Previous digest Subsequent digest
Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #146
Fri Jun 23 2006 - 17:26:28 PDT
Contents
1. Phragmites in wastewater settling ponds (Maine, USA)
2. Useful book on fire and weeds and new inventory (California, USA)
3. DVD on Asian longhorned beetle (Nationwide, USA)
4. Glyceria maxima found in Illinois (Illinois, USA)
5. Glyceria maxima again (Wisconsin, USA)
6. RJKOSE Grant season--pre-proposals due August 1 (TNC-wide)
7. Regional Invasive Plant Conference in the Pacific Northwest (Western
states/provinces, North America)
8. Prevention guide for New Zealand mudsnails (North America)
9. Alopecurus pratensis control and management (Planet Earth)
10. Enviro-roll Land and Sea Tissues (Planet Earth)
11. Literature Reviews: amphibian die-offs (Planet Earth)
---------------------------------------
1. Phragmites in wastewater settling ponds (Maine, USA)
From: Nancy Sferra (nsferra (at) tnc.org)
There are about two dozen wastewater treatment facilities in Maine (and
several more proposed) that use phragmites in sludge settling ponds. These
ponds are lined and have a sand substrate. A system of pipes drains the
water off, leaving the ponds periodically dry. The Maine DEP is drafting
some guidelines for these wastewater facilities and would like to find some
alternate vegetation to phragmites. They can't use cattail because the
systems dry out too frequently (and the operators are hesitant to water
these systems between shots of wastewater). If anyone has experience with
these types of wastewater systems and has suggestions for native species
that would work in the northeast, let me know.
---------------------------------------
2. Useful book on fire and weeds and new inventory (California, USA)
From: Elizabeth Brusati (edbrusati (at) cal-ipc.org)
California Invasive Plant Council (cal-ipc.org) has developed an excellent
booklet called "Use of fire as a tool for controlling invasive plants." This
booklet summarizes current knowledge on the use of fire in wildlands, and is
an excellent work. These are inexpensive: $5 will get you 1-2 copies, $6
will get you 3-5 copies, $7 will get you 6-10 copies. Note this is the total
cost for the bundle, not the cost per copy! If you want more than 10 copies,
contact Cal-IPC to negotiate a price.
Also, the California Invasive Plant Inventory (39 pp., color photographs),
summarizes the impacts, potential for spread, and current distribution of
more than 200 plant species that invade wildlands in California. This report
is designed to prioritize plants for control at the state and local levels,
to provide key information to those working in habitat restoration, to
identify gaps in research, and to aid those preparing or commenting on
environmental planning documents. It is the most comprehensive information
available on invasive plants in the state, and updates Cal-IPC's 1999 List
of Exotic Pest Plants that Threaten Wildlands. John Randall of TNC's Global
Species Initiative served on the Inventory Review Committee. The Inventory
is free (there is a $5 charge for shipping and handling).
---------------------------------------
3. DVD on Asian longhorned beetle (Nationwide, USA)
From: Faith Campbell (fcampbell (at) tnc.org)
Rutgers University Cooperative Extension has produced a super DVD on the
Asian longhorned beetle (ALB: Anoplophora glabripennis). It has two
Powerpoint presentations (one has film clips), a 30-minute video, photos for
use (with credit), PDF posters and alerts.
While it is naturally focused on the ALB outbreak in NJ, the educational
materials are useful for anyone concerned about this insect. And it makes
sufficient references to the risks associated with rising global trade that
you might find it useful when talking about a range of invasive species
(including deliberately introduced plants - which are mentioned at the
beginning of the video).
You can obtain copies of the DVD - at no cost - from Dr. William Hlubik
(hlubik (at) aesop.rutgers.edu).
---------------------------------------
4. Glyceria maxima found in Illinois (Illinois, USA)
From: Debra Nelson (debra.nelson (at) illinois.gov)
I have the dubious distinction of being able to report and document the
first known population of Glyceria maxima (Reed sweetgrass) in Illinois.
Please let me know if you are aware of any others in Illinois that may not
have not made it into the records. This species was found at Illinois Beach
State Park on May 18th 2006. The identification was made by John Ebinger,
Professor emeritus, Eastern Illinois University and Gordon Tucker, Dept. of
Biological Sciences EIU. I will collect the mature plant once it flowers (to
be deposited for state record at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Morton
Arboretum and EIU). This species is known from Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Eastern Canada (Ontario), and Conneticut, but not previously documented in
Illinois. See http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtglyc.html for more
information and suggested control. An aerial photograph showing the obvious
circular infestation is on line at
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/temp/debra-nelson-glyceria.jpg
This is clearly an incredibly invasive wetland species as it is
out-competing thick cattail monoculture. The oddly different patch of
vegetation showed up on aerial photos and has been expanding in a circular
pattern eminating from around a manhole cover that was installed many years
ago as a part of a sanitary sewer project at Illinois Beach State Park. I
have to assume it was brought to the site by workers or equipment during one
of many repairs on the sanitary sewer line. One more example of why it is
important to insist that all construction equipment is pressure washed
before being allowed entry into high quality natural areas.
