OVERVIEW OF THE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGY AREA

Research ill the Ecological Assessment Technology Area of the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program has contributed extensively to understa nding the basic and applied ecology of nonnative and native aquatic pl ants. Continuing ecological research in this technology area strives t o be relevant to aquatic plant management through a focus on the follo wing areas; 1) improving the effectiveness of management techniques, 2 ) evaluating the effectiveness of management techniques, 3) evaluating the impacts of management techniques on nontarget species and environ mental quality, and 4) preventing new infestations of nonnative aquati c plants. While both current and future planned research falls within these areas, specific research needs for the future have been identifi ed in the areas of 1) developing standard aquatic plant quantification methods, 2) developing protocols for identifying die potential of new species to create nuisance problems, and 3) developing spatial databa ses and spatial models of plant distribution.