Biodiversity Days

For those of you living in or around Massachusetts, you are lucky enough to be able to participate in this weekend's 3rd annual Biodiversity Days. Sponsored by the Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Biodiversity Days are a time for people to get out into their communities to appreciate (and record) all the species they see. The species lists are then entered into a database that is available for viewing via the web. If you want to search for events in your neighborhood, you can go here. And if you're attending an event, take a moment to compare native vs. non-native biodiversity.

For those of you too far away from Massachusetts but still in the U.S., May is nationwide Biodiversity Month, but there are still events that carry over to the weekend, so check them out!

Row, row, row your boat...

It appears that the Australian Masters Rowing Championship is a go! Taking place May 31-June 2 in Adelaide, the regatta was under the threat of being cancelled due to the continued expansion of populations of the invasive algae Caulerpa taxifolia (the AMRC website misspells the name). Officials have granted the regatta an exemption but have mandated that participants take special care to wash off their boats, in order to avoid further spread of the species. Those on the west coast of the U.S. are also quite familiar with the aggressive nature of this tropical algae.

Invasive Plants and Online Auctions

I was just tipped off via a Usenet posting that Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is being sold by several people on eBay. A search of current and completed auctions uncovered many opportunities to buy knotweed in all its variations, from plain to variegated to pink-flowered. I can only assume that both buyers and sellers aren't aware of the invasive potential of this and related species. Hopefully web-savvy gardeners are steered away from such plants by the vast numbers of negative web pages that come up when doing informational searches. (Update 5/29: I emailed one of the eBay sellers and she let me know that she had already stopped selling Japanese knotweed.)

Banishing the Bluebells?

From the Conserv@tion web site comes this link to a story in the web version of The Daily Telegraph. The villagers of Clent (in Britain) were alarmed to discover that the 7000+ bluebells planted there were actually an aggressive Spanish species (Hyacinthoides hispanica) that is threatening native English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). The bulbs were grown in Holland and the local government was assured they were British. However, once the bluebells flowered, residents identified them as the Spanish variety (hooray for local botanists/gardeners!).

Crabby

According to this article in The Seattle Times, Washingtonians are worried about the possible migration of the invasive Chinese mitten crab up the west coast of the U.S. This species has already overrun parts of the California coast, and has proven very difficult to manage once any introduction has occurred. This seems to have made people in susceptible areas even more vigilant about preventing further spread.

World Weed Website

The website for the Global Compendium of Weeds has been updated with a new, improved search interface. For those of you not familiar with it, the GCW website, a joint effort of the USGS and the Western Australia Dept. of Agriculture, provides nomenclature, place of origin, and references documenting the weediness of hundreds of plant species. The online database is only a partial listing of the 20,000 species that will be included in the book version. It is unclear as to whether the website will be updated to include the complete species listing.

(Thanks to a member of the ALIENS-L listserver for posting info about the GCW website.)

Ballast Busters

According to the UN Wire, regulations are being prepared by the International Maritime Organization to encourage the development of technological advances that deal with the continual threat of animal and plant introductions via ballast water. In the past there has been limited success with ozone, filtration, and dumping of ballast away from ports (the unintended effects of this on the open ocean have yet to be determined).

Vetchy, Vicia, Vetchling

Crown vetch (Coronilla varia)	Narrow-leaved vetch (Vicia angustifolia)	Slender vetch (Vicia tetrasperma)

Tuesday I found 3 species of Vetch in bloom, all within 200 feet of each other. The Crown vetch population in particular was large and spreading. Vetches are members of the Pea Family (Fabaceae), and the species above are just three of many that have been introduced to the U.S. and are now considered invasive.

Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home

It seems like there are a lot more Ladybugs (Ladybird Beetles) around this spring than ever before. I hadn't looked into the matter before, and was surprised to learn that several different species of Ladybugs have been introduced to North America from other parts of the world. The reason for their continued introduction is that these species are voracious eaters of other insects, especially aphids. They are often recommended to gardeners as a "natural" way of dealing with aphid infestations.

