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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #117
Wed May 28 2003 - 14:41:00 PDT
--CONTENTS--
1. Sea Grant news release (Nationwide, USA)
2. Maryland Invasive Species Council web site (Maryland, USA)
3. APHIS internet surveillance for noxious weeds (Nationwide, USA)
4. Biological crusts and herbicides (Colorado, USA)
5. Booklet on West Virginia invasive species (West Virginia, USA)
6. Impending invasive species meetings (Global, planet Earth)
7. Have you seen Vincetoxicum/Cynanchum? (USA, Canada)
8. Are goats and sheep feasible? (New York, USA)
9. Tool reviews: Ringer, Root Jack, Brush Monitor (Global, planet Earth)
10. Revised comments on dormant Japanese knotweed (New York, USA)
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1. Sea Grant news release (Nationwide, USA)
From: Doug Jensen (djensen1(at)umn.edu)
Before you make your first cast of the year or launch your boat, grab some
of Sea Grant's newest aquatic invasive species identification cards!
Free cards detail characteristics of nine pests of the Great Lakes and
other waters, their wrongdoings, and what people can do to prevent their
spread. ID cards are available for the Eurasian ruffe, round goby, rusty
crayfish, spiny and fishhook waterfleas, purple loosestrife, Eurasian
watermilfoil, European frogbit, and zebra mussel.
Single cards are free. Individuals or organizations wishing to obtain
cards should contact their state Sea Grant office in the Great Lakes, or
their state or provincial natural resource management agency. To order ID
cards in Minnesota, contact Minnesota Sea Grant at (218) 726-6191, or by
e-mail at seagr(at)d.umn.edu.
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2. Maryland Invasive Species Council web site (Maryland, USA)
From: Carol A. Holko (holkoca(at)mda.state.md.us)
The Maryland Invasive Species Council Web site is now fully functional,
covering information and resources on invasive species of concern in
Maryland. Check out current events (legislation and news topics) and the
invader of the month. Visit: http://www.mdinvasivesp.org
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3. APHIS internet surveillance for noxious weeds (Nationwide, USA)
From: Polly P. Lehtonen (polly.p.lehtonen(at)aphis.usda.gov)
New APHIS staff members are conducting internet surveillance for sites
advertizing regulated plant pests and noxious weeds. Please refer
sightings, including the hot link to the site, of Federal noxious weeds
when illegal importation or interstate movement may be involved to
Sherrena.a.Harrison(at)aphis.usda.gov. APHIS will analyze the context and
follow up with the appropriate action.
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4. Biological crusts and herbicides (Colorado, USA)
From: Suzanne Halvorson (suzanne_halvorson(at)fws.gov)
Wyoming BLM held an excellent conference on downy brome (cheatgrass) in
February but I forgot to ask a question while I was there. Has anyone has
looked at the affects of herbicides on biological soil crusts?
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5. Booklet on West Virginia invasive species (West Virginia, USA)
From: Andrea Shotkin (ashotkin(at)ucsusa.org)
Following closely on the heels of the recently published summary report,
"Invasive Species: Texas," the Union of Concerned Scientists has just
released a new report entitled "Invasive Species: West Virginia." This
16-page booklet is intended to serve as a handy, informative tool for
scientists, resource managers, and others to use in their work with the
media, legislators, opinion leaders, and the general public.
To learn more about this booklet, or others on Texas and Alaska, visit:
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/invasive_species/page.cfm?pageID=1113
From there, you can download PDF versions of the West Virginia and Texas
reports, plus PDF versions of a separate sheet on the National Aquatic
Invasive Species Act (NAISA) and how, as proposed, it would benefit the
two states.
If you prefer print copies, please contact us directly.
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6. Impending invasive species meetings (Global, planet Earth)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
I have recently added notes on various impending invasive species
meetings. For examples:
Geneva, Illinois, 19-20 June
San Angelo, Texas, 16-17 July
Portland, Maine, 20-23 July
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6-7 August
Bendigo, Victoria (Australia), 20-21 August
Framington, Massachusetts, 19-20 September
Sacramento, California, 14-16 October
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 3-7 November
For more details, see:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/meetings.html
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7. Have you seen Vincetoxicum/Cynanchum? (USA, Canada)
From: Fran Lawlor (flawlor(at)tnc.org)
I am writing for a newly forming Vincetoxicum research collaboration in
northern New York State and eastern Ontario. We are studying the impacts
and control of infestations of the swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum nigrum
[syn. Cynanchum louiseae] and V. rossicum [syn. C. rossicum]) in North
America.
We would like to obtain information about the location and coverage of
each species, as well as habitat and plant community types, in your
state/province. We would be very appreciative to have plant material sent
to us, from a minimum of a mature fruit containing seed up to a pressed
herbarium specimen with appropriate label. We will use the samples to make
positive identification and to determine genetic variability across the
range of the two species.
The distribution information would be useful now but, obviously, we would
have to wait for the plant samples until later in the growing season. With
the distribution information, feel free to include any knowledge you have
of the history of the infestation in your area: when first noted, rate of
increase, disturbance history, plant species (and/or animal species)
displaced, etc.
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8. Are goats and sheep feasible? (New York, USA)
From: Mike Scheibel (mscheibel(at)tnc.org)
I am wondering anyone out there has hands-on experience with using goats
and/or sheep to control invasives? Our Invasives Strategy Team is
interested in perhaps setting up something on an experimental basis. We
already use deer here at Mashomack.
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9. Tool reviews: Ringer, Root Jack, Brush Monitor (Global, planet Earth)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
The "Ringer" is a really neat way to ring trees (i.e. cut out strips of
bark). It is expensive ($150!!!) but read the glowing review on our web
site and you may decide to buy one. In contrast, the "Root Jack" did not
stack up. Read why... Both reviews are online at:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/tools.html
Recently I found a web site for a tractor-pulled herbicide applicator (the
"Brush Monitor System") that simultaneously mows and applies herbicide.
This bush-hog/sprayer is interesting because it appears to do a nice job
of applying herbicide to the freshly-cut stubble (minimizing herbicide
use), and it eliminates blow-by/drift problems. On the other hand, the
marketing for the "system" is a little creepy because the manufacturers
seem to emphasize that it can be used in "low public visibility" (i.e.
covert) herbicide applications. See the company's web site (not viewable
with Netscape, alas, use Internet Explorer):
http://www.brownmfgcorp.com/bmonitor/brown_brushmon_page2.htm
Prices are not available on the web site; I called the manufacturer and
found that it costs about $12,000. Has anyone used this?
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10. Revised comments on dormant Japanese knotweed (New York, USA)
From: Steven Flint (sflint(at)tnc.org)
(Steven sent in new information about dormant Polygonum cuspidatum,
discussed in a thread in digests #82 and #115, regarding whether viable
seeds might reside in dead canes---Barry)
Jennifer Forman informed me that YES, there may be viable, residual seed
capacity in the dormant crowns of last year's stands (canes) of robust,
Adirondack Park Japanese knotweed infestations.
I'll diligently prune and securely bag those dormant, luxurious crowns
prior to cutting back the canes as I prepare specific infestations for
religious cut-n-swab controls later this spring.