ST. LAWRENCE EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
Water soldier (Stratiotes aloides) is a submerged perennial aquatic invasive plant native to Europe and northwest Asia. It is known to be present in the Bay of Quinte and the Trent River in Ontario, Canada. It was likely established by the use of water soldier as an ornamental plant in aquatic gardens. Stopping the sale and use of water soldiers is imperative to preventing their spread.
Water soldier forms dense mats of floating vegetation that displace native aquatic plants and can alter surrounding water chemistry. These mats can also hinder recreational activities such as boating and fishing. Swimmers can become injured with cuts from water soldiers’ sharp serrated leaf edges.
Leaves form in a circular rosette, each about 40 cm long, sword-shaped, bright green, with sharp spines. Leaves are submerged at first to later become buoyant during the summer months. As leaves mature, they become waterlogged causing the plant to sink below the water surface.
Flowers are not always present but are white with three petals, and the fruit is a fleshy berry containing up to 24 seeds.
Early detection is key to preventing the spread of water soldier. SLELO PRISM is recruiting volunteers to join our Water Protectors Program, where you can adopt a waterbody to monitor for water soldiers and other aquatic invasive species of concern. Learn more about this program and get involved.
Manual Control: Small infestations can be managed by hand pulling. Extreme care and proper protection should be used as the serrated edges can cut skin. The use of shade cloth enclosures was reported effective by Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program.
Chemical Control: To avoid non-target species chemical applications should occur in the fall while water soldier is actively growing and native plants have gone dormant. NOAA’s Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System suggests Diquat herbicide as an effective chemical application.
PREVENTION
Prevent the introduction of invasive species into the SLELO PRISM.
EARLY DETECTION & RAPID RESPONSE
Rapidly detect new and recent invaders and eliminate all individuals within a specific area.
COOPERATION
Share resources, including funding personnel, equipment, information, and expertise.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Collect, utilize, and share information regarding surveys, infestations, control methods, monitoring, and research.
CONTROL
Control invasive species infestations by using best management practices, methods and techniques to include: ERADICATION (which is to eliminate all individuals and the seed bank from an area), CONTAINMENT (which is reducing the spread of established infestations from entering an uninfested area) and SUPPRESSION which is to reduce the density but not necessarily the total infested area.
RESTORATION
Develop and implement effective restoration methods for areas that have been degraded by invasive species and where suppression or control has taken place.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Increase public awareness and understanding of invasive species.
INNOVATION
Develop and implement innovative technologies that help us to better understand, visualize, alleviate or manage invasive species and their impacts or that serve to strengthen ecosystem function and/or processes.
Rob Williams
PRISM Coordinator
Megan Pistolese
Outreach and Education
Brittney Rogers
Aquatic Invasive Species
Robert Smith
Terrestrial Invasive Species