---------------------------------------
5. Glyceria maxima again (Wisconsin, USA)
From: Eric Ulaszek (eulaszek (at) fs.fed.us)
Glyceria maxima in Illinois is not too surprising, considering it is found
just across the state line in Wisconsin. There are variegated-leaf forms of
this grass commonly available as an ornamental grass or as a "bog-garden"
plant or "marginal plant" for garden ponds through both local nurseries and
mail/internet-order plant sales. Through seed or somatic mutations at the
apical meristem, the variegated forms revert to wild type.
---------------------------------------
6. RJKOSE Grant season--pre-proposals due August 1 (TNC-wide)
From: Lisa Shipley (lshipley (at) tnc.org)
We are pleased to announce the RJ KOSE Call for Pre-proposals. For details,
please see:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/temp/rjkose2006.doc
---------------------------------------
7. Regional Invasive Plant Conference in the Pacific Northwest (Western
states/provinces, North America)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu (at) tnc.org)
There will be a regionwide conference called "Meeting the Challenge:
Invasive Plants in PNW Ecosystems" in Seattle, Washington on September
19-20th, 2006. Its mission is to create strategies and partnerships to
understand and manage plant invasions in the Pacific Northwest. USDA-Forest
Service, University of Washington, Center for Invasive Plant Management and
The Nature Conservancy are the main sponsors, and keynote speakers include
the illustrious Dr. Ann Bartuska of USDA-FS, the intrepid Dr. Les Mehrhoff
of IPANE fame, the very cool Doug Johnson of Cal-IPC, and our very own
Herr-Director Dr. John Randall! Presentation and poster abstracts are DUE
on July 1, 2006 and early-bird registration ends August 15th, 2006! Be
there or be square!
http://depts.washington.edu/urbhort/html/invasives/homepage.htm
---------------------------------------
8. Prevention guide for New Zealand mudsnails (North America)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu (at) tnc.org)
The tiny New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) has greatly
expanded its range in brackish and freshwaters over the last 10 years. The
best way to slow its rate of spread is to prevent the transport of these
critters on your equipment and field gear. See this cool new prevention
guide produced by some folks in Oregon.
Low Resolution:
http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g06006_lowres.pdf
High Resolution:
http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g06006_highres.pdf
---------------------------------------
9. Alopecurus pratensis control and management (Oregon, USA)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu (at) tnc.org)
Has anyone tried managing Alopecurus pratensis (meadow foxtail)? If so,
what did you use, when did you apply treatments, and was it successful? We
have some invading into native-dominated wet and dry meadows at one of our
preserves in Oregon, and hope to start some control efforts soon.
---------------------------------------
10. Enviro-roll Land and Sea Tissues (Planet Earth)
From: Joy Kogias (joykogias (at) bigpond.com)
In listserve posting #135 (http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/listarch/arch135.html#07), Barry Rice wrote that
our product Enviro-roll Land tissues was a bad idea. Apparently he was
concerned about our spreading of non-native seeds. This is not an issue
because we are developing indigenous/endemic-regional/eco specific
(non-weedy) seed mixes for use in each country. We will not be introducing
species into areas in which they do not naturally occur.
---------------------------------------
11. Literature Reviews: amphibian die-offs (Planet Earth)
From: John Randall (jarandall (at) ucdavis.edu)
Grim outlook for many amphibians in the Neotropics revealed by recent
research
Three recent papers provide solid evidence that:
1. Disappearances and sharp declines of many amphibian species in
Central America and tropical South America are the result of continuing
spread of a disease-causing chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(Bd). Bd is now widespread and found from lowland deserts, to rain forests
to mountaintops, but evidence is mounting that it has been introduced to
Central and South America and many other parts of the world in recent
decades.
2. Overall amphibian species richness and density at a study site in
Panama declined by >50% just 5 months after Bd was first detected there.
Similarly rapid and severe losses and declines have been observed in many
sites in Central and South America.
3. Climate change-driven increases in cloud cover and resulting
temperature moderation at mid-elevations in Central and South America have
shifted temperatures towards the optimum for Bd in these areas leading to
increased incidence of Bd-caused amphibian declines.
4. Bull frogs (Rana catesbiana) which have been widely introduced in
Central and South America and to other areas around the world are a likely
vector of the disease since they carry but are not killed or debilitated by
it.
5. Some species native to die-back areas in the Neotropics can also
carry the chytrid infection but appear to suffer few or no ill effects
themselves. It is believed that movement by such individuals is likely at
least partly responsible for the continuing spread of the disease in Central
America. In addition, lab experiments reported elsewhere have shown that
infected individuals can carry the disease up to 220 days before dying.