Unfortunately (and as always), these introductions are having some unintended consequences. For example, the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) does not die at the end of the growing season, as most native species do. Instead, they hibernate, and they love finding warm cozy places in which to do this...like in your house! If you are having serious problems with ladybugs, you might want to consider some control methods, but so far they are just considered a nuisance species, and no negative ecological effect has been associated with their introduction.

Gardeners and Invasive Plants

Those of you in the London area this week may be thinking of stopping by the Chelsea Flower Show. If you do, be sure to visit the exhibit from the Imperial College at Wye. Their goal this year is to provide gardeners with information about the down side of planting invasive species, how to deal with the ones they've got, and how to choose plants that are less harmful to both people and the environment. You can read more about the exhibit, which won a Gold medal, by clicking here.

(Thanks to a member of the ALIENS-L listserver for posting info about this story.)

The Purple Pages

The Purple Loosestrife Project, sponsored by Michigan State University, aims to control Purple loosestrife in Michigan (Lythrum salicaria) through the introduction of loosestrife-eating beetles from Europe. But rather than just focusing on applying biological controls, the PLP encourages public involvement through education and school-sponsored projects. Their site has many activities and lessons for the K-12 crowd, plus general information about the value of wetlands and the problems caused by Purple loosestrife invasion.

Lettuce Aphid Update

In an update to a story I posted last week, the Ministery of Agriculture and Fisheries in New Zealand has announced that it will not try to contain the spread of the Lettuce Aphid (Nasonovia ribis-nigri) that was discovered in and around the area of Christchurch. The decision was made due to the difficulties and high cost of eradicating the species. Farmers are being informed about the aphid but apparently will not be given any financial assistance to deal with infestations.

Palm Beach Plant Perils

A while ago, Palm Beach County in Florida came close to instituting a very strict policy regarding the introduction of dozens of invasive and potentially invasive plants. Due to a move by the Florida state legislature superceding the Palm Beach ruling, their list is instead restricted to a few of the worst invaders. Removal of the species from Palm Beach County property is required as each of nine species are added to the banned list over the next decade.

One major problem with this is that species on the list are the most well-known and populous invaders. It's a lot easier and cheaper to avoid introducing non-native species, vs. removing established ones. Landowners are starting to raise concerns about the ruling, wondering how they will be able to afford to remove big shrubs and trees such as Melaleuca quinquenervia from their property. I wish Palm Beach County the best of luck, but I have doubts as to whether they'll ever be able to rid their land of those big bad invasives.

Dust Devils

From the May/June issue of the journal American Scientist come this article about microrganisms, chemicals and inorganic particles that travel across the globe in dust. The above link goes to an abstract rather than the full story, but there's a nice set of related web links at the bottom of that page. Some people would not consider arrival of bacteria or fungal spores in this manner as an invasion, since it occurred without the aid of humans. But the reality is that you could probably find a human aspect to all environmental problems, sometimes in the most indirect ways. (To be fair, dust storms can also have positive effects on the environment as well.)

(Thanks to a member of the ALIENS-L listserver for posting the link to this story.)

Goosed

The headline says it all: "New Jersey declares war on Canada Geese." The saga of the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is an interesting one. The species was once quite rare, but now populations have expanded to the point where the geese are now unwelcome guests in many parts of the U.S. In large quantities, their waste can pollute bodies of water and is an unsightly mess in grassy areas. An additional problem is that some geese have altered their migratory patterns to overwinter in cities, becoming a year-round issue.

Canada Geese have of course been introduced into Europe and the U.K., where they are causing similar problems and winning similar affections from people. As a response to unwanted geese, various inventions have sprung up to combat local goose "infestations." My favorite one is the RoboGoose (the video is a must-see!).

Garlic Mustard Explosion?

Can't find much in the news on invasive species today, so I'm making my own...

In my travels this spring around Quincy, Massachusetts, I've noticed that there seems to have been an massive expansion of Garlic mustard populations (Alliaria petiolata). I have to keep reminding my self that this species is a biennial, so if it's catching my eye everywhere because it's in flower, then the expansion actually occurred last season.

