By Amy Weiss

Sep 26 2019

Although all plants need some water to grow, aquatic plants have adapted to living either partially or entirely submerged in water. Aquatic plants provide important ecosystem services; from providing food and shelter to animals, to adding oxygen to the water.

But not all aquatic plants are native to an area, and can harm these same ecosystems by outcompeting native plants and impacting recreational activities. A small fragment of these plants is often all that is needed to start a new population in a new waterbody. Which is why boats can easily spread invasive aquatic plants.   

Avoid aquatic hitchhikers and clean your boat¹ after enjoying the water.