(2,881,00.00- 442,353.46) .
EPA Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila
in the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
EPA Grant #X796433105-1
Reporting period:
First Quarter, EPA Fiscal Year 2007
October 1- December 31, 2006
Person Reporting:
William T. Haller
Element:
Element 1 Development and Testing of New Aquatic Herbicide
Project activities during reporting period:
Activities on this project have begun by locating ponds for future research and developing position descriptions and interviewing applicants for the biologist position.
Retention ponds of < 3 acres in size have been surveyed and have been documented to contain near monocultures of hydrilla. Upon resumption of hydrilla growth in the spring, these ponds will be treated with the herbicides flumioxazin, bispyribac sodium, clearcast and penoxulam. Efficacy of these treatments for hydrilla control will be evaluated every 4-6 weeks.
Laboratory and controlled experiments are being set up in Gainesville to evaluate potential new herbicides for aquatic use and initial selectivity studies with flumioxazin are in progress. Meetings are scheduled in January with the Director of the Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center to determine how and who will proceed with the hygrophila studies following the resignation of Dr. Cody Gray from that facility.
The applicants for the biologist position that were suitable for the position declined our offer, the position description has been re-written and will be re-advertized, hopefully by mid-January.
In summary, the major effort to date in Element 1 has been to advertise and try to hire a biologist to serve both Elements 1 and 2 and to locate and survey small retention ponds for treating early this growing season. Laboratory studies are set up for selectivity and additional herbicide evaluation for first quarter of 2007.
EPA Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila
in the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
EPA Grant #X796433105-1
Reporting period:
First Quarter, EPA Fiscal Year 2007
October 1- December 31, 2006
Person Reporting:
Mark A. Heilman, SePRO Corporation
Element:
Element 3 Task 1 Demonstration of Hydrilla Control in Osceola County, Florida using Mycoleptodiscus terrestris (Mt.), a New Contact Bioherbicide, for Aquatic Plant Management (Project Ongoing)
Project activities during reporting period:
Work Summary for Element 3 Task 1:
Activity 1: Laboratory Evaluations of Mt Formulations
For this reporting quarter, the majority of work in this area was related to in-progress research with the USDA, US Army ERDC, and SePRO under separate cooperative study agreements. The studies conducted were four large screening trials looking at new Mt materials produced by USDA. These screening trials are not a component of EPA-funded project since they relate to initial evaluation of new, proprietary combinations. Laboratory evaluations funded by this grant will begin in FYQ2 upon completion and approval of final QAPP. These studies will be focused primarily on providing larger-scale, laboratory-based, comparative data on efficacy of Mt product(s) chosen for field application in Osceola County.
Various equipment servicing, calibration checks, and supply ordering has begun in order to prepare for operations under this grant.
Activity 2: Initiation of collaborative research with NC State University
Two areas of collaborative study have been initiated/discussed with NCSU. The first is submission of a grant application to IR-4. While initially, it was described that this grant would be pursued by Dr. Judy Shearer (ERDC), the project team here decided that Dr. Richardson’s submission would be more appropriate. The proposed IR-4 funded work would not be specifically tied to EPA grant activities but will examine Mt performance on monoecious hydrilla, milfoil, and egeria to potentially expand Mt uses and improve commercial potential.
Meetings have been held with Dr. Rob Richardson and other NCSU faculty to discuss more direct collaboration studying Mt pathology on hydrilla. Originally, a Masters-level student was described for the project, but a decision has been made to pursue a postdoctoral position reporting to Dr. Richardson. Finalization of plans expected in 2Q EPA FY as per schedule.
Activity 3: Identify, secure, and seek regulatory approval to treat appropriate field sites in Osceola County.
A specific meeting in mid November was held at the Osceola County Extension Office in Kissimmee to discuss potential field locations. Potential contacts / sites were discussed by Mark Heilman (SePRO), Eleanor Foerste, Kim Lawrence, and Chuck Seacrist (SePRO). As a result, a pond site at the county corrections facility has been secured. Several other potentials, including multiple sites with FLDOT, have been discussed but still remain to be secured for demonstration work. January 16-17 site visits in Florida are being planned to secure additional sites with the goal of having 5 separate pond locations lined up for spring testing.
From a regulatory perspective, Mt application here without further regulatory action would be limited to a total of less than 1 surface acre according to EPA guidelines. EPA has granted up to 10A exemptions for aquatic testing in the past, and SePRO has reviewed informational requirements again here with the regulatory consultants that provided support here in the past. This request will be submitted to EPA in January with anticipated approval within 60-90 days.
