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Predictive models for aquatic plant growth
Ecological response models for submersed aquatic plants have been developed at the USACE Environmental Laboratory during the last decade.
All models are bioenergetics-based and simulate the response of SAV at sites, differing in climate, to changes in water level, temperature, water transparency, and biomass-removing activities (such as mechanical control and grazing).
Plant species and software availability
Two models pertain to invasive species, i.e. hydrilla and Eurasian watermilfoil, and two models pertain to desired species, i.e. American wildcelery and sago pondweed. The names of the models are: HYDRIL, MILFO, VALLA, and POTAM. Of the four monotypic models, stand-alone versions 1.0 are available and can be downloaded at no cost as executable files at http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/products.cfm?Topic=model&Type=aquatic. The model contents have been described in technical reports and model operation is explained in user manuals, both available at the same website. Downloads currently amount to >140 per year.
The two monotypic models have been recalibrated and expanded with responses to current velocity and epiphyte shading for use at the Upper Mississippi River System (Pool 8). Upgraded stand-alone versions 3.0 of all four models have been prepared, and expected to be available via the website in March 2007. A publication highlighting the expanded user potential is expected to appear at the same time (Best and Boyd 2007a, b; 2008). VALLA and POTAM have also been translated in Visual Basic, and are currently considered for inclusion in a Decision Support System under discussion for application to Upper Mississippi System Pool 5.
One competition model describes the behavior of two species competing for the most limiting resource, light, at high and low N and P availabilities. The species concerned are the meadow-forming American wildcelery and the canopy-forming sago pondweed. This model has been recalibrated, and validated. The recalibrated version will become available via the website at the end of March 2007. A publication summarizing the recalibrated model and illustrating its use will appear in 2009 (Best and Boyd 2009).
One model describing the behavior of two emergent species, i.e., Broadleaf arrowhead and Smooth cordgrass, potentially competing for light, was developed in 2010 (Best and Boyd 2010).
Local and system-wide application
The models can be used to predict habitat suitability, species-characteristic plant response, and in case of the competition model- outcomes of competition at variable N and P availabilities at sites, differing in climate, water level, water transparency, current velocity, epiphyte shading, and biomass-removing activities. Preferred sites are lakes, reservoirs, and rivers (including pools).
All these models can be modified to operate with hydrodynamic, physical, and chemical models such as the USACE uses to predict alterations of the environment caused by dredging, water elevation manipulation, altered temperature, altered flow, altered sediment transport, altered nutrient levels, and altered habitat. In fact, one model, i.e., VALLA, has served already as a test case for integration with a hydrodynamic (RMA2) and sediment transport (SED2D) model. Publications pertaining to these models are listed below.
Version 1.0 Descriptions, user manuals, and downloadable executable files.
Best, E.P.H. & Boyd, W.A., 1996. A simulation model for growth of the submerged aquatic macrophyte Hydrilla verticillata L. Technical Report A-96-8, US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. September, 1996.
Boyd, W.A. & Best, E.P.H., 1996. HYDRIL (Version 1.0): A simulation model for growth of Hydrilla. User Manual. Instruction Report A-96-1, US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. May, 1996.
Best, E.P.H. & Boyd, W.A., 1999. A simulation model for growth of the submersed aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum L. Technical Report A-99-3, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 1999. MILFO (version 1.0): a simulation model for growth of Eurasian watermilfoil - User's guide. Instruction Report A-99-1, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Best, E.P.H. & Boyd, W.A., 2001. A simulation model for growth of the submersed aquatic macrophyte American wildcelery (Vallisneria americana Michx.). ERDC/EL TR-01-5, U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi. March 2001.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2001. VALLA (version 1.0): a simulation model for growth of American wildcelery. ERDC/EL SR-01-1, U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi. March 2001.
