Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
3225 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
Phone (954) 475-0541
Fax (954) 476-9169
How to find us? Click here
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Scientists (under construction)
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.
Research Updates
Melaleuca Skunk Vine Salvinia Brazilian pepper Australian pine
Administration
GERI L. BARBER Administrative technician TEL: 954-475-0541 FAX: 954-476-9169 EMAIL: gbarber@saa.ars.usda.gov |
SUE KEUSCH Secretary TEL: 954-475-0541 FAX: 954-476-9169 EMAIL: skeusch@saa.ars.usda.gov |
Scientists
TED D. CENTER, Research
Leader, Research Entomologist tcenter@saa.ars.usda.gov |
THAI K. VAN Research Plant Physiologist thaivan@saa.ars.usda.gov |
ROBERT W. PEMBERTON Research Entomologist bobpem@saa.ars.usda.gov |
GREGORY S. WHEELER Research Entomologist |
PHILIP W. TIPPING Research Entomologist ptipping@saa.ars.usda.gov |
PAUL D. PRATT Research Entomologist prattp@saa.ars.usda.gov |
MIN RAYAMAJHI Plant pathologist minray@saa.ars.usda.gov |
Scott Blackwood Entomologist |
Support Scientists
PAUL T. MADEIRA Plant Physiologist ptmadeira@saa.ars.usda.gov |
F. ALLEN DRAY, Jr. Ecologist fadray@saa.ars.usda.gov |