Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

3205 College Ave. 
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 

Phone (954) 475-0541 
Fax (954) 476-9169 

adminfl@saa.ars.usda.gov 

Mission

To develop sustainable methods based primarily on biological and integrated control technologies to manage aquatic and wetland weeds in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the South Florida and Southwest Florida Water Management Districts, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the University of Florida. 

Ongoing Program

    The primary objective of this program is to permanently reduce deleterious impacts of invasive, non-native aquatic and wetland weeds in natural and agro-ecosystems. These weeds restrict irrigation, increase water loss, clog flood control structures, displace native vegetation, slow water flow, speed siltation rates, increase detritus production and degrade wildlife habitat. Traditional control practices contribute to water quality degradation and provide only temporary relief from the weed problems. Successful biological control agents mitigate against deleterious effects by slowing weed growth and decreasing reproductive output, thereby limiting weed biomass. They also reduce the weed's competitive advantage over native species. Biological controls are persistent and spread naturally, thereby providing long-term control and impacting infestations inaccessible to traditional control technologies. 
    The basic approach involves recognition that an exotic species has (or may) become problematic, exploratory surveys for potential bioagents in the plant's native range, screening the most promising of these agents for safety (host-specificity), establishment of self-perpetuating populations of safe bioagents, and developing management strategies to enhance efficacy of naturalized bioagents. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, integrated pest management practices combining bioagents, plant growth regulators, and low levels of herbicides. A strong multi-disciplinary team investigates plant and insect demographics, plant and insect reproductive biology, plant tissue biochemistry, insect eco-physiology and nutritional ecology, intraspecific and interspecific plant competition, and plant and insect ecological genetics by means of DNA fingerprinting. These capabilities permit the study of indigenous plants and insects as well as invasive, non-native species. The program has, thus far, developed a total of thirteen insects for use against five invasive, non-native plants. As a result, permanent control of alligatorweed now occurs in most areas of the southeastern US from the introduction of three South American insects. Waterhyacinth populations are maintained at historically low levels throughout the southern US by three other bioagents from South America. Control of waterlettuce has been achieved at multiple sites through the damage of a South American weevil. Three Asian and Australian insects are impacting hydrilla and the first biological control agent for melaleuca has just been released (Spring 1997). Additional bioagents are at various stages of development for control of melaleuca, Eurasian watermilfoil, waterhyacinth, and Old World climbing fern. The possible use of biological control is being examined for other weeds (e.g., skunk vine). Ecological, agricultural, and economic benefits continue to accrue from past biological control successes, and future successes will strongly contribute to efforts towards restoring South Florida ecosystems. 

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