1930s1930s

- Nutria was released, imported from fur farms - Nutria was released, imported from fur farms to Louisiana to Louisiana

1940s 1940s

- Population grew and reports of damage were - Population grew and reports of damage were reported, nutria started to control aquatic reported, nutria started to control aquatic plants plants

1950s1950s

- Nutria started destroying everything, taken off - Nutria started destroying everything, taken off the list of protected wildlife the list of protected wildlife

1960s to 1980s1960s to 1980s

- Fur industry grew and was returned to the - Fur industry grew and was returned to the protected wildlife list and promoted as a protected wildlife list and promoted as a natural resource natural resource

-Smaller than a beaver but larger Smaller than a beaver but larger than a muskratthan a muskrat

- Forelegs are small compared to Forelegs are small compared to the body the body

- Males are larger than females Males are larger than females

- Small black eyes Small black eyes

- curved orange teethcurved orange teeth

- long rat looking tails long rat looking tails

-Nutria denudes natural levees Nutria denudes natural levees

- Damages sugarcane fields Damages sugarcane fields

- Nutria gnawed through 800,000 acres of marshes Nutria gnawed through 800,000 acres of marshes in the past 70 years in Louisiana in the past 70 years in Louisiana

- Nutria has cost money, we pay a lot of money to Nutria has cost money, we pay a lot of money to rebuild our marshes but then the nutria destroys it rebuild our marshes but then the nutria destroys it again again

- Nutria eats the base of marsh plants and it Nutria eats the base of marsh plants and it permanently destroys the plant permanently destroys the plant

- Solution to stop Nutria, fishers get $5 for every Solution to stop Nutria, fishers get $5 for every Nutria tail Nutria tail

http://howarda20837.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/hydrilla2.jpg

-Brought to the United States from Brought to the United States from Eurasia Eurasia

- Native to Asia, southern Europe, and Native to Asia, southern Europe, and AfricaAfrica

- Brought here as an aquarium plantBrought here as an aquarium plant

- Spreads underground by the roots Spreads underground by the roots

- Spreads also when stems break off of Spreads also when stems break off of the plantthe plant

- Hydrilla was introduced to the US in Hydrilla was introduced to the US in the 1950s – 1960s the 1950s – 1960s

-Places where Hydrilla is found- Places where Hydrilla is found- Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, South Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and many other Carolina, Georgia, and many other states states

-Hydrilla is a very hard plant to controlHydrilla is a very hard plant to control

- Hydrilla impacts aquatic ecosystems Hydrilla impacts aquatic ecosystems because making thick canopies that because making thick canopies that shade out vegetation shade out vegetation

- States pay million of dollars to States pay million of dollars to control Hydrillacontrol Hydrilla

- Forms dense mats in different Forms dense mats in different freshwater habitats freshwater habitats

-The Eurasian Watermilfoil plant The Eurasian Watermilfoil plant originates from Europe and Asia originates from Europe and Asia

- It was introduced to North America It was introduced to North America through the aquarium industrythrough the aquarium industry

- Eurasian Watermilfoil may have Eurasian Watermilfoil may have arrived in the 1800s arrived in the 1800s

- Was documented in North America Was documented in North America in the 1940sin the 1940s

-Grows in Aquatic plant bedsGrows in Aquatic plant beds

- Rooted at the bottom of the lake and Rooted at the bottom of the lake and grows fast creating canopies grows fast creating canopies

- affects wildlife and fish populationaffects wildlife and fish population

- The Eurasian Watermilfoil plant canopy at The Eurasian Watermilfoil plant canopy at the water surface, blocks sunlight and the water surface, blocks sunlight and reduces light penetrationreduces light penetration

- This plant forms very thick at the waters This plant forms very thick at the waters surface, interferes with fishing and boatingsurface, interferes with fishing and boating

- Once it has established it growth it is Once it has established it growth it is almost impossible to remove almost impossible to remove

- Slows water flow in canals Slows water flow in canals

-The wetlands sustain more life than any The wetlands sustain more life than any other ecosystemother ecosystem

- Wetlands help animals because it helps Wetlands help animals because it helps them to develop new adaption's and they them to develop new adaption's and they can cope with life where the water is can cope with life where the water is critical critical

- Provides habitats for animals and plantsProvides habitats for animals and plants

- Performs natural cleansing functionsPerforms natural cleansing functions

- Removes pollutants from the surface by Removes pollutants from the surface by retaining retaining

- Protects us from Hurricanes Protects us from Hurricanes

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/plants/docs/hy_verti.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306094624.htm

http://www.nutria.com/site4.php

http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/csl/inf/inf037_e.html

http://www.invasive.org/eastern/biocontrol/6EurasianMilfoil.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/milfoil.html

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/nutria_nation_marsheating_crit.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-12-22-nutria_N.htm

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/hydrilla.shtml

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/PROGRAMS/WQ/plants/weeds/hydrilla.html

http://www.nutria.com/site2.php

http://www.mciap.org/herbarium/Hydrilla.php

http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/lakes/plants/weed-identification/eurasian-watermilfoil.aspx

http://www.naturalsciences.org/education/treks/birds%20of%20winter/images/Napping%20Nutria.jpg

http://www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_Assistance/Aquatic_Weed_Control/hydrilla.jpg

http://www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/plants/eurasian-watermilfoil.jpg

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/img/mysp1.jpg

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=57&surveynumber=182