Abstract

Human movement across the globe has caused the dispersal of foreign species to new ecosystems. Some are able to establish in new environments, become invasive, crowding out native plants and reducing biodiversity. Billions of dollars are spent annually on research, management, and removal of these species as well as the cost that is included for the loss of services. Eurasian watermilfoil is an aquatic water weed that grows rapidly in warm spring and summers, and is able to re-sprout from shoots that break off and drift to other water bodies. This study surveyed Eurasian milfoil populations in lakes to determine when it is necessary to manage these aquatic invasives. The study sites take place at four different lakes with in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The rake throw method was used to collect macrophytes samples and the species were separated and identified. This information was used to determine species richness and the percent Eurasian milfoil. This was then compared with previous data from the past four years at each of these sites to look for patterns of change in Eurasian milfoil abundance and the effects it had on species richness. An assessment of the three main methods of Eurasian milfoil management, chemical, mechanical, and biological was done through comparison of literature research as well as with what is being done to the test sites presently. This study has concluded that management of Eurasian milfoil is dependent upon the size of the lake its use such as recreational, retention, or utilities.