Florida Aquatic Pest Control Questions and Answers 2025/2026 Update

Florida Aquatic Pest Control Questions and Answers 2025/2026 Update Host specific - Answer -Refers to an organism that will only survive when it has a specific food source (the host) available. The term is used when referring to a biological control agent such as an insect that can survive only on the target pest (e.g. weed) that it is intended to suppress. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Answer -A pest management strategy that uses various combinations of pest control methods in a compatible manner to achieve satisfactory control and ensure favorable economic and environmental consequences. Maintenance control (of aquatic weeds) - Answer -A method for the control of aquatic plants in which control techniques are utilized in coordinated manner on a continuous basis in order to maintain the plant population at the lowest feasible level. Management goal - Answer -As applied to aquatic plant management, the amount and/or types of plants that will be controlled or allowed to grow to best satisfy all water uses. This is often formally agreed upon by representatives of all water use interests.Multi-use water body - Answer -A water body that is used for more than one purpose such as fishing, waterskiing, waterfowl hunting, and domestic water supply. Native plant - Answer -A plant species whose natural range includes Florida. Nitrogen - Answer -A naturally occurring element in soils that is required in large amounts for plant growth and will stimulate the growth of aquatic plants if no other factors are limiting. Nonnative plant - Answer -A plant species introduced to Florida, purposefully or accidentally, from a natural range outside of Florida Phosphorus - Answer -A naturally occurring element in soils that is required in small amounts for plant growth and will stimulate the growth of aquatic plants (especially algae and floating plants) if no other factors are limiting. Plant nutrients - Answer -Elements, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, that are required for plant growth Productive water bodies - Answer -Those water bodies that support large amounts of plant growth as well as abundant aquatic organisms because they are high in nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen. 2,4-D - Answer -Introduced in 1946, the first synthetic herbicide used. It was extremely effective and economical to use and was not toxic to fish, cattle, or humans. River and Harbor Act of 1899 - Answer -Federal legislation that authorized construction and operation of vessels and log booms for theremoval and containment of water hyacinth in navigable waters of Florida and Louisiana Florida Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Answer -Agency designated, in 1970, as Florida's lead agency in aquatic plant control; responsibilities later transferred to FWC