Water Hyacinth Research Paper

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he Water Hyacinth is an invasive species that seems to be causing problems to local rivers and ponds. What are an invasive species you may be wondering? An invasive species is a species that is not native to a specific location and can cause damage to an ecosystem. The water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. The plants have a tendency to spread at a rapid pace and often times grow thick mats above the water. Under these mats, the plants have a thick root system. The water hyacinth is a very beautiful plant but it causes many problems. This plant, again, forms very thick mats on top of the water’s surface which if it covers the entire surface, it can cause oxygen depletions for fish and other animals under the mats and eventually kill the. They reproduce very quickly and tend …show more content…

It has been spotted in states such as California, Hawaii, Virgin Islands, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, possession of it is illegal in Texas. These plants seem to be causing many different problems. The plants affect both biotic and abiotic factors in local ecosystems. When the water hyacinth’s form thick mats, they are outcompeting the fishes for oxygen space. When the species covers the entire water surface, it blocks the fishes from receiving oxygen and they then die due to this. They reproduce very quickly and tend to block off rivers and streams which means it blocks off usable water resources which then makes the rivers and streams unusable. The government has been notified about this problem and is making an effort to get people to slow down the reproduction and keep the population to a minimum which is why it is illegal in some states. It is not said if the plant is poisonous so, native species who are being affected by this plant can make an effort to try and eat the plant or destroy it in any way possible so there's more chance of

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