Water Soldier
Water
Soldier has been marching its way down the Trent River since 2008, when it was
found near the hamlet of Trent River. Now, it has been found in the Bay of
Quinte. This invasive species could have
devastating consequence for the Bay’s ecosystem, fishery, and recreational
activities. Potentially, causing hefty financial implications for
municipalities and tourism operators.
Water
soldier is a cold tolerant invasive perennial aquatic plant that is native to
Europe and northwest Asia. Water soldier is a submerged aquatic plant which has
40cm long sword shape leaves with serrated edges that are sharp enough to cut
swimmers or anyone handling the plant. It becomes buoyant during the summer
months forming dense mats of floating vegetation that choke out native species
and are so thick that some boats can’t move through the mats. As the leaves
mature, they become waterlogged and the plant sinks below the surface. The
mature plants produce offsets, like a household spider plant.
The
Bay of Quinte is prime habitat as the plant grows in standing or slow flowing
waterbodies up to depths of five metres. This plant will have a major impact on
the ecosystem, because of the dense mats of floating vegetation it creates. As
well, it has the potential to alter surrounding water chemistry, which may harm
phytoplankton (the base of the food chain) and other aquatic organisms.
What
has been done to stop the spread of this invader? Since 2008, a number of
research, control and management strategies have been undertaken to better
understand the biology and management of this invasive plant. In 2014, federal
and provincial agencies and other organizations implemented a control program,
using a herbicide. Due to the size of the infestation, control efforts have
focused on addressing the source populations and preventing further downstream
dispersal of the plants.
What
can you do to help stop the spread? Boaters can learn to identify the plants
and avoid infested areas, reduce boat speeds so the wake doesn’t dislodge
plants and offsets, and inspect their boat, trailer, and equipment to ensure
they don’t move the plant to another waterbody. Shoreline property owners on
the Bay of Quinte are asked to report any sightings of Water Soldier to
1-800-563-7711 or visit EDDMapS Ontario, or search for the ‘Invasive
Species in Ontario’ project on iNaturalist.orgto report a sighting.
You can find
out more about water soldier at http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/aquatic-plants/water-soldier/.
Tweet for Osprey
The Bay of Quinte
Remedial Action Plan (BQRAP) is looking for volunteer citizen scientists to help
locate and monitor Osprey and Eagle nests around the Bay of Quinte. The goal is
to establish a long-term monitoring program to ensure the Osprey and Eagle
populations remain healthy and abundant. Last year, the environmental
challenges related to fish/wildlife populations and habitat were classified as
restored, meaning all the scientific criteria outlined in the BQRAP were met. Now,
the focus changes to ensuring conditions don’t deteriorate. One way the public can
become involved in the continued protection and restoration of the Bay is by
participating as citizen scientists.
This
year, we have simplified the monitoring process, all people have to do is take
a photo at the nesting site with their Smartphone and email it in. The only
techy part is to make sure the location settings on the Smartphone are turned
on. In the email, add details like: whether the nest is active or not, number
of adult birds, number of fledglings, and the arrival and departure dates, if
you know them. Send the photo and info in an email to - osprey@bqrap.ca. Now,
you are a citizen scientist! Visit the nest site throughout the season and provide
updates on the birds.
The nest location will be
added to the tracking map on the BQRAP web site and the photos will be posted for
everyone to enjoy.
Why monitor Ospreys
and Eagles?
They
are considered indicators of
water quality health as their diets mostly consist of fish. Changes in the number
of nesting pairs and number of chicks produced and fledged can reflect changes
in aquatic ecosystem health.
Once, the widespread
use of DDT brought these great raptors to the brink of extinction. But with a
ban, in the 1970s, on this toxic pesticide and the efforts of federal and
provincial governments, conservation authorities, groups, and individuals the Ospreys
have made a dramatic comeback. Only, in the past 3 years have Eagles returned
to the Bay of Quinte. Each year, a new nest site was established. Hopefully,
this trend continues with another nest in 2019.
“The return of these top predators to the Bay
of Quinte and their successful nesting is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Collecting
data on how the Ospreys/Eagles are doing, will assist us with ensuring the Bay
doesn’t return to the conditions that required a Remedial Action Plan in the
first place”. - Sarah Midlane-Jones, BQRAP Communications.
Or
contact: Sarah Midlane-Jones, Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, 613-394-3915
ext. 214, smidlanejones@bqrap.ca
Christine Jennings, Quinte Conservation, 613-968-3434 ext. 106, cjennings@quinteconservation.ca
Visit
the nest sites throughout the season and post comments and photos of the birds
for everyone to enjoy.
Osprey Fact Sheet