The Water Colors team, with special guest Dr. Alisha Davidson, discuss the potential for harm as a result of the sale and distribution of several floating plants in the aquarium trade. Some very common plants in our hobby pose a huge risk to our native waterways if mishandled. Water lettuce, water hyacinth, salvinia, and more – all are species of concern in regards to the risk associated with their sale. With input from our invasive species expert, we discuss the criteria used to designate potentially harmful plants, how to dispose of them properly, as well as suggest some safer alternatives to use in your home aquariums.
 
Referenced in this episode is Alisha Davidson’s published paper on aquatic plant risk assessment:
“Assessing progress in regulation of aquatic nonindigenous species across the
multijurisdictional waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes, with emphasis on
the live trade pathways” – Alisha Dahlstrom Davidson, Andrew J. Tucker, W. Lindsay Chadderton, Erika Jensen, Cecilia Weibert, and Russel Death
You can access this publication here: https://www.reabic.net/journals/mbi/2021/3/MBI_2021_Davidson_etal.pdf
 
Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/
 
Support the show by shopping aquarium plants, merch designed by your hosts, aquarium supplies and much more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/
 
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Species mentioned in this episode:

Water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes
Water hyacinth, Pontederia crassipes
Alligator weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides
Salvinia molesta
Salvinia minima
Red root floaters, Phyllanthus fluitans

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