What comes around, goes around

I thought I was keeping tabs on the Spartina invasion on the west coast, but it turns out I didn't have the whole story. I knew that the east coast native Salt marsh cordgrass (S. alterniflora) was causing problems, invading mudflats and turning them into salt marshes, and pollen swamping the west coast's Pacific cordgrass (S. foliosa). The species was introduced to the west coast accidentally (via shipments of oysters) and intentionally. It has also devastated the U.K., hybridizing with Small cordgrass (S. maritima) to produce offspring, Townsend's cordgrass (S. townsendii), that is a better competitor than either of its parents.

Now it turns out that English cordgrass (S. anglica) is also invading the west coast of the U.S. More interesting is the fact that neither Small cordgrass nor English cordgrass are actually native to the U.K. For now, the west coast is focusing on a study of how best to manage English cordgrass.

Waging War on Weeds

According to the Environment News Service, the Australian government has just pledged $3 million dollars ($5.6 Australian dollars) to fight 5 of their top 20 worst weeds. The weeds to be targeted, all non-native introductions, are: Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana), Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Lantana (Lantana camara), and Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma). Australia has always been at the forefront of invasive species management and research. Unfortunately, the extent of these invasions means they are fighting an uphill battle.

Note to news services everywhere: let's get some scientific names in these articles! "Blackberry" doesn't give me nearly enough information.

Attack of the Aphids

In parts of New Zealand, restaurants and other businesses in the food industry have had to throw away tons of lettuce since April, due to infestation by the appropriately named Lettuce Aphid (Nasonovia ribis-nigri). The is the first mention I've seen of this aphid in New Zealand, though parts of the western U.S., including California, have also had problems with infestations over the past several years. Lettuce aphids are suspected to be native to the northern hemisphere. The current fear in New Zealand is that the invasion will spread to plant species in the genus Ribes, since they are the preferred hosts on which the aphids lay their eggs.

A Smut Fungus Among Us?

The people at Grist Magazine, who are light years ahead of me in the art of corny headline design, have an article on their website called "More Internet Smut." No, not that kind of smut. It's about a smut fungus, and a team of researchers at the USDA Forest Service Shrub Lab that are trying to develop it as a biocontrol for cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Cheatgrass has caused major problems, both economically and ecologically, since it began its invasion of the west coast. Robert S. Devine's book, Alien Invasion: America�s Battle with Non-Native Animals and Plants has an excellent chapter on cheatgrass invasion in the U.S.

(Note: this article was posted over 2 years ago, not sure why the Grist included it in their newsletter Friday. If this work is still going on, there's no information about it on the internet.)

Alaskan Atlantic Salmon?

A report from the Anchorage Daily News today details the story behind last year's catch of an Atlantic salmon...in Alaska. I'm not sure why they waited a full year before breaking this story. Apparently Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have been considered a threat to Alaskan and Canadian fisheries for some time. There is concern that the introductions, most likely accidental ones from saltwater fish farms, will lead to decreases in populations of native fish and other sport fish. Ironic considering the projects currently underway to preserve populations of this species on the Atlantic coast.

This reminds me a lot of the story of the introduction of the nutria (Myocastor coypus), a South American rodent, to the southeastern U.S. It seems like no matter how careful people are, there should always be a contingency plan for when the introduced critters escape, because they always do. But perhaps my view is biased because I never hear stories about the ones that don't escape...anyone?

Animal Invasions

The online version of "E - The Environmental Magazine" has a story in the May/June issue about invasive species. It's a well-written piece that focuses on animals, and has what is possibly the cutest photo I've ever seen of a feral hog (the endangered species look good too :-). If you're not familiar with the issues surrounding invasive animals, this article is a good introduction. There are a few references in the article to an excellent "layman's" book on the subject of invasive species, Kim Todd's Tinkering with Eden, if you prefer book-learning to web-learning.

(Thanks to a member of the ALIENS-L listserver for posting the link to this story.)

