THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLICATIONS OF HERBICIDE RESISTANCE IN AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT

Aquatic plants are among the most unique and potentially understudied plants in the world. aquatic communities represent incredibly diverse ecosystems that perform many vital natural and anthropogenic functions – fisheries, navigation, water supply, recreation, and hydropower generation (gettys et al., 2009). most often these anthropogenic requirements lead to manipulations of the aquatic environment, such as reservoir creation, changes in water fluctuation – intensity and frequency, removal of native freshwater vegetation and most importantly - alterations in water chemistry (madsen, 2009). these changes often lead to excessive aquatic plant growth, particularly from introduced exotic species. problematic infestations generally require varying degrees of management. managing plants in the aquatic environment is challenging and requires a multi-pronged approach, integrating biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical control methods. this paper will provide a brief overview of aquatic plants and management techniques, but chemical control through the use of aquatic herbicides, including the development and implications of herbicide resistance, will be the primary focus of this article.