Did You Know?

Water lilies form dense floating mats of vegetation, preventing light penetration for native aquatic plants. These mats alter distributions of phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic insects, and fish populations. N. odorata in moderate proportions provides important habitat for fish, frogs, and invertebrates, but once 40% surface area coverage is exceeded declines occurs. These extensive infestations may alter water quality by creating low oxygen conditions beneath the canopy, changing nutrient dynamics, pH level or light regimes while simultaneously promoting exotic species like carp, which easily tolerate low oxygen conditions to establish. University of Georgia, Discover Life