6. Evidence indicates the die-off front (epidemic wave) has moved
steadily to the southeast from near Monteverde, Costa Rica where die-off was
reported in 1987-88, to Fortuna Panama in 1996-97, to El Cope, Panama in
2004-2005. The chytrid was recently found at El Valle, Panama, well over
500 km (310 miles) southeast of Monteverde according to an article which
appeared in The New York Times last week (Goodman, B. 2006. To stem
widespread extinctions scientists airlift frogs on carry-on bags. New York
Times, June 6. 2006: D-3). The same article reported that two scientists
had collected over 600 individual frogs of many different species in El
Valle before the disease struck and transported them to the Atlanta Zoo and
Atlanta Botanic Garden for captive breeding programs.
The most recent findings of the Global Amphibian Assessment
(http://www.globalamphibians.org/), an ongoing effort initiated due to
rising alarm about widespread amphibian declines, include:
* As many as 165 amphibian species may already be extinct. At least 34
amphibian species are known to be extinct, one is 'Extinct in the Wild',
while at least another 130 species have not been found in recent years and
are possibly extinct.
* One piece of good news is that 179 species have been added to the
GAA since its initial release in 2004. In 2004 there were 5,743 species
listed in the GAA, and this has increased to 5,918 species in the 2006
update. Not all of these species are new species descriptions; a few are
sub-species recently elevated to species status, or species removed from
synonymy.
Lips, K.R., F.Brem, F. Brenes, J.D. Reeve, R.A. Alford, J. Voyles, C. Carey,
L. Livo, A.P. Pessier, J.P. Collins. 2006. Emerging infectious disease and
the loss of biodiversity in a Neotropical amphibian community. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Science 103 (9): 3165-3170.
The chytrid fungus (chytridiomycete) Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)
which causes the disease chytridiomycosis in many amphibian species was
discovered in the mid-1990s and soon came under suspicion as one possible
cause of widespread and ongoing amphibian declines that first gained wide
attention in the late 1980s. Bd grows on amphibian skin and is sometimes a
non-lethal parasite, sometimes a saprobe, and sometimes lethal. It is not
yet clear how it kills amphibians, but it appears to break down the protein
keratin which is found in their skin and may be important for respiration.
This paper provides the best evidence to date that Bd is responsible for the
rapid and dramatic eliminations of many amphibian species and sharp overall
decreases in amphibian abundance in Central America. Evidence suggested
that die-offs were spreading to the southeast, from the area south of
Monteverde, Costa Rica in the late 1987-88, to Fortuna, Panama in 1996-97.
The authors began surveying amphibian populations in terrestrial and
riparian habitats in 1998 at El Cope, Panama, a site which was initially
well beyond (~200 km) the postulated 1996-97 epidemic front. Key findings:
* Between June 1998 and January, 2005 they carried out 698 transect
surveys and captured 29,645 amphibians.
* Between May, 2000 and July, 2004 they surveyed 1,566 individuals for
Bd infection and none tested positive.
* On Sept 23, 2004 they found the first infected frog, and on Oct 4,
2004 they found the first dead amphibian which tested positive for Bd.
* Between September, 2004 and mid-February, 2005 they found 346 dead
frogs and toads and 5 dead salamanders on riparian transects and 5 dead
frogs and 1 dead salamander on terrestrial transects. Die-off was
consistently greater in riparian areas than in terrestrial (upland) sites.
* Overall species richness and amphibian density declined by >50% just
5 months after Bd was first detected
* The dead frogs were from 38 different species (57% frog and toad
species known at the site) in 7 different families.
* 318 dead individuals were examined and all but three were moderately
to heavily infected with Bd . The remaining three were so decomposed it
could not be determined whether or not they had been infected.
* 6 of the 7 samples of substrate samples taken from locations with
dead amphibians tested positive for Bd, suggesting that the disease can be
harbored in abiotic reservoirs at this site.
* Sampling of a site west of El Cope that had experienced amphibian
die-off years earlier identified 6 native amphibian species that were
abundant, had high rates of Bd infection, and a potential for long-distance
dispersal, a combination which makes them likely reservoirs and vectors of
the disease.
The authors note that amphibian populations showed a generally increasing
trend until mid-2004 and that amphibian density and species richness
declined abruptly in Sept, 2004 slightly before the first infected frog was
found. These sharp declines continued through Feb, 2005. As has been
observed elsewhere, the die-off occurred at the peak of the rainy season.
Several conservative statistical tests of the survey and disease incidence
data indicated significant differences in population trend and disease
prevalence before and after Sept, 2004. The authors were unable to find any
evidence for other possible causes of the widespread die-off (unusual
climatic conditions, viral disease, exotic predators, land-use changes,
overharvesting, pollution) and concluded that chytridiomycosis caused by Bd
was the likely single cause. They predicted the loss of many more amphibian
species from the Neotropics, most quickly at sites immediately to the east
of their study site. They conclude with the alarming comment that under the
circumstances, "it is no longer correct to speak of global amphibian
declines but, more appropriately, of global amphibian extinctions".
