Loss and Restoration of

V. americana in the
Hudson River
Jonas Hamberg
Advisors: Stuart Findlay (IES), Sarah Fernald (HRNERR) Dan Miller (HRNERR), Stewart
Diemont (SUNY-ESF), Karin Limburg (SUNY-ESF)
Thanks to: Ken Moore, Curt Mcconnell, David Fischer, Heather Malcom, Colby Hause, Cary
Institute of Ecosystem Studies, HRNERR, Hudson River Foundation
Question:
What were the mechanics of the loss of
Vallisneria in the Hudson River in 2011?
Why hasnt it returned?
Should we assist its recovery, and if so how?
Potential Causes of Loss/Impediments to Recovery
Burial
Scour
Lack of Light
Herbivory
Some mysterious coincidence
Burial from sediment
2.7 MT into lower Hudson River by 2011 storm events
(Ralston et al. 2013)
1.7 MT sediment deposited between Troy and
Poughkeepsie
If deposited evenly - 3 cm in depth
Potomac - Rybicki and Carter (1986)
Greenhouse burial study results
40 turions (buds) at 4 depths - 5, 10, 20 and 30 cm
No growth of any turions
Separate Validity trial (approx. 15 turions planted):
Nursery 2 cm - 2.37g / 13 plantlets / 2 plants
River 2 cm - 2.2g / 10 plantlets / 5 plants
River 5 cm - 1.41g / 3 plantlets / 1 plant
Why lack of growth in greenhouse?
Depth chosen based on Rybicki and Carter
5 cm, too much for turions
Compacted sediment
High temperature
Lack of flow
Field
Studies:
Examine
burial and
herbivory
Field depth study
30 Turions planted at 2, 5 and 10 cm in
clusters of 3 around 3 poles
Turions taken from nearby area in river
Field depth study - results
Apparent difference in sprouting by depth
Burial study - Observations
Apparent difference in growth due to depth
Turions in river within 1 cm of surface
Turions do not survive growing season
unsprouted
Burial possible as cause
Herbivory hypothesis
Chesapeake Bay
With loss, pressure on few recovering plants
from herbivores could be higher
Possible herbivory in Hudson - Blue crab?
Waterfowl? Turtles?
Moore et al. 2010
Herbivory Study
12 plots, 4 exclusion cages, 4 cage-controls and 4 open
plots. 8 pots in each cage
Materials: Chicken wire (1 inch) and PVC pipe
Plot - 4x4 ft, cage 4ft tall - below high tide

Herbivory Study - Results
No apparent herbivory
Herbivory Study - Observations
No protection needed for restoration
Low Blue crab migration?
Herbivory of turions?
Invert/small fish herbivory
Implications for restoration
Nursery stock survives and thrives in river
Herbivory protection not needed
Storms bringing sediment downriver could
disrupt regrowth
Increase in storm-events in future may lessen
value of restoration
Thank you! - Questions?
Issues and solutions
Issue: Turions unavailable from nursery for in-river experiment
Solution: Turions dug out of research site over two days ~60 turions found, 30 deemed
viable.
Issue: First design of exclusion cage found unstable
Solution: Designed and constructed more stabile exclusion cage
Issue: Very low visibility in water
Solution: Inspection done by feel and harvesting
Issue: Cost of plants ($4/pot) and turions ($3/plant)
Solution: Decrease amount of plants and turions used
Light-meter readings
Herbivory plots - South to North