Best, E.P.H. & Boyd, W.A., 2003. A simulation model for growth of the submersed aquatic macrophyte Sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.). ERDC/EL TR-03-6. U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi., July 2003.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2003. POTAM (version 1.0): a simulation model for growth of Sago pondweed. ERDC/EL SR-03-1, U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi, August 2003.
Version 3.0 Descriptions.
Best, E.P.H., Kiker, G.A., & Boyd, W.A., 2004. A simulation model on the competition for light of meadow-forming and canopy-forming aquatic macrophytes at high and low nutrient availability. ERDC/EL TR-04-14, U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi. September 2004.
Best, E.P.H., Kiker, G.A., Rycyzyn, B.A., Kenow, K.P., Fischer, J., Nair, S.K., & Wilcox, D.B., 2005. Aquatic plant growth model refinement for the Upper Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study. ENV Report 51. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, St. Louis District, St. Paul District. September 2005.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2007a. Expanded simulation models (Version 3.0) for growth of submersed aquatic plants American wildcelery, sago pondweed, hydrilla, and Eurasian watermilfoil. ERDC TN-SWRRP-07-10, January 2007.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2007b. Carbon flow-based modeling of ecophysiological processes and biomass dynamics in submersed aquatic plants. ERDC/EL TR-07-14, February 2007.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2008. A carbon flow-based modeling approach to ecophysiological processes and biomass dynamics of submersed aquatic plants using Vallisneria americana as an example. Ecol. Modell. 217:117-131.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2009. A recalibrated simulation model (version 3.0) on the competition for light in American wildcelery and sago pondweed at high and low nutrient availability. ERDC TN-SWRRP-09-5, June 2009.
Best, E.P.H., & Boyd, W.A., 2010. A generic modeling approach to biomass dynamics of sagittaria latifolia and Spartina alterniflora. ERDC TN-SWRRP-10-XX, December 2010.
Descriptions application and interfacing possibilities.
Best, E.P.H., Buzzelli, C.P., Bartell, S.M., Wetzel, R.L., Boyd, W.A., Doyle, R.D., & Campbell, K.R., 2001. Modeling submersed macrophyte growth in relation to underwater light climate: modeling approaches and application potential. Hydrobiologia 444: 43-70.
Bartell, S.M., Campbell, K.R., Best, E.P.H., and Boyd, W.A., 2000. Interim Report For The Upper Mississippi River System - Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study. Ecological risk assessment of the effects of incremental increase of commercial navigation traffic (25, 50, 75, and 100%increase of 1992 baseline traffic) on submerged aquatic plants in the main channel borders. ENV Report 17. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, St. Louis District, St. Paul District. Chapters 1 - 4 and Chapters 5 - Appendix
Bartell, S.M., Campbell, K.R., Miller, E.M., Nair, S.K., Best, E.P.H., and Schaeffer, D.J., 2003. Interim Report For The Upper Mississippi River System - Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study. Ecological models and approach to ecological risk assessments. ENV Report 38. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, St. Louis District, St. Paul District. September 2003.
Black, P., Best, E.P.H., Newcomb, E.A., Birkenstock, T., Boyt, B., R.Heath, & James, W.F., 2003. Assessing hydraulic modifications on Vallisneria Americana in Peoria Lake, Illinois. A pilot study using data sharing protocols to integrate legacy models. U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, ERDC/CRREL TR-03-18. September 2003.
Teeter, A.M., and Best, E.P., 2003. Modeling wind-wave resuspension in a shallow reservoir: Peoria Lake, IL. In: Bathe, K.J. (Ed.). Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics. Proceedings Second M.I.T.Conference on Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics, June 17-20, 2003, Vol.2, Elsevier: 1535-1539.
Best, E.P.H., Teeter, A.H., and Nair, S.K, 2004. Modeling the impacts of suspended sediment concentration and current velocity on submersed vegetation in an Illinois River Pool, USA. ERDC/TN APCRP-EA-07. July 2004.
Updated August 2011
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