Also see the accompanying article which summarizes and provides additional
context for Lips et al 2006:
Johnson, P.T.J. 2006. Amphibian diversity: decimation by disease.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 103 (9): 3011-3012.
Pounds, J.A,, M.R. Bustamante, L.A. Coloma, J. Consuegra, M.P.L. Fogden,
P.N. Foster, E. La Marca, K.L. Masters, A. Merino-Viteri, R. Puschendorf,
S.R. Ron, G.A. Sanchez-Azofeifa, C.J. Still and B.E. Young. 2006.
Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global
warming. Nature 439 (12): 161-167. doi:10.1038/nature04246
The authors analyzed the timing of losses of harlequin frogs (Atelopus spp.,
Bufonidae) from Central and South American sites in relation to changes in
sea surface and air temperatures and concluded with 'very high confidence"
(>99%) that large-scale warming has been a key factor in these losses.
Based on data for 100 species they determined that the percentage of species
lost increases sharply with increasing elevation at 200m and again at 1,000m
but decreases at 2,400m. This mid-elevation peak suggests that the
lethality of Bd may be limited by high temperatures in lower elevation
sites, and by low temperatures at the highest elevations. These
mid-elevation areas initially had the greatest species diversity. Analysis
of climate data revealed that episodic losses of amphibians across Central
and South America occurred in or immediately after years that were unusually
warm across the tropics. Rising temperatures may have increased cloud cover
over mid-elevations regions leading to increased night-time temperatures due
to decreases radiant heat loss, and decreased daytime highs due to impeded
solar radiation. At Monteverde, daily minimums rose and daily maximums fell
between 1977 and 1997. Data from 11 stations in Columbia and Venezuela
revealed similar moderations in daily temperature extremes. Plots of daily
minimum and maximum temperatures in relation to altitude for 50 locations
from Costa Rica to Peru analyzed with plots of the altitudinal distributions
of Atelopus species revealed that most reported Atelopus disappearances
occurred at elevations where the minimum temperature is shifting toward the
growth optimum for Bd. The authors propose the "chytrid-thermal-optimum"
hypothesis in which local or microscale daytime cooling and night time
warming which results from increasing cloud cover driven by global warming
accelerates the development of lethal chytridiomycosis caused by Bd. They
conclude that climate-driven epidemics are an immediate threat to biological
diversity.
Also see the accompanying article which summarizes and provides additional
context for Pounds et al, 2006:
Blaustein, A.R. and A. Dobson. 2206. A message from the frogs. Nature 439
(12): 143-144.
Garner, T.W.J., M.W. Perkins, P. Govindarajulu, D. Seglie, S. Walker, A.A.
Cunningham and M.C. Fisher. 2006. The emerging amphibian pathogen
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis globally infects introduced populations of
the North American bullfrog, Rana catesbiana. Biology Letters.
doi:10.1098/rsbl.2006.0494
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd ) is known to infect bullfrogs but
without causing detectable symptoms. Because of this, and the fact that
bullfrogs have been introduced widely around the world for food production
(frogs legs) and other reasons and have then escaped and formed feral
populations, bullfrogs have been proposed as vectors of Bd. Garner et al
sampled bullfrogs from 18 sites in 8 nations in North America, South
America, Europe and Asia for Bd infection. They detected Bd infections in
bullfrogs from 7 of the 8 countries supporting the hypothesis that they may
have vectored the disease far and wide. Varying proportions of bullfrogs
tested from British Columbia, southern Arizona, central Brazil, Uruguay, the
U.K, France and Italy, all regions where they are introduced, were infected.
Only bullfrogs from eastern Canada (Ontario), where they are native, and
from Japan, where they are introduced, showed no signs of infection.
Earlier work found that bullfrog populations from other sites within their
native range in eastern Canada have carried the infection since the 1960s,
suggesting that there is spatial variation in infection within this region.
Other genetic and epidemiological work provides evidence that Bd may be a
recently emerged clone which has been spread around the world largely in
recent decades. The authors note that introduced bullfrog predation and
bullfrog larval competition with other amphibians have also been suggested
as important factors causing serious declines and extinctions of native
amphibians. They point out, however, that the evidence for this is
equivocal and that some experimental tests may have been confounded by the
presence of Bd. They argue that bullfrog-vectored disease, predation and
competition and a complex of other factors are responsible for the worldwide
amphibian declines while acknowledging that Bd alone can be responsible for
rapid declines at some sites. Other work has shown that some amphibian
native species are highly susceptible to Bd (e.g. Boreal toads, Bufo boreas)
but that others are not affected (e.g. Pacific tree frogs, Psuedacris
regilla) The authors conclude by noting that while bullfrog populations can
be controlled or eliminated at some sites, thereby making predation and
larval competition manageable, this does not control or eliminate Bd and
that until Bd removal can be accomplished such removal projects probably
won't be enough to allow susceptible native amphibians re-establish.
