What is an example of a physical control method for managing aquatic pests?

Mechanical removal or harvesting of invasive weeds is a recognized physical control method for managing aquatic pests. This technique involves physically extracting or cutting invasive plant species from aquatic environments. By removing these unwanted plants, the competition for nutrients, light, and space is reduced for native species, which can help restore balance to the ecosystem.

Physical control methods are valuable because they often have immediate effects and do not introduce chemicals into the ecosystem, making them environmentally friendly options. In contrast to other methods like biological monitoring (which is more about assessing populations) or chemical spraying (which introduces pesticides), mechanical removal directly addresses the problem by physically altering the environment and can often be part of an integrated pest management approach. Changing water temperatures generally falls under environmental management rather than an active pest control method, and it may not be a viable or practical approach for controlling aquatic pests in many cases.