EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 05 - 2012 Num. article: 2012/106

The IPPC review of the global status of aquatic plants, their uses and the risks they represent


The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has recently published a review of the global status of aquatic plants, including their uses and the risks they represent. In addition to the uses and benefits of aquatic plants, this review presents important species that directly or indirectly threaten economically important crops or wild species.
A list of aquatic plants that are considered to cause economic and environmental damage worldwide has been assembled in the IPPC review and is presented in the table below with the species name and family, their native range, growth habit and habitat:

Species
Native range
Growth habit
Habitat
Alternanthera philoxeroides (Amaranthaceae, EPPO Alert List)
South America
Emergent
Freshwater
Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpaceae)
Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean
Algae
Marine
Ceratophyllum demersum (Ceratophyllaceae)
Cosmopolitan
Submersed
Freshwater
Didymosphenia geminata (Gomphonemataceae)
Northern hemisphere
Algae
Freshwater
Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae, EPPO A2 List)
South America
Floating
Freshwater
Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO Alert List)
Australasia
Submersed
Freshwater
Leersia hexandra (Poaceae)
Pantropical
Emergent
Freshwater
Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae, EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants)
South America
Submersed/Emergent
Freshwater
Myriophyllum spicatum (Haloragaceae)
Eurasia, North Africa
Submersed
Freshwater
Phragmites australis (Poaceae)
Cosmopolitan
Emergent
Freshwater
Pistia stratiotes (Araceae, EPPO Alert List)
South America
Floating
Freshwater
Salvinia auriculata (Salviniaceae)
Tropical Americas
Floating
Freshwater
Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae, EPPO Alert List)
South America
Floating
Freshwater
Spartina anglica (Poaceae, horticultural hybrid)
/
Emergent
Brackish
Undaria pinnatifida (Alariaceae, alga)
Japan Sea
Algae
Marine

The IPPC review included the following recommendations:
  • Caution must be exercised in order to avoid the introduction of a non-native pest into a new environment. An appropriate risk analysis should be performed by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of each country before introducing a new species into aquaculture or a cultivation programme.
  • NPPOs should regulate those species that are not already in their area of responsibility, if possible to prevent their introduction, based on an appropriate risk analysis.
  • Some phytosanitary measures should be implemented by NPPOs to contain the spread of some known regulated pests in the ornamental trade.
  • A database could be developed by the IPPC to disseminate best management practices for aquatic invasive alien plants.


Sources

Wersal RM ; Madsen JD (2012) Aquatic plants their uses and risks. International Plant protection Convention, FAO Rome. 94 pp. https://www.ippc.int/largefiles/2012/IPPC-IRSS_Aquatic_Plants_Study_2012-Final.pdf