Contents
1. Phragmites in wastewater settling ponds (Maine, USA)
2. Useful book on fire and weeds and new inventory (California, USA)
3. DVD on Asian longhorned beetle (Nationwide, USA)
4. Glyceria maxima found in Illinois (Illinois, USA)
5. Glyceria maxima again (Wisconsin, USA)
6. RJKOSE Grant season--pre-proposals due August 1 (TNC-wide)
7. Regional Invasive Plant Conference in the Pacific Northwest (Western
states/provinces, North America)
8. Prevention guide for New Zealand mudsnails (North America)
9. Alopecurus pratensis control and management (Planet Earth)
10. Enviro-roll Land and Sea Tissues (Planet Earth)
11. Literature Reviews: amphibian die-offs (Planet Earth)
---------------------------------------
1. Phragmites in wastewater settling ponds (Maine, USA)
From: Nancy Sferra (nsferra (at) tnc.org)
There are about two dozen wastewater treatment facilities in Maine (and
several more proposed) that use phragmites in sludge settling ponds. These
ponds are lined and have a sand substrate. A system of pipes drains the
water off, leaving the ponds periodically dry. The Maine DEP is drafting
some guidelines for these wastewater facilities and would like to find some
alternate vegetation to phragmites. They can't use cattail because the
systems dry out too frequently (and the operators are hesitant to water
these systems between shots of wastewater). If anyone has experience with
these types of wastewater systems and has suggestions for native species
that would work in the northeast, let me know.
---------------------------------------
2. Useful book on fire and weeds and new inventory (California, USA)
From: Elizabeth Brusati (edbrusati (at) cal-ipc.org)
California Invasive Plant Council (cal-ipc.org) has developed an excellent
booklet called "Use of fire as a tool for controlling invasive plants." This
booklet summarizes current knowledge on the use of fire in wildlands, and is
an excellent work. These are inexpensive: $5 will get you 1-2 copies, $6
will get you 3-5 copies, $7 will get you 6-10 copies. Note this is the total
cost for the bundle, not the cost per copy! If you want more than 10 copies,
contact Cal-IPC to negotiate a price.
Also, the California Invasive Plant Inventory (39 pp., color photographs),
summarizes the impacts, potential for spread, and current distribution of
more than 200 plant species that invade wildlands in California. This report
is designed to prioritize plants for control at the state and local levels,
to provide key information to those working in habitat restoration, to
identify gaps in research, and to aid those preparing or commenting on
environmental planning documents. It is the most comprehensive information
available on invasive plants in the state, and updates Cal-IPC's 1999 List
of Exotic Pest Plants that Threaten Wildlands. John Randall of TNC's Global
Species Initiative served on the Inventory Review Committee. The Inventory
is free (there is a $5 charge for shipping and handling).
---------------------------------------
3. DVD on Asian longhorned beetle (Nationwide, USA)
From: Faith Campbell (fcampbell (at) tnc.org)
Rutgers University Cooperative Extension has produced a super DVD on the
Asian longhorned beetle (ALB: Anoplophora glabripennis). It has two
Powerpoint presentations (one has film clips), a 30-minute video, photos for
use (with credit), PDF posters and alerts.
While it is naturally focused on the ALB outbreak in NJ, the educational
materials are useful for anyone concerned about this insect. And it makes
sufficient references to the risks associated with rising global trade that
you might find it useful when talking about a range of invasive species
(including deliberately introduced plants - which are mentioned at the
beginning of the video).
You can obtain copies of the DVD - at no cost - from Dr. William Hlubik
(hlubik (at) aesop.rutgers.edu).
---------------------------------------
4. Glyceria maxima found in Illinois (Illinois, USA)
From: Debra Nelson (debra.nelson (at) illinois.gov)
I have the dubious distinction of being able to report and document the
first known population of Glyceria maxima (Reed sweetgrass) in Illinois.
Please let me know if you are aware of any others in Illinois that may not
have not made it into the records. This species was found at Illinois Beach
State Park on May 18th 2006. The identification was made by John Ebinger,
Professor emeritus, Eastern Illinois University and Gordon Tucker, Dept. of
Biological Sciences EIU. I will collect the mature plant once it flowers (to
be deposited for state record at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Morton
Arboretum and EIU). This species is known from Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Eastern Canada (Ontario), and Conneticut, but not previously documented in
Illinois. See http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtglyc.html for more
information and suggested control. An aerial photograph showing the obvious
circular infestation is on line at
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/temp/debra-nelson-glyceria.jpg
This is clearly an incredibly invasive wetland species as it is
out-competing thick cattail monoculture. The oddly different patch of
vegetation showed up on aerial photos and has been expanding in a circular
pattern eminating from around a manhole cover that was installed many years
ago as a part of a sanitary sewer project at Illinois Beach State Park. I
have to assume it was brought to the site by workers or equipment during one
of many repairs on the sanitary sewer line. One more example of why it is
important to insist that all construction equipment is pressure washed
before being allowed entry into high quality natural areas.