Interstate movement of Mt is also regulated by USDA-APHIS. Any scale of field use in Florida will require a separate APHIS Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ) permit. An application for such a permit has been submitted to APHIS using its new electronic submission system. Decision expected by February.
Assuming APHIS permit approval and finalization of EPA QAPP for the project, initial field evaluations may begin as early as late February if environmental conditions and hydrilla growth are favorable. All early trials can be conducted under EPA 1A rule until decision on expanded test acreage. Larger evaluations would likely occur no earlier than the second half of CY07.
Other Project Activities/Notes:
Matching FLDEP-BIPM grant start date has been delayed to July 1, 2007 due to various contract delays. This delay is not anticipated to significantly impact evaluation schedule.
Efforts to finalize QAPP in conjunction with other element coordinators and EPA were another major component of 1Q EPA FY07 project activities. Multiple communications have occurred to finalize protocols here.
EPA Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila
in the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
EPA Grant #X796433105-1
Reporting period:
First Quarter, EPA Fiscal Year 2007
October 1- December 31, 2006
Person Reporting:
James P. Cuda
Element:
Element 3 Task 2 Foreign Exploration for Natural Enemies of Hygrophila
Project activities during reporting period:
- What work was accomplished for this reporting quarter?
The PI conducted regular email communications with the prospective Ph.D. student Mr. Abhishek Mukherjee. We completed all the paperwork necessary for him to be formally admitted to the University of Florida’s Department of Entomology & Nematology. His arrival in Gainesville where he is scheduled to begin the Spring semester is anticipated in early January 2007.
The PI also established linkages with Dr. Sean Murphy, Director of the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), New Delhi, India, and Dr. S. Ramani, Project Directorate of Biological control (PDBC), Bangalore, India Both CABI and PDBC have the expertise and resources to conduct research on biological control of invasive plants in India and will provide survey/taxonomic support services for the hygrophila project.
- What problems, if any, were encountered?
- If a problem was encountered, what action was taken to correct it?
Funding for the project was not allocated to the PI until the last week of the reporting period (22 December). Consequently, the project start-up date was delayed.
- Is the project work on schedule?
- This quarter? No; the project was not officially initiated during this reporting period because of the delay in receiving project funding.
- For the project? It is anticipated that due to complex sub-contracting regulations at the University of Florida, establishing a sub-contracts with Indian collaborators could result in future delays in accomplishing project goals and objectives.
- If the project is not on schedule, what is proposed for a revised schedule? Because the project was just initiated, there is no need to revise the schedule at this point.
- Does the new schedule require a time extension? A time extension is not anticipated at this time.
- Is there a change in the key contacts for this element? No.
EPA Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila
in the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
EPA Grant #X796433105-1
Reporting period:
First Quarter, EPA Fiscal Year 2007
October 1- December 31, 2006
Person Reporting:
William A. Overholt
Element:
Element 3, Task 3: Collaborative Effort to Search for Natural Enemies of Hydrilla in East Africa (Project Ongoing)
Project activities during reporting period:
- What work was accomplished for this reporting quarter?
During this quarter, effort was placed on preparing the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). A draft version was submitted for comment to USEPA, which is now being revised based on comments received. Funding for this element/task was transferred to the PI on December 22, 2006. On-going work, supported with grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), progressed during the quarter, and is summarized below.. .
Foreign exploration for natural enemies of hydrilla in Africa
The PI traveled to Kenya, Uganda and Burundi in August/September, 2006 and established a sub-contract for the African exploratory work with the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). Dr. Robert Copeland was hired by ICIPE in September to lead the effort. In-turn, ICIPE has established sub-contracts with the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NAFIRRI) in Uganda and the National Institute for the Environment and Conservation of Nature (INECN) in Burundi. Populations of hydrilla have been found in lakes Bisina, Opeta, Kyoga, Bunyonyi and Victoria in Uganda, and in Lake Tanganyika in Burundi. All hydrilla observed was completely submersed except for one population in very shallow water in Lake Tanganyika near Bujumbura. Despite intensive searches for hydrilla along the Kenyan shore of Lake Victoria, no hydrilla populations have been identified. Dr. Copeland will conduct additional surveys in Kenya in early 2007, but if hydrilla is not found in Kenyan waters, he will move his base of operation from Kenya to either Uganda or Burundi in order to avoid quarantine issues associated with the movement of plants and insects between the participating African countries.
Midges reared from hydrilla in Burundi and Uganda in late 2005 and early 2006 (collected under the previous DEP project, but given to Overholt in September, 2006) nwere sent to Dr. John Epler for identification. Table 1 provides the identification of the insects:
Table 1. Insects reared from hydrilla samples collected from lakes in Uganda and Burundi in late 2005 and early 2006.
