FLORIDA AQUATIC PEST CONTROL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |UPDATED
VERSION|2025/2026
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 the removal 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
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) - ANSWER- Florida's lead
agency for fish and wildlife management, formerly Florida Game and Freshwater
Fish Commission
United State Army Corps of Engineers (COE or USACE) - ANSWER- The engineering
branch of the United States Army
A lake that is used by fishermen, hunters, and water-skiers would best be defined
as what kind of lake? - ANSWER- Multi-use lake
Abundant in Florida soils, which is a plant nutrient that is often limiting to plant
growth in lakes? - ANSWER- Phosphorus
Which is a plant nutrient, common in fertilizer that limits plant growth if it is in
short supply? - ANSWER- Nitrogen
,Which of the following is a nonnative plant that is problematic in Florida's waters?
- ANSWER- Hydrilla
What would be a likely management goal for a drainage canal? - ANSWER-
Minimizing vegetation
Which term best relates to integrated management of aquatic weeds? - ANSWER-
Maintenance control
Which is not one of the most common methods of integrated management of
aquatic weeds? - ANSWER- Demolition
Which two nonnative plants influenced, prior to 1965, the development of aquatic
plant management in Florida? - ANSWER- Waterhyacinth and alligatorweed
Which of the following, after 1947, was used to effectively and economically
control waterhyacinths, and was not toxic to humans, wildlife, or cattle? -
ANSWER- 2,4-D
Which of the following initiated a limited herbicide spray program in 1952 using
an airplane and spray-boat? - ANSWER- FG & FWFC
Which of the following plants, first discovered in canals near Miami and Crystal
River, changed the aquatic plant control situation in 1959? - ANSWER- Hydrilla
, Which of the following was named as Florida's lead agency for aquatic plant
control by the Florida Weed Control Act of 1979? - ANSWER- DNR
Which agency was the authority to direct and operate Florida's invasive plant
management program, including aquatic plant management, transferred to in
2008? -
ANSWER- FWC
Aquatic Pest Control applicator - ANSWER- An individual who is licensed to use or
supervise the use of restricted use pesticides, or other pesticides requiring
licensure, used or applied to any standing or running water, including banks or
shorelines, excluding infusion of chlorine gas as described in Category 7B and
applicators engaged in public health related activities as defined in Chapter 388,
Florida Statutes, and the rules thereunder. This category is valid for licensure of
commercial and public applicators.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) - ANSWER- Approximately one hour of study
credit used to make up the total of 20 CEUs required for Aquatic Pest Control
applicator recertification (4 Core + 16 Aquatic Category CEUs).
EPA - ANSWER- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for
the federal regulation of the registration, manufacture, transportation, use and
marketing or all pesticides in the United States.
FDACS - ANSWER- Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services,
which is the state agency responsible for regulating pesticide use.
VERSION|2025/2026
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 the removal 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
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) - ANSWER- Florida's lead
agency for fish and wildlife management, formerly Florida Game and Freshwater
Fish Commission
United State Army Corps of Engineers (COE or USACE) - ANSWER- The engineering
branch of the United States Army
A lake that is used by fishermen, hunters, and water-skiers would best be defined
as what kind of lake? - ANSWER- Multi-use lake
Abundant in Florida soils, which is a plant nutrient that is often limiting to plant
growth in lakes? - ANSWER- Phosphorus
Which is a plant nutrient, common in fertilizer that limits plant growth if it is in
short supply? - ANSWER- Nitrogen
,Which of the following is a nonnative plant that is problematic in Florida's waters?
- ANSWER- Hydrilla
What would be a likely management goal for a drainage canal? - ANSWER-
Minimizing vegetation
Which term best relates to integrated management of aquatic weeds? - ANSWER-
Maintenance control
Which is not one of the most common methods of integrated management of
aquatic weeds? - ANSWER- Demolition
Which two nonnative plants influenced, prior to 1965, the development of aquatic
plant management in Florida? - ANSWER- Waterhyacinth and alligatorweed
Which of the following, after 1947, was used to effectively and economically
control waterhyacinths, and was not toxic to humans, wildlife, or cattle? -
ANSWER- 2,4-D
Which of the following initiated a limited herbicide spray program in 1952 using
an airplane and spray-boat? - ANSWER- FG & FWFC
Which of the following plants, first discovered in canals near Miami and Crystal
River, changed the aquatic plant control situation in 1959? - ANSWER- Hydrilla
, Which of the following was named as Florida's lead agency for aquatic plant
control by the Florida Weed Control Act of 1979? - ANSWER- DNR
Which agency was the authority to direct and operate Florida's invasive plant
management program, including aquatic plant management, transferred to in
2008? -
ANSWER- FWC
Aquatic Pest Control applicator - ANSWER- An individual who is licensed to use or
supervise the use of restricted use pesticides, or other pesticides requiring
licensure, used or applied to any standing or running water, including banks or
shorelines, excluding infusion of chlorine gas as described in Category 7B and
applicators engaged in public health related activities as defined in Chapter 388,
Florida Statutes, and the rules thereunder. This category is valid for licensure of
commercial and public applicators.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) - ANSWER- Approximately one hour of study
credit used to make up the total of 20 CEUs required for Aquatic Pest Control
applicator recertification (4 Core + 16 Aquatic Category CEUs).
EPA - ANSWER- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for
the federal regulation of the registration, manufacture, transportation, use and
marketing or all pesticides in the United States.
FDACS - ANSWER- Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services,
which is the state agency responsible for regulating pesticide use.