---------------------------------------
5. Glyceria maxima again (Wisconsin, USA)
From: Eric Ulaszek (eulaszek (at) fs.fed.us)
Glyceria maxima in Illinois is not too surprising, considering it is found
just across the state line in Wisconsin. There are variegated-leaf forms of
this grass commonly available as an ornamental grass or as a "bog-garden"
plant or "marginal plant" for garden ponds through both local nurseries and
mail/internet-order plant sales. Through seed or somatic mutations at the
apical meristem, the variegated forms revert to wild type.
---------------------------------------
6. RJKOSE Grant season--pre-proposals due August 1 (TNC-wide)
From: Lisa Shipley (lshipley (at) tnc.org)
We are pleased to announce the RJ KOSE Call for Pre-proposals. For details,
please see:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/temp/rjkose2006.doc
---------------------------------------
7. Regional Invasive Plant Conference in the Pacific Northwest (Western
states/provinces, North America)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu (at) tnc.org)
There will be a regionwide conference called "Meeting the Challenge:
Invasive Plants in PNW Ecosystems" in Seattle, Washington on September
19-20th, 2006. Its mission is to create strategies and partnerships to
understand and manage plant invasions in the Pacific Northwest. USDA-Forest
Service, University of Washington, Center for Invasive Plant Management and
The Nature Conservancy are the main sponsors, and keynote speakers include
the illustrious Dr. Ann Bartuska of USDA-FS, the intrepid Dr. Les Mehrhoff
of IPANE fame, the very cool Doug Johnson of Cal-IPC, and our very own
Herr-Director Dr. John Randall! Presentation and poster abstracts are DUE
on July 1, 2006 and early-bird registration ends August 15th, 2006! Be
there or be square!
http://depts.washington.edu/urbhort/html/invasives/homepage.htm
---------------------------------------
8. Prevention guide for New Zealand mudsnails (North America)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu (at) tnc.org)
The tiny New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) has greatly
expanded its range in brackish and freshwaters over the last 10 years. The
best way to slow its rate of spread is to prevent the transport of these
critters on your equipment and field gear. See this cool new prevention
guide produced by some folks in Oregon.
Low Resolution:
http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g06006_lowres.pdf
High Resolution:
http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g06006_highres.pdf
---------------------------------------
9. Alopecurus pratensis control and management (Oregon, USA)
From: Mandy Tu (imtu (at) tnc.org)
Has anyone tried managing Alopecurus pratensis (meadow foxtail)? If so,
what did you use, when did you apply treatments, and was it successful? We
have some invading into native-dominated wet and dry meadows at one of our
preserves in Oregon, and hope to start some control efforts soon.
---------------------------------------
10. Enviro-roll Land and Sea Tissues (Planet Earth)
From: Joy Kogias (joykogias (at) bigpond.com)
In listserve posting #135 (http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/listarch/arch135.html#07), Barry Rice wrote that
our product Enviro-roll Land tissues was a bad idea. Apparently he was
concerned about our spreading of non-native seeds. This is not an issue
because we are developing indigenous/endemic-regional/eco specific
(non-weedy) seed mixes for use in each country. We will not be introducing
species into areas in which they do not naturally occur.
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11. Literature Reviews: amphibian die-offs (Planet Earth)
From: John Randall (jarandall (at) ucdavis.edu)
Grim outlook for many amphibians in the Neotropics revealed by recent
research
Three recent papers provide solid evidence that:
1. Disappearances and sharp declines of many amphibian species in
Central America and tropical South America are the result of continuing
spread of a disease-causing chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(Bd). Bd is now widespread and found from lowland deserts, to rain forests
to mountaintops, but evidence is mounting that it has been introduced to
Central and South America and many other parts of the world in recent
decades.
2. Overall amphibian species richness and density at a study site in
Panama declined by >50% just 5 months after Bd was first detected there.
Similarly rapid and severe losses and declines have been observed in many
sites in Central and South America.
3. Climate change-driven increases in cloud cover and resulting
temperature moderation at mid-elevations in Central and South America have
shifted temperatures towards the optimum for Bd in these areas leading to
increased incidence of Bd-caused amphibian declines.
4. Bull frogs (Rana catesbiana) which have been widely introduced in
Central and South America and to other areas around the world are a likely
vector of the disease since they carry but are not killed or debilitated by
it.
5. Some species native to die-back areas in the Neotropics can also
carry the chytrid infection but appear to suffer few or no ill effects
themselves. It is believed that movement by such individuals is likely at
least partly responsible for the continuing spread of the disease in Central
America. In addition, lab experiments reported elsewhere have shown that
infected individuals can carry the disease up to 220 days before dying.
