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Aquaphyte Newsletter by the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Working In The Weeds

A New Podcast by the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Working In The Weeds is a new podcast by the University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. This podcast connects scientists with stakeholders, clarify issues surrounding invasive plants, and highlight the research being conducted at the Center.

Working In The Weeds is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, and Stitcher. Or listen now on our podcast webpage. New episodes will be released every other Wednesday. Do you have topics or questions you would like us to discuss on this podcast? Email us at caip@ifas.ufl.edu.

All episodes from Season 1 are streaming NOW!

  • What's the Deal with Invasives?
  • Florida's Lake and Landscapes
  • The Green Menace | Part 1: How Water Hyacinth Took Over the St. Johns River
  • The Green Menace | Part 2: Is Water Hyacinth Here To Stay?
  • Bonus Episode: Hippos and Hyacinth | The American Hippo Bill

News and Jobs

Latest News

An Interdisciplinary Evaluation of New Zealand’s Approach to Invasive Plant Management and Application of Lessons Learned to Florida — UF International Center Collaborative Faculty Team Project

Dr. Candice Prince and her collaborators will travel to New Zealand to study the country's approach to invasive plant management and determine if it can be effectively implemented in FL. Their team will also explore the possibility of a joint online certificate program focused on the economics of invasive plant management, as well as student internships/exchange trips to New Zealand.

This project is funded by the UF International Center's Collaborative Faculty Team Projects. This program provides travel support to collaborative teams of faculty who wish to develop new and innovative international partnerships for research, service learning and study abroad.

This team is lead by UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics assistant professor and CAIP affiliate faculty member Olesya Savchenko and includes UF/IFAS Agronomy professor and CAIP affiliate faculty Greg MacDonald.

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Científicos investigan plantas acuáticas invasoras de La Sabana en Chetumal (Scientists investigate invasive aquatic plants of La Sabana in Chetumal)

Dr. James Leary with specialists in Mexico to process of the data collected about invasive aquatic plants affecting the La Sabana wetland. Dr. Leary used the DroneDeploy platform to obtain aerial images that allow the generation of a map of La Sabana to determine the total infestation area of invasive floating plants. With this data, it will be possible to analyze the growth of the infestation that exists on the surface of La Sabana, which began in 2017. Lee mas en español...

Job Openings

Hourly OPS Positions in Gainesville, Florida – Starting at $12 per hour (Contact Dr. Ben Sperry for more information)

Education and Outreach

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

A research project from the US Army Corps of Engineers is assessing spray deposition patterns in aquatic foliar herbicide applications. Please contact Dr. Ben Sperry if you have any planned foliar applications conveniently located for monitoring. Any species will be considered.

PREVIOUS OUTREACH

VIRTUAL: Lakes from Space: Enhancing Aquatic Plant Management with Satellite Remote Sensing (CEU Free CEU Course [1-Aquatics or Natural Area]) (April 28, 2022)

Aquatic plant management practitioners are tasked with planning and evaluating tens of thousands of acres of APM treatments year year. Advancements in information technologies can greatly enhance their knowledge to better inform actions improving environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and social acceptance.

Major technological advancements in satellites are now producing image data that is in the public domain, freely available, and easy to use. This presentation introduced the EO Browser website and share ways on how to easily search, visualize, and download imagery products enhancing APM monitoring.

For more information, email Dr. James Leary at learyj@ufl.edu.

U.S. Army Corps ERDC L.A. District Invasive Vegetation Management (March 15, 2022)

Dr. Ben Sperry and Dr. Jay Ferrell hosted a virtual workshop on glyphosate and invasive plant management methods for L.A. District managers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Christine Krebs, CAIP education and training specialist, presented on science communication.

Webinar: A Conversation on Kudzu: When Research Intersects with Management, Good Things Happen (March 23, 2022)

Dr. Stephen Enloe spoke with the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network in a webinar about research intersecting with management and the benefits is that come as a result.

US Army Corps of Engineers – Engineer Research and Development Center and University of Florida Webinar Series (March 23 - May 4, 2022)

A seven part webinar series focused on Aquatic Invasive Species. This series included presentations on the following topics:

  • Understanding ERDC’s Aquatic Invasive Programs and Research
  • Invasive Aquatic Control Methods (Presented by Dr. Ben Sperry)
  • Understanding the Pesticide Registration Process (Presented by Dr. Jay Ferrell)
  • Understanding USACE’s Watercraft Inspection Station Program and History
  • Aquatic Invasive Work in the Northwest and Northeast
  • Aquatic Invasive Maintenance Control (Presented by Dr. Jay Ferrell)
  • Aquatic Invasive Control – Frequently Asked Questions

Bassmaster Class Conservation Summit (Greenville, South Carolina)

Dr. Ben Sperry presented on Aquatic Invasive Plants Across the U.S. at the Bassmaster Class Conversation Summit in Greenville, South Carolina.

2022 Florida Vegetation Management Association Conference (April 12-14, 2022)

The Florida Vegetation Management Association held its annual conference in Daytona, Florida. UF/IFAS CAIP researchers, staff, and students shared presentations on the following topics:

  • Are you asking the right questions about invasive plant control and herbicide selectivity? (Presented by Dr. Stephen Enloe)
  • Information Technologies Enhancing Aquatic Plant Management (Presented by Dr. James Leary)
  • The Nature of Science Communication (Presented by Raychel Rabon and Christine Krebs)
  • Science Communication on Social Media (Presented by Olivia Doyle)
  • The Ecology of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation under Management in Select Florida Lakes (Presented by Jake Thayer)
  • Submersed Applications to Control Floating Plants and Conserve Native Species (Presented by Kelli Gladding)
  • Lake Volume Dynamics: Aquatic Plant Management in the 3rd Dimension (Presented by Dr. James Leary)
  • Revisiting Hack and Squirt Tools and Techniques for Woody Plant Control (Presented by Dr. Stephen Enloe)
  • Foliar Herbicide Application Techniques (Presented by Dr. Ben Sperry)

(Photo Caption: Dr. Jay Ferrell discussing water hyacinth for a upcoming virtual reality tour.)

