Determinants and patterns of population growth in water hyacinth

Abstract Mathematical models of the growth of water hyacinth are developed to provide a sound basis for assessing existing and potential control options. We show that under constant experimental conditions, water hyacinth shows logistic growth (r2 of 0.69–1.00). The effects of nutrients and temperature on model parameters are explored using data from the literature. The model is verified against growth in a natural infestation. The resulting model incorporates two of the most important factors (temperature and water nutrient level) that determine whether water hyacinth is an important environmental problem at a given site. These relationships form a robust basis for further model development, and can be readily used to evaluate how the plant will respond to changes in nutrient inputs.

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