British Oaks in Danger from American Fungus

Since the mid-1990's, the west coast has been losing oak trees to "sudden oak death," a disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora ramorum. According to the Environment News Service, Britain, which has a history of importing and growing American plant species, has found the fungus on a few viburnum plants, and is trying to avoid a more widespread problem. Their response: a ban on the import of certain trees and woody shrubs originating from America, including some wood products.

Buzz Kill

In the latest issue of the journal Austral Ecology is an article (link is to abstract) about the invasion of the large earth bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) into Tasmania and nearby mainland Australia. This species is one among several non-native bees in that region competing with native bees for food. Conflicts arise because at the same time, they are valued by farmers and others who depend on pollinators for economic reasons. Click here to see a pdf file with a brief history of bumblebee introduction in Australia (and a nice identification guide).

Update 5/26/04: Thanks to Jenny L. for sending a link to this interesting article that speculates about exotic bumblebee impact in Australia. The Aussie Bee website is definitely the place to go when you need info about any bee sighted in Australia.

Icy Reception

According to this article in the L.A. Times, the Iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis, Hottentot fig) is getting a bit more attention in California, which is already dealing with huge problems caused by invasive plants like Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Iceplants in California have been found to displace native species (some of them rare or endangered) that provide habitat and food sources for native animals and insects (sometimes endangered themselves). Because the Iceplant, native to South Africa, is only a problem in certain coastal habitats, and is already so widespread, there has been resistance from the nursery industry against banning its sale as an ornamental.

Frog Blog

MSNBC has a story about the Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui) situation in Hawaii. These tiny frogs are native to Puerto Rico, and were accidentally (and probably intentionally) introduced into Hawaii during the 1990s. Hawaii has no native reptiles or amphibians, and the Coqui has quickly become a major competitor for insectivorous birds.

The eradication techniques listed in the article are pretty interesting. One involves spraying the frogs with a massive blast of caffeine, causing them to die a horrible, twitchy death. Another involves applying lime to dry the frogs out. Officials admit that they wish they had dealt with the Coqui when the frogs were first spotted in Hawaii, but even now delays in permits and funding continue.

Saguaro Under Siege

Populations of Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) in Arizona are in decline, and according to this story from the Environment News Service, researchers suspect that invading populations of the African species Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris, Pennisetum ciliare) are at least partially to blame. Buffelgrass, introduced to America as a forage grass for grazing animals, increases the size and frequency of fires in the areas it invades, and Saguaro have been noted to disappear from burned regions of habitat. This spring, scientists from the USGS are beginning an investigation in Arizona to determine the best way to remove Buffelgrass and to gauge the recovery of native species.

Trouble in Lake Victoria

The largest body of fresh water in Africa, Lake Victoria, is in trouble, according to researchers. Among the threats to the lake's ecosystem (and the livelihood of many people) are exotic species introductions. The South America Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has become so invasive that populations were mechanically shredded several years ago in an attempt to prevent further spread. In addition, the introduction of non-native fish species as food sources has led to dramatic and unpredictable fluctuations in all fish populations, and also to government imposed bans on fishing. The combination of these threats with siltation and water pollution has led all involved parties to worry that a precious resource is in irreversible decline.

Why couldn't they have brought Koalas too?

Sometime during the Gold Rush, around 1855 or so, the first Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California from Australia. In 1999, 144 years later, the red gum lerp psyllids (Glycaspis brimblecombei) were first found in California, followed by the spotted lerp psyllids in 2000. Eucalypts are valued trees in California, and probably feel like a natural part of the landscape to many. The Australian psyllids are insects that have infected and destroyed thousands of trees, and have even caused problems for birds that were feeding on the sugary substance produced by the insects. The red gum lerp psyllid has also been found in Florida.

Now Californians are fighting back against these insects, also known as "jumping plant lice." Introduction of a wasp as a biological control has not remedied the situation fast enough for some. The L.A. Times reports that the latest psyllid-fighting weapon is a tiny pesticide capsule, inserted in a hole drilled in an infected tree, that releases chemicals that kill the psyllids.