Latest Blog Posts

For more blogs or to subscribe, visit the UF/IFAS CAIP Blog.

Hippos And Hyacinth: How Hippos Almost Called Florida Home

By Jay Ferrell, Posted April 13, 2022 – Not all problems are created equal. Some are just larger and more complicated than others. It is in these situations, where the thorniest problems live, that truly unique and out-of-the-box ideas are required. In 1910, water hyacinth had ... READ MORE

Partners In Progress – UF/IFAS CAIP And US Army Corps Of Engineers

By Jay Ferrell, Posted March 30, 2022 – Since it was established in 1978, the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (UF/IFAS CAIP) has been responsible for many innovative discoveries that have positively impacted not just Florida but the whole nation. Based on this success ... READ MORE

Legacy Herbicides In Lake Sediment

By Christine Krebs, Posted February 23, 2022 – Located in Highlands County, Florida, Lake Istokpoga is the state's fifth-largest lake (approximately 27,000 acres). Many stakeholders use this lake; from anglers and boaters to birdwatchers and hunters, including the local ecotourism industry ... READ MORE

New Podcast On Aquatic And Invasive Plants

By Raychel Rabon, Posted February 22, 2022 – Introducing the Working in the Weeds Podcast The UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants is excited to announce its new podcast: Working In The Weeds! This series will connect scientists with stakeholders to clarify and discuss issues ... READ MORE

Science Is Slow, But It Is Worth It

By Jay Ferrell, Posted February 8, 2022 – Science is responsible for many amazing discoveries. It allowed us to put people in space, cure diseases, and even manage unwanted plants with great precision. The UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) was established by the ... READ MORE

Research Guide: Peppertree Adjuvants And Carrier Volume

By Christine Krebs, Posted January 11, 2022 – Research biologist Ben Sperry, alongside professors Stephen Enloe and James Leary, examined the impact of carrier volume on Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia) leaf treatments. The term 'carrier volume' refers to the concentration ... READ MORE

Research Guide: Selective Torpedograss Control In Aquatic Systems

By Christine Krebs, Posted January 11, 2022 – Torpedograss (Panicum repens) is one of the most serious weeds in Florida, with management costs reaching approximately $2 million a year in flood control systems. By 1992, torpedograss had been found in over 70% of Florida's public waters. ... READ MORE

Awards and Accomplishments

ANREP Outstanding Educational Materials Award – Long Publication (Bronze Award): Standardized Invasive Species Terminology (Basil V. Iannone III, Emily C. Bell, Shannon Carnevale, Jeff E. Hill, Julie McConnell, Martin Main, Stephen F. Enloe, Steven A. Johnson, James P. Cuda, Shirley M. Baker, and Michael Andreu. University of Florida)

Southern Weed Science Society – Graduate Student Oral Presentation Contest - Group 3

  • First Place: Taylor Darnell
  • Second Place: Conrad Oberweger

Undergraduate student and research assistant Elizabeth Littler was accepted into the 2022-2023 University Scholars Program to continue her research at the Center.

Elizabeth Littler was also awarded the WSSA John Jachetta Undergraduate Research Award. With this award, she will continue to build off of the research she started during her internship with CAIP last year.

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Congratulations to our undergraduate and graduate students graduating this semester!

Master's Degree Graduates

Jackson Jablonski

Jackson is graduating with his master's degree in agricultural education and communication with a specialization in communications and leadership development. Jackson's graduate thesis was titled "Reproductive Biology and Management of Cuban Bulrush."

Olivia Doyle, Communications Assistant

Olivia is graduating with her master's degree in agricultural education and communication with a specialization in communications and leadership development. Olivia's graduate thesis was titled "Is Anybody Out There?: Evaluating Florida Fruit and Vegetable Producers Facebook Posts’ Engagement with their Audiences and the Local Food Movement."

Bachelor's Degree Graduates

Cayla Romano, Communications Assistant

Cayla is graduating with her bachelor's degree in agricultural education and communication with a specialization in communications and leadership development and a minor in wildlife ecology and conservation. Cayla will be grading with honors and completed an undergraduate thesis was titled "What about the Science? How the Public's Trust in Science has Affected Perceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccine."

(From left to right) Co-advisors Dr. Stephen Enloe and Dr. Candice Prince with Jackson Jablonski

From the Field

Photos, stories, and updates from CAIP faculty and staff

An old hydroelectric power plant on Spring Creek near Bainbridge, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Durham, CAIP Biologist)
Tubs of planted and treated hydrilla tubers ready to be flooded in a South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Stormwater Treatment Area test pond. (Photo by Mike Durham, CAIP Biologist)
A calm morning on Orange Lake on our way to Cuban bulrush plots. (Photo by Mike Durham, CAIP Biologist)
Taylor Darnell, CAIP Graduate student, collecting hydrilla tubers in the ponds at the Center. (Photo by Mike Durham, CAIP Biologist)