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The Global Invasive Species Team | |
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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #012 Mon, 18 Jan 1999 15:00:50 -0800 (PST) --CONTENTS-- 1. New Information on the Wildland Weeds Website 2. Update on Tamarisk biocontrol --------------------------------------- 1. New Information on the Wildland Weeds Website From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu) I have uploaded a new Element Stewardship Abstract for Tamarisk (Saltcedar) to the Management Library area of the Weeds on The Web web site. This new Species Management Summary was written by Alan Carpenter and is great. I have also added a section to the web site called "Tools of the Trade." I have included information, photographs, prices, and contact information for Weed Wrenches, EZJect Lances, and the new Root Talon. --------------------------------------- 2. Update on Tamarisk biocontrol From: John Randall (jarandall(at)ucdavis.edu) Research releases of two biological control agents for invasive tamarisks (Tamarix ramosissima, T. parviflora, T. chinensis, T. pentandra, T. gallica) have been approved. Release of these two insect species was first proposed at least two years ago. A decision was delayed until questions could be addressed about whether tamarisk control might detrimentally affect the Federally Endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The Flycatcher is known to nest in tamarisk dominated areas (USFWS 1993). Jack DeLoach, leader of the tamarisk biocontrol project and Julie Gould of USDA-APHIS predict that the two biocontrol species may provide about 85% control of tamarisk and will take 3-5 years to control tamarisk at small sites and 5-10 years in small to medium watersheds. The release sites will be monitored and in a few years we should have an idea of whether these two species do in fact control tamarisks in the field. What follows is an excerpt of a broadcast e-mail from Jack Deloach's lab announcing the approval of the research releases: "On 28 December, the U SDI Fish and Wildlife Service wrote USDA-APHIS that they concurred with the proposal sent to them by Deloach (ARS) and Gould (APHIS) on 28 August 1998. This proposal covered the research releases of two control agents, the leaf beetle (Diorama elongate) from China and Kayaks, and the mealybug (Tauten mania) from Israel at 13 specified sites in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. These releases are to be confined in secure field cages during the first year, then the cages may be removed during the second and third year. The primary purposes are to measure the rapidity of control of salt cedar, the rate of dispersal of the control agents, and any damage to non-target species. Additional releases or redistributions from these specified 13 sites are not authorized until the results of the 3-year research releases are analyzed and approvals obtained from the Saltcedar Consortium, Fish and Wildlife Service, and APHIS." "In this same 28 December letter, FWS stated concurrence in our analysis (reported in the "Proposal" of 28 August 1998 and in the draft Biological Assessment of 17 October 1997) that the research releases we proposed would have no adverse affect on the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. APHIS-PPQ now is preparing the Environmental Assessment required by NEPA and the required notice in the Federal Register. If these actions proceed smoothly, we anticipate making releases into the cages this spring." This is John Randall writing again: DeLoach and other researchers are putting together a tamarisk biocontrol consortium composed of members from a broad spectrum of federal and state agencies and private organizations. One important role of the consortium will be to establish protocols for the releases and for monitoring the effects of the insects on vegetation and of consequent recovery of native vegetation, and monitoring of the affect of vegetation recovery on wildlife populations. I have been asked to represent TNC on the consortium and will be asking some of you for input, and, with permission of the individuals involved, requesting that other TNCstaff be included in the consortium. I think we can help ensure that information most useful to natural area managers is gained from these research releases. --------------------------------------------------------------- |
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