4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement (No. 58-4005-4-F008) between USDA-ARS-OIRP and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization [CSIRO], Canberra, Australia, started in May 2003. Fanwort, Cabomba caroliniana, is a submerged aquatic plant from the Americas. Some species are now found worldwide due to their popularity as aquarium plants. It is considered a weed in the U.S., Japan and Australia, and may have problematic status in southeast Asia.

Major accomplishments: Its presence and abundance was found positively associated to low levels of turbidity, total hardness, conductivity and nitrogen in any of its forms. In its local distribution area, the eastern subtropics of Argentina, C. caroliniana flowers all year round. Fruit and seed, however, are rare, and probably associated to stress. Several insects, snails, and limpets have been found feeding on fanwort. Two insects were selected for further study: the moth, probably Paracles sp., and the weevil Hydrotimetes natans.