Comparison of three life-history traits of invasive Elodea canadensis Michx. and Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) H. St. John

Three life-history traits, regeneration and colonisation of vegetative plant fragments, resistance to water current and palatability to a generalist herbivore were compared in two invasive macrophyte species, Elodea canadensis Michx. and Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) H. St. John. Few differences in traits were found between these species. Both species showed similar resistance to water current, whilst fragment regeneration and colonisation and palatability were only slightly higher in E. nuttallii than in E. canadensis. These small differences do not explain the displacement of E. canadensis by E. nuttallii as observed in the field.