Plant Management in Florida Waters
Feathered mosquitofern
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Azolla pinnata
- Origin: Australia, Southeast Asia, East Africa
- Introduction:Mid-2000s, aquatic garden trade
- Aquatic community: Floating
- Habitat: Quiescent waters
- Distribution: Peninsular Florida, many South FL canals
- Management effort: Eradication in public lakes Eradication/contain in canal systems
- 2020 Acres Treated: 66
Environmental and Economic Concerns
- Surface of small, still ponds or backwaters, ditches or canals without wave action
- Abundant in water with high nutrient levels, such as retention ponds, cattle paddocks and farm ponds
- Forms dense mats, interfering with boating, fishing and swimming
- blocks sunlight from reaching submersed plants
- reduces oxygen levels by blocking the interface between the water surface and the atmosphere
- Reproduces and spreads rapidly by vegetative growth and via spores
- Can survive on moist soil in and around rivers, ditches, and ponds, allowing it to endure dry periods
Management Options
- Biological: Unknown if triploid grass carp will control
- Chemical: Diquat, flumioxazin
- Mechanical: Impractical due to tiny plant size
- Physical: Drawdowns impractical – can survive dry periods