6. Evidence indicates the die-off front (epidemic wave) has moved
steadily to the southeast from near Monteverde, Costa Rica where die-off was
reported in 1987-88, to Fortuna Panama in 1996-97, to El Cope, Panama in
2004-2005. The chytrid was recently found at El Valle, Panama, well over
500 km (310 miles) southeast of Monteverde according to an article which
appeared in The New York Times last week (Goodman, B. 2006. To stem
widespread extinctions scientists airlift frogs on carry-on bags. New York
Times, June 6. 2006: D-3). The same article reported that two scientists
had collected over 600 individual frogs of many different species in El
Valle before the disease struck and transported them to the Atlanta Zoo and
Atlanta Botanic Garden for captive breeding programs.
The most recent findings of the Global Amphibian Assessment
(http://www.globalamphibians.org/), an ongoing effort initiated due to
rising alarm about widespread amphibian declines, include:
* As many as 165 amphibian species may already be extinct. At least 34
amphibian species are known to be extinct, one is 'Extinct in the Wild',
while at least another 130 species have not been found in recent years and
are possibly extinct.
* One piece of good news is that 179 species have been added to the
GAA since its initial release in 2004. In 2004 there were 5,743 species
listed in the GAA, and this has increased to 5,918 species in the 2006
update. Not all of these species are new species descriptions; a few are
sub-species recently elevated to species status, or species removed from
synonymy.
Lips, K.R., F.Brem, F. Brenes, J.D. Reeve, R.A. Alford, J. Voyles, C. Carey,
L. Livo, A.P. Pessier, J.P. Collins. 2006. Emerging infectious disease and
the loss of biodiversity in a Neotropical amphibian community. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Science 103 (9): 3165-3170.
The chytrid fungus (chytridiomycete) Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)
which causes the disease chytridiomycosis in many amphibian species was
discovered in the mid-1990s and soon came under suspicion as one possible
cause of widespread and ongoing amphibian declines that first gained wide
attention in the late 1980s. Bd grows on amphibian skin and is sometimes a
non-lethal parasite, sometimes a saprobe, and sometimes lethal. It is not
yet clear how it kills amphibians, but it appears to break down the protein
keratin which is found in their skin and may be important for respiration.
This paper provides the best evidence to date that Bd is responsible for the
rapid and dramatic eliminations of many amphibian species and sharp overall
decreases in amphibian abundance in Central America. Evidence suggested
that die-offs were spreading to the southeast, from the area south of
Monteverde, Costa Rica in the late 1987-88, to Fortuna, Panama in 1996-97.
The authors began surveying amphibian populations in terrestrial and
riparian habitats in 1998 at El Cope, Panama, a site which was initially
well beyond (~200 km) the postulated 1996-97 epidemic front. Key findings:
* Between June 1998 and January, 2005 they carried out 698 transect
surveys and captured 29,645 amphibians.
* Between May, 2000 and July, 2004 they surveyed 1,566 individuals for
Bd infection and none tested positive.
* On Sept 23, 2004 they found the first infected frog, and on Oct 4,
2004 they found the first dead amphibian which tested positive for Bd.
* Between September, 2004 and mid-February, 2005 they found 346 dead
frogs and toads and 5 dead salamanders on riparian transects and 5 dead
frogs and 1 dead salamander on terrestrial transects. Die-off was
consistently greater in riparian areas than in terrestrial (upland) sites.
* Overall species richness and amphibian density declined by >50% just
5 months after Bd was first detected
* The dead frogs were from 38 different species (57% frog and toad
species known at the site) in 7 different families.
* 318 dead individuals were examined and all but three were moderately
to heavily infected with Bd . The remaining three were so decomposed it
could not be determined whether or not they had been infected.
* 6 of the 7 samples of substrate samples taken from locations with
dead amphibians tested positive for Bd, suggesting that the disease can be
harbored in abiotic reservoirs at this site.
* Sampling of a site west of El Cope that had experienced amphibian
die-off years earlier identified 6 native amphibian species that were
abundant, had high rates of Bd infection, and a potential for long-distance
dispersal, a combination which makes them likely reservoirs and vectors of
the disease.
The authors note that amphibian populations showed a generally increasing
trend until mid-2004 and that amphibian density and species richness
declined abruptly in Sept, 2004 slightly before the first infected frog was
found. These sharp declines continued through Feb, 2005. As has been
observed elsewhere, the die-off occurred at the peak of the rainy season.
Several conservative statistical tests of the survey and disease incidence
data indicated significant differences in population trend and disease
prevalence before and after Sept, 2004. The authors were unable to find any
evidence for other possible causes of the widespread die-off (unusual
climatic conditions, viral disease, exotic predators, land-use changes,
overharvesting, pollution) and concluded that chytridiomycosis caused by Bd
was the likely single cause. They predicted the loss of many more amphibian
species from the Neotropics, most quickly at sites immediately to the east
of their study site. They conclude with the alarming comment that under the
circumstances, "it is no longer correct to speak of global amphibian
declines but, more appropriately, of global amphibian extinctions".
