AquaNISInformation system on aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species |
Species | Elodea nuttallii | |
Date of the first record (?) | 1974 References: Minchin, D. (2015) Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) arrives in Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon (H25). Irish Naturalists' Journal 34: 70-71. References (not structured): Steen B, Cardoso AC, Tsiamis K, Nieto K, Engel J, Gervasini E (2019) Modelling hot spot areas for the invasive alien plant Elodea nuttallii in the EU. Management of Biological Invasions 10(1): 151–170, https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.1.10 Comments: The Nuttall’s Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii (Planchon, 1848) H. St John, 1962), was first recorded in Ireland in a pond in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin in 1974 having most probably arrived with other plants from North America (Scannell 1977) |
Recipient region (?) | Country: Ireland LME: 24. Celtic-Biscay Shelf LME sub-region: Celtic seas References (not structured): Steen B, Cardoso AC, Tsiamis K, Nieto K, Engel J, Gervasini E (2019) Modelling hot spot areas for the invasive alien plant Elodea nuttallii in the EU. Management of Biological Invasions 10(1): 151–170, https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.1.10 |
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Source region (?) | Unknown References: Minchin, D. (2015) Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) arrives in Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon (H25). Irish Naturalists' Journal 34: 70-71. Comments: It probably arrived with other plants from North America (Scannell 1977). Previously the species was first recorded in Britain in 1966 |
Pathway / Vector (?) | Level of certainty: Possible Pathway: Aquarium trade Vector: Intentional organism release (Aquarium trade) Vector: Transported water (Aquarium trade) Vector: Waste discharge (Aquarium trade) References: Minchin, D. (2015) Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) arrives in Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon (H25). Irish Naturalists' Journal 34: 70-71. Comments: Its spread was probably as a result of releases from aquaria and escaping from ornamental ponds. Angling craft with fouled propellers and perhaps attached to boat trailers may result in its overland spread to upstream lakes or to separate lakes in other river catchments. |
Habitat type (?) | Lake River References: Minchin, D. (2015) Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) arrives in Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon (H25). Irish Naturalists' Journal 34: 70-71. Comments: It formed near-surface tangles with female flowering plants within the harbour and had colonized the adjacent area near the harbour in muddy shallows. Rooted plants were also present and up to ~3 m in overall length. Plants in Lough Derg were capable of rooting in sediments to depths of 3.2 m in sheltered to semi-exposed bays. Fragments of the plant have also been seen attached to retrieved anchors on the decks of cruisers. |
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Wave exposure (?) | Semi exposed Sheltered References: Minchin, D. (2015) Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) arrives in Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon (H25). Irish Naturalists' Journal 34: 70-71. Comments: Plants in Lough Derg were capable of rooting in sediments to depths of 3.2 m in sheltered to semi-exposed bays. Some harbours in 2013 still retained locally dense stands close to slipways and berthing areas, but have become less abundant elsewhere. This species locally impeded navigation in shallow bays by becoming entangled in drive-shafts and propellers of cruisers and outboard motors. |
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Salinity range (?) | Not entered | |
Temperature range (?) | Not entered |
Zonation / Substratum (?) | Not entered | |
Reproductive duration (?) | Not entered | |
Reproductive seasonality (?) | Not entered | |
Migration pattern (?) | Not entered |
Population status (?) | Unknown (Low level of certainty) References: Minchin, D. (2015) Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) arrives in Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon (H25). Irish Naturalists' Journal 34: 70-71.Kelly, R., Harrod, C., Maggs, C. A., & Reid, N. (2015). Effects of Elodea nuttallii on temperate freshwater plants, microalgae and invertebrates: small differences between invaded and uninvaded areas. Comments: The expansion of this waterweed to Lough Ree is of consequence and it is likely to spread from this site to other regions in Lough Ree and further uplake and upstream, and result in locally dense stands in areas where there are shallows and at marina sites. There are findings, that allow to suggest that whilst E.nuttallii significantly altered freshwater communities, observed differences were small relative to other factors such as nutrient levels, inter-annual variation and differences between sites. |
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Species status (?) | Non-indigenous species References (not structured): Steen B, Cardoso AC, Tsiamis K, Nieto K, Engel J, Gervasini E (2019) Modelling hot spot areas for the invasive alien plant Elodea nuttallii in the EU. Management of Biological Invasions 10(1): 151–170, https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.1.10 |
Created by | Stephan Gollasch, 2020-02-07 |
Last update by | Dan Minchin, 2022-04-29 |