Taxon |
Number of specimens |
Feeding habit |
Harnischia sp. possibly lacteiforceps |
1 |
Not known as plant miners |
?Harnishia sp. |
1 |
Not known as plant miners |
Nanocladius cf. saetheir Harrison |
31 |
Parasitic/phoretic on other aquatic insects |
Tanytarsini . |
9 |
No known plant miners |
Polypedilum cf. mirca Freeman |
1 |
Unknown |
Polypedilum wittae Freeman |
1 |
Previously found to be a herbivore of hydrilla |
?Cricotopus sp. |
1 |
Unknown, but some phytophagous species in this genus |
Cricotopus sp. |
1 |
Unknown, but some phytophagous species in this genus |
Dicrotendipes sp. |
2 |
Collector-gatherer |
Parachironomus sp. |
1 |
Collector-gatherer or predator |
Psychodidae |
1 |
Probably detritivore |
Sciaridae |
1 |
Unknown, probably detritivore |
Polypedilum wittae is probably the most promising find to date as this same insect was collected from hydrilla during Pemberton’s and Markham’s earlier expeditions. This species is a known herbivore of hydrilla apical meristems, and is believed to cause stunting of the plant. The biologies of other insects collected are largely unknown. The Cricotopus species may be interesting, as one other species in this genus is known to feed on hydrilla (C. lebitis, which occurs in Florida and has been studied by Cuda). The Bagous sp. weevil which was recovered from hydrilla in Lake Tanganyika in 2005, has not been found again.
The recovery of large numbers of insects which are probably not hydrilla herbivores may be due to the sampling methodology. Plants may not have been washed properly to remove soil and other contaminants. However, even if the plant samples are properly rinsed, it is likely that some non-hydrilla herbivores are attached to the plant material and are simply using hydrilla as a substrate for pupation or other purposes. Rearing methods are continually being improved to optimize recovery of hydrilla herbivores. Plant dissections will be initiated in early 2007 to begin to understand the biology of the various species. Many additional insects have been collected since September, 2007, but are not yet identified.
Applications to import Polypedilum spp. and Bagous spp. into the Fort Pierce quarantine were submitted to USDA/APHIS/PPQ in November, 2006 and January, 2007, respectively. It is difficult to predict the length of time that will be required to process the applications. An unrelated application to import natural enemies of Dioscorea bulbifera submitted to USDA/APHIS/PPQ in June has not yet been approved.
Genetics of hydrilla
Samples from Florida, Uganda, Burundi and China (kindly provided by Dr. Greg Wheeler of the USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory) have been collected. Initial problems were encountered in extracting high quality DNA from hydrilla that was stored in 95% ethanol. Preservation in 95% ethanol unexpectedly resulted in DNA that was highly degraded, but storing small amounts of hydrilla in silica gel resulted in high quality DNA. A genomic library is being developed that will soon be enriched for microsatellite loci, and screening and optimizing a panel of 12 chloroplast markers has been initiated. The next steps consist of cloning the enriched genomic library, sequencing the clones to characterize the microsatellite loci, and sequencing optimized chloroplast markers to identify polymorphic markers that will be used in the rest of the study.
- What problems, if any, were encountered? Delays were experienced in establishing sub-contracts and transferring funds from the FDEP and SFWMD projects to African collaborators. Now that sub-contracts have been established, money transfers should work more smoothly in the future. However, due to complex sub-contracting regulations at the University of Florida, it is anticipated that it will take at least two months to establish a sub-contract between ICIPE and UF/IFAS for the Osceola Co./EPA project.
- Is the project work on schedule
- This quarter? Yes
- For the project? Yes
- If the project is not on schedule, what is proposed for a revised schedule? There is no need to revise the schedule at this point.
- Does the new schedule require a time extension? No
- Is there a change in the key contacts for this element? No
EPA Demonstration Project on Hydrilla and Hygrophila
in the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
EPA Grant #X796433105-1
Reporting period:
2007 Quarter, EPA Fiscal Year
October 1 – December 31, 2006
Person Reporting:
Karen Brown
Element:
Element 4 Demonstration and Outreach
Project activities during reporting period:
The objective of this element is to create a cooperative public education program with the Osceola County Extension Services Department to demonstrate the alternative technologies used in the aquatic weed management project. This program will include public field days, visual displays and written materials for the general public, a website and database of literature relevant to the project, and associated science curricula for school teachers.
At the UF-IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP), staff is in place for all of the above tasks. Since this element is a cooperative effort with the Osceola County Extension Services Department, we plan to meet with staff of that agency soon to begin work. As soon as research efforts begin to yield definitive results, we will cooperatively proceed with the various tasks described.