Also see the accompanying article which summarizes and provides additional
context for Lips et al 2006:
Johnson, P.T.J. 2006. Amphibian diversity: decimation by disease.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 103 (9): 3011-3012.
Pounds, J.A,, M.R. Bustamante, L.A. Coloma, J. Consuegra, M.P.L. Fogden,
P.N. Foster, E. La Marca, K.L. Masters, A. Merino-Viteri, R. Puschendorf,
S.R. Ron, G.A. Sanchez-Azofeifa, C.J. Still and B.E. Young. 2006.
Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global
warming. Nature 439 (12): 161-167. doi:10.1038/nature04246
The authors analyzed the timing of losses of harlequin frogs (Atelopus spp.,
Bufonidae) from Central and South American sites in relation to changes in
sea surface and air temperatures and concluded with 'very high confidence"
(>99%) that large-scale warming has been a key factor in these losses.
Based on data for 100 species they determined that the percentage of species
lost increases sharply with increasing elevation at 200m and again at 1,000m
but decreases at 2,400m. This mid-elevation peak suggests that the
lethality of Bd may be limited by high temperatures in lower elevation
sites, and by low temperatures at the highest elevations. These
mid-elevation areas initially had the greatest species diversity. Analysis
of climate data revealed that episodic losses of amphibians across Central
and South America occurred in or immediately after years that were unusually
warm across the tropics. Rising temperatures may have increased cloud cover
over mid-elevations regions leading to increased night-time temperatures due
to decreases radiant heat loss, and decreased daytime highs due to impeded
solar radiation. At Monteverde, daily minimums rose and daily maximums fell
between 1977 and 1997. Data from 11 stations in Columbia and Venezuela
revealed similar moderations in daily temperature extremes. Plots of daily
minimum and maximum temperatures in relation to altitude for 50 locations
from Costa Rica to Peru analyzed with plots of the altitudinal distributions
of Atelopus species revealed that most reported Atelopus disappearances
occurred at elevations where the minimum temperature is shifting toward the
growth optimum for Bd. The authors propose the "chytrid-thermal-optimum"
hypothesis in which local or microscale daytime cooling and night time
warming which results from increasing cloud cover driven by global warming
accelerates the development of lethal chytridiomycosis caused by Bd. They
conclude that climate-driven epidemics are an immediate threat to biological
diversity.
Also see the accompanying article which summarizes and provides additional
context for Pounds et al, 2006:
Blaustein, A.R. and A. Dobson. 2206. A message from the frogs. Nature 439
(12): 143-144.
Garner, T.W.J., M.W. Perkins, P. Govindarajulu, D. Seglie, S. Walker, A.A.
Cunningham and M.C. Fisher. 2006. The emerging amphibian pathogen
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis globally infects introduced populations of
the North American bullfrog, Rana catesbiana. Biology Letters.
doi:10.1098/rsbl.2006.0494
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd ) is known to infect bullfrogs but
without causing detectable symptoms. Because of this, and the fact that
bullfrogs have been introduced widely around the world for food production
(frogs legs) and other reasons and have then escaped and formed feral
populations, bullfrogs have been proposed as vectors of Bd. Garner et al
sampled bullfrogs from 18 sites in 8 nations in North America, South
America, Europe and Asia for Bd infection. They detected Bd infections in
bullfrogs from 7 of the 8 countries supporting the hypothesis that they may
have vectored the disease far and wide. Varying proportions of bullfrogs
tested from British Columbia, southern Arizona, central Brazil, Uruguay, the
U.K, France and Italy, all regions where they are introduced, were infected.
Only bullfrogs from eastern Canada (Ontario), where they are native, and
from Japan, where they are introduced, showed no signs of infection.
Earlier work found that bullfrog populations from other sites within their
native range in eastern Canada have carried the infection since the 1960s,
suggesting that there is spatial variation in infection within this region.
Other genetic and epidemiological work provides evidence that Bd may be a
recently emerged clone which has been spread around the world largely in
recent decades. The authors note that introduced bullfrog predation and
bullfrog larval competition with other amphibians have also been suggested
as important factors causing serious declines and extinctions of native
amphibians. They point out, however, that the evidence for this is
equivocal and that some experimental tests may have been confounded by the
presence of Bd. They argue that bullfrog-vectored disease, predation and
competition and a complex of other factors are responsible for the worldwide
amphibian declines while acknowledging that Bd alone can be responsible for
rapid declines at some sites. Other work has shown that some amphibian
native species are highly susceptible to Bd (e.g. Boreal toads, Bufo boreas)
but that others are not affected (e.g. Pacific tree frogs, Psuedacris
regilla) The authors conclude by noting that while bullfrog populations can
be controlled or eliminated at some sites, thereby making predation and
larval competition manageable, this does not control or eliminate Bd and
that until Bd removal can be accomplished such removal projects probably
won't be enough to allow susceptible native amphibians re-establish.