How to Find and Report Two-horned Trapa

Welcome to the Invader Detectives project page! For more detail, please visit us at https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/two-horned-trapa-trapa-bispinosa.htm.

Two-horned trapa (Trapa bispinosa) is a highly invasive aquatic plant that is new to our region. It infests waters that are fresh, still or slow, and less than 15 feet deep. It clogs waterways, covers ponds, smothers submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and reduces the oxygen content of the water. Seed coats have sharp "horns" that can puncture bicycle tires and shoes. Two-horned trapa ruins waterways for recreational fishing and boating, and commercial navigation becomes impossible.

Ready to take action and protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed? It’s easier than you think! Scout for trapa and report it using the user-friendly iNaturalist app. Whenever you are visiting trapa habitat, keep an eye out for the distinctive floating rosettes. Rosettes appear in mid-May and persist well into November. You may also see the distinctive (spent) seed coats accumulating where other floating debris gathers along the shoreline. Take photos and upload them using the iNaturalist app. Here's a quick video about how to make an iNaturalist observation on your smartphone.

Here are some tips for making a good trapa observation:

• Take a picture of a floating rosette.
• Include another photo identifying the location and any distinguishing landmarks, like the edge of a path or a larger tree.
• In the notes section, tell us about the size or location of the infestation.

You’re done! You can review your observation at any time by using your phone app, or by visiting the iNaturalist website.

A floating rosette.

Seed coats like this one may be found where other floating debris accumulates.

A few words about safety: Please take all the normal precautions you would around water. Be careful when handling the seed coats’ "horns" are sharp and can painfully pierce your skin. The retrorse barbs on the seed horns can make it difficult to remove the entire spine from your skin.

Two-horned trapa is just one of the Early Detection / Rapid Response species being tracked by Invader Detectives. If you would like to join the Invader Detectives listserv, email stangren@mwcog.org and put “listserv” in the subject line.

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Publicado el junio 5, 2024 01:15 TARDE por sara_tangren