Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve Supports Stetson University Research

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve (WRAP) staff recently assisted researchers with Stetson University’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resiliency, with selecting locations for an enclosure study along the lower Wekiva River. The study will focus on three different genetic clades of water lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes) and builds upon ongoing genetics sampling done in collaboration with WRAP staff and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Water lettuce is a free-floating aquatic plant that can form dense mats on the surface of rivers, lakes and springs. Water lettuce is classified as a Category I invasive species and is listed as a prohibited aquatic plant in Florida due to its potential to spread rapidly and impact aquatic ecosystems.

The enclosure study will build on the previous genetics research and provide researchers with additional information about differing water lettuce clades and their interactions with environmental conditions in the lower Wekiva River.

WRAP staff contributed local knowledge and field support during the site-selection process, helping identify suitable study locations while considering the river’s natural resources.