5.0 AQUATIC AND MOSQUITO ACTUAL EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉List ways that excessive plant growth can adversely affect the ecology
and uses of a water body. Answer: -harm ecology of aquatic ecosystem
-curtail or prevent recreational water uses (e.g. fishing, boating,
swimming)
-impart tastes or odors to drinking water
-hamper water treatment operations
-adversely affect aesthetics, resort trade, and waterfront property values
-produce toxins that harm animals drinking the water
◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Emergent aquatic plants Answer: -*growth
habits*: rooted in shallow water, most growth above water
-*means of dispersal*: underground root systems
-*potential problems*: very dense and may exclude recreational pursuits
like boating, fishing, and swimming. Purple loosestrife is an example of
a problem species.
,◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Submergent aquatic plants (both pondweeds and
plants with whorled leaves) Answer: -*growth habits*: grow mostly
under water surface, pondweeds sometimes have floating leaves in
addition to their submerged leaves; whorled-leaf plants grow underwater
with whorled leaf attachments
-*means of dispersal*: pondweeds have extensive root systems, runners,
and can also reproduce from seeds; plants with whorled leaves can
disperse when uprooted by breaking free and getting moved by the wind
-*potential problems*: most pondweeds not nuisance except for
curlyleaf pondweed and sometimes sago pondweed; whorled leaf plants
can uproot and break free easily and drift with wind to clutter shoreline;
Eurasian watermilfoil is an aggressive non-native that can affect habitat
and restrict recreation. Raking is required to remove these clutters.
◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Free-floating and rooted floating-leaved aquatic
plants Answer: -*growth habits*: occur on water surface and can be
free-floating or rooted with large floating leaves
-*means of dispersal*: free floating plants are easily windblown. rooted
ones not so much
-*potential problems*: free-floating plants accumulate on shorelines and
are difficult to control in large waterbodies; rooted plants are rarely a
nuisance.
◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Free-floating, filamentous, and "rooted" algae
,Answer: -*growth habits*: found free-floating (planktonic) or attached
to submerged surfaces (filamentous or "rooted").
-*means of dispersal*: multiply rapidly in warm weather;
-*potential problems*: free-floating algae responsible for many nuisance
algal blooms (release toxin, low DO, blue-green algae); removing rooted
algae can allow worse species to come in so don't mess with them.
◉List the advantages and disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic
plants and algae Answer: *Advantages*:
-offer longer-lasting control than some mechanical methods
-less physical labor
-ultimately cost less
-important tool for specific nuisance plants/algae such as Eurasian
watermilfoil and purple loosestrife
*Disadvantages*:
-restrictions on water use
-oxygen depletion and fish kills
-sudden nutrient release into water can lead to other plant or algae
problems
-risk to people and nontarget organisms
◉Describe the beneficial roles of Wisconsin's fish populations. Answer:
-maintain balanced communities by feeding on aquatic plants, insects,
and other fish & provide a food source for natural predators
, -fishing for food/sport is popular in WI and ddepends on healthy
populations
-fish farms and hatcheries raise fish for food, feed, fertilizer, bait, and to
release
◉List 5 types of situations in which fish control may be warranted
Answer: -eliminating undesirable or competing fish from fish rearing
ponds
-removing exotic and other undesirable species from a waterbody
-thinning stunted fish to bring a population into balance
-eliminating fish from a hatchery water supply to prevent a potential
reservoir of disease-causing organisms
-treating fish spawning sites to prevent overpopulation of an individual
species
◉Explain why post-treatment management can be important in the long-
term success of a pesticide treatment project. Answer: -because when
fish populations are lowered, density-dependent population growth
allows the population to rebound if not managed post-treatment
◉Know the Law: Who do you need to get approval from to conduct any
chemical treatment for fish control? Answer: WI DNR Aquatic Plant
Management Program
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉List ways that excessive plant growth can adversely affect the ecology
and uses of a water body. Answer: -harm ecology of aquatic ecosystem
-curtail or prevent recreational water uses (e.g. fishing, boating,
swimming)
-impart tastes or odors to drinking water
-hamper water treatment operations
-adversely affect aesthetics, resort trade, and waterfront property values
-produce toxins that harm animals drinking the water
◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Emergent aquatic plants Answer: -*growth
habits*: rooted in shallow water, most growth above water
-*means of dispersal*: underground root systems
-*potential problems*: very dense and may exclude recreational pursuits
like boating, fishing, and swimming. Purple loosestrife is an example of
a problem species.
,◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Submergent aquatic plants (both pondweeds and
plants with whorled leaves) Answer: -*growth habits*: grow mostly
under water surface, pondweeds sometimes have floating leaves in
addition to their submerged leaves; whorled-leaf plants grow underwater
with whorled leaf attachments
-*means of dispersal*: pondweeds have extensive root systems, runners,
and can also reproduce from seeds; plants with whorled leaves can
disperse when uprooted by breaking free and getting moved by the wind
-*potential problems*: most pondweeds not nuisance except for
curlyleaf pondweed and sometimes sago pondweed; whorled leaf plants
can uproot and break free easily and drift with wind to clutter shoreline;
Eurasian watermilfoil is an aggressive non-native that can affect habitat
and restrict recreation. Raking is required to remove these clutters.
◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Free-floating and rooted floating-leaved aquatic
plants Answer: -*growth habits*: occur on water surface and can be
free-floating or rooted with large floating leaves
-*means of dispersal*: free floating plants are easily windblown. rooted
ones not so much
-*potential problems*: free-floating plants accumulate on shorelines and
are difficult to control in large waterbodies; rooted plants are rarely a
nuisance.
◉Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential
problems caused by: Free-floating, filamentous, and "rooted" algae
,Answer: -*growth habits*: found free-floating (planktonic) or attached
to submerged surfaces (filamentous or "rooted").
-*means of dispersal*: multiply rapidly in warm weather;
-*potential problems*: free-floating algae responsible for many nuisance
algal blooms (release toxin, low DO, blue-green algae); removing rooted
algae can allow worse species to come in so don't mess with them.
◉List the advantages and disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic
plants and algae Answer: *Advantages*:
-offer longer-lasting control than some mechanical methods
-less physical labor
-ultimately cost less
-important tool for specific nuisance plants/algae such as Eurasian
watermilfoil and purple loosestrife
*Disadvantages*:
-restrictions on water use
-oxygen depletion and fish kills
-sudden nutrient release into water can lead to other plant or algae
problems
-risk to people and nontarget organisms
◉Describe the beneficial roles of Wisconsin's fish populations. Answer:
-maintain balanced communities by feeding on aquatic plants, insects,
and other fish & provide a food source for natural predators
, -fishing for food/sport is popular in WI and ddepends on healthy
populations
-fish farms and hatcheries raise fish for food, feed, fertilizer, bait, and to
release
◉List 5 types of situations in which fish control may be warranted
Answer: -eliminating undesirable or competing fish from fish rearing
ponds
-removing exotic and other undesirable species from a waterbody
-thinning stunted fish to bring a population into balance
-eliminating fish from a hatchery water supply to prevent a potential
reservoir of disease-causing organisms
-treating fish spawning sites to prevent overpopulation of an individual
species
◉Explain why post-treatment management can be important in the long-
term success of a pesticide treatment project. Answer: -because when
fish populations are lowered, density-dependent population growth
allows the population to rebound if not managed post-treatment
◉Know the Law: Who do you need to get approval from to conduct any
chemical treatment for fish control? Answer: WI DNR Aquatic Plant
Management Program
