Genus - Lemna
Duckweed
A tiny floating freshwater plant used in repeated Freshwater Lake trials, growing quickly under favorable conditions but repeatedly failing under grazing, competition, and nutrient-pressure tests.
- Common Name
- Duckweed
- Scientific Name
- Genus - Lemna
- Realm
- Freshwater
- Biome
- Freshwater Lake
- Introduction Method
- Intentional Seeding
- Date First Introduced
- April 08, 2026
- Source / Origin
- Wild-collected duckweed from April 8, 2026 field search
- Current Estimated Population
- No current persistent duckweed cover confirmed in the reviewed public-graph evidence.
- Population Status
- Uncertain
- Date Last Observed
- January 28, 2026
Section Notes
Duckweed trials began as an algae/nutrient intervention but repeatedly declined or disappeared quickly under grazing pressure and competition. The reviewed evidence supports a failed or unstable floating-plant trial, not durable establishment.
- Trophic Level
- Producer
- Feeding Niche / Method
- Photosynthetic primary producer
- Dietary Inputs
- Light, water, carbon dioxide, and dissolved nutrients
Section Notes
Trophic classification is Producer. Food-web role: Aquatic photosynthetic producer. Feeding method: Photosynthetic primary producer. Dietary inputs: Light, water, carbon dioxide, and dissolved nutrients
?
Classification Pending
PendingThis section will expand as more information is documented for this species.
- System Reproduction Status
- Not confirmed as a sustained system population; no persistent spread claim is made from the current reviewed evidence.
- Ecological Role
- Primary production and aquatic habitat structure
Biomes This Species Lives In
Follow this species across the habitats where it currently appears in the miniBIOTA biosphere.
January 28, 2026
Introduction
Video
Duckweed and Water Spangles Fail to Stop the Willow
Duckweed and Water Spangles were added as a floating-plant challenge to the Creeping Primrose Willow, but crayfish consumed them and the willow grew upward to shade them. The failed intervention showed how niche competition can reverse expectations in a living system.
Related Subjects
Filamentous macroalgae
Context
Filamentous macroalgae remains freshwater producer context.
Slough Crayfish
Context
Slough Crayfish remains grazing-pressure context; Duckweed/floating plants are the primary intervention subject.
August 28, 2025
Introduction
New Freshwater Plants Immediately Become Food
Duckweed remains freshwater floating-plant comparison context.
Context
Species: Water Spangles
View primary chronicle
August 27, 2025
Observation
Water Spangles Challenge the Lake Plant Monopoly
Duckweed remains prior comparison context; the new trial centers Water Spangles.
Context
Species: Water Spangles
View primary chronicle
June 16, 2025
Observation
Video
Duckweed Fails as a Sustainable Floating Plant
A week after addition, the duckweed was nearly gone while the water looked clearer and eelgrass and hornwort appeared to be helping pull nutrients from the system. The result pushed duckweed out of the sustainable plant plan and kept the focus on plants that could persist without constant re-adding.
Related Subjects
Filamentous macroalgae
Context
Filamentous macroalgae remains nutrient/water-clarity context.
Hornwort
Context
Hornwort remains alternative plant context.
Lakeshore
Context
Corrected from hidden Marine Shore review state: user confirmed duckweed was added to the lake biome and lakeshore.
Freshwater Lake
Context
Freshwater Lake context: user confirmed duckweed was added to the lake biome and lakeshore.
June 12, 2025
Introduction
Video
Duckweed Declines While Water Spangles Hold On
Three days after addition, roughly half of the duckweed was already gone as flagfish, snails, shrimp, and crayfish grazed it down. Water spangles appeared more resilient, and eelgrass and hornwort were added as alternative plants that might redirect feeding pressure.
Related Subjects
Flagfish
Context
Flagfish remains grazing pressure context.
Slough Crayfish
Context
Slough Crayfish remains grazing pressure context.
Freshwater Lake
Context
Freshwater Lake context: user confirmed duckweed was added to the lake biome and lakeshore.
Lakeshore
Context
Lakeshore context: user confirmed duckweed was added to the lake biome and lakeshore.