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Silver Dollar Fish for Biological Control of Submersed Aquatic Weeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

R. R. Yeo*
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and Department of Botany, University of California, Davis, California
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Abstract

Two fish from South America. (Metynnis roosevelti Eigenmann and Mylossoma argenteum E. Ahl.), both called silver dollar fish, grazed rapidly on several species of submersed aquatic weeds. Horned pondweed (Zannichellia palustris L.), American pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus Poir.), and sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.) were most palatable to the fish. Richardson pondweed (Potamogeton richardsonii (Ar. Benn.) Rydb.), curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.), and American elodea (Elodea canadensis Michx.) also were grazed. The fish readily grazed on shoots of all sizes except those of mature plants. The Mylossoma grazed the plants more rapidly than the Metynnis. When water temperatures were above 70 F, the fish became more active in their feeding habits.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1967 Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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