Music for the Biomasses

Turns out that invasive grasses in the genus Miscanthus may be our cure for global warming. At least that's what this article from South Africa's Independent would have us believe. Researchers at the University of Illinois have been testing Miscanthus species as renewable energy crops. Apparently the grass is already being used as a combustible fuel in parts of Europe, and has been found to be a highly productive crop. One scientist notes that it would take growing Miscanthus on less than 10% of land in Illinois to power the entire state with electricity. Interested readers may also want to check out this paper (pdf) from Long et al., the lab at U. of Illinois.

Tangled Bank is Here!

A new version of the Tangled Bank is up over at B and B. Go read it and you'll find a pair of invasive species articles (mine included) tucked down in the Biology and Ecology sections. Go on now, git!

How Many Kiwis Does it Take to Screw With a Bulbul?

According to this story from stuff NZ, Biosecurity New Zealand has alerted residents of Auckland to be on the lookout for a pair of red-vented bulbuls (Pycnonotus cafer) that were seen in the area. BNZ is concerned that a viable population of the birds would cause damage to agricultural crops and to the natural environment as well. Red-vented bulbuls were previously introduced to New Zealand back back in the 1950s but were eradicated - their importation was later banned. Sources differ regarding whether the species has already reestablished in that country.

What's the Rush?

The Monroe Evening News is reporting that the invasive flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) may now be established in Michigan's River Raisin. They're still awaiting confirmation on the species. The real story here, though, is that the Monroe County Drain Commissioner spotted the plant nearly three years ago, but failed in his attempt to procure an herbicide permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Monroe County is one of seven counties in Michigan where flowering rush is known to be established. Oh well.

Thanks to Julie A. over at the Human Flower Project for sending in a link to this story.

Rolling the Dike

The International Association for Great Lakes Research has a story about a recently published study pointing to wetland dikes around the Great Lakes as a harbinger of invasive species. Turns out that the dikes, built to stabilize the wetlands for waterfowl and still water plants such as cattails, also allow nutrients to build up and species such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) to thrive. Native plants, having evolved with a cycle of natural disturbance caused by tides and flooding, were less common when species diversity was compared to that of undiked wetlands. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a link to the article abstract.

Didymomite!

The Leaf Chronicle is reporting that Didymo algae (Didymosphenia geminata) has been found east of the Mississippi River for the first time. Scientists for the Tennessee Valley Authority say there are thick mats of it in the Tennessee River, and no one's sure how it got there. No one's quite sure where it's from either: the species is been noted as being invasive in New Zealand, native in Canada, status uncertain in the U.S.

Technical Difficulties

Argh - What horrible thing has happened to cause the excellent USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database to go offline? I am devastated! Oh NASdb, I need your excellent range maps and species profiles! Please come back! :-(