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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #155
Fri Jun 20 2008 - 14:53:13 PDT
Contents
1. Weeds and biofuels (Global, Planet Earth)
2. Reporting alerts in a new invasive plants journal (Nationwide, USA)
3. Screening tool study, again (Global, Planet Earth)
4. Prevention of invasive wildlife in Florida (Florida, USA)
5. What will we tell the children? (Global, Planet Earth)
6. Invasives on Oregon TV (Oregon, USA)
7. Successful rat removal! (Canna, Scotland)
8. CWMA Presentations online (Nationwide, USA)
9. Ants in the Pacific (Asia-Pacific)
10. New Invaders Watch Program contest (Illinois, USA)
11. The Weeds CRC will survive? (Australia)
---------------------------------------------------------------
1. Weeds and biofuels (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Tim Low (tim.low(at)uq.net.au)
Biofuels have received a hammering in the media lately, with Time magazine
running a major article called, 'The Clean Energy Scam', exposing the
habitat destruction going on in their name, and pointing to a lack of
evidence that they will reduce greenhouse gas levels. Many articles like
this have been published in recent months. But despite all the critiques
going on, the capacity of biofuels to spawn weed problems is largely going
unnoticed. The Invasive Species Council in Australia has been raising
awareness about this issue. We have just released a revised edition of our
report, 'The Weedy Truth about Biofuels'. See this report at:
http://www.invasives.org.au/issues/biofuels.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
2. Reporting alerts in a new invasive plants journal (Nationwide, USA)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
The newly fledged journal, Invasive Plant Science and Management, is a fine
home for your reports of invasive plants--new detections, range extensions,
or taxonomic revelations.
New invasions and range extensions should consist of a significant
population or plants with potentially high impact, and not a single plant or
very small low impact population. Papers can be either short research papers
or non-experimental notes. Both formats should contain an abstract and
supporting citations. Notes and papers should also contain a short
introduction to species including conditions associated with presence and
impacts, previous distribution in native and non-native range, and relevant
taxonomic information. Indicate on the left hand upper corner of the paper
the region of the United States (West, North Central, South or Northeast) or
country (other than the US) where the invasive was found or the study was
conducted. Good color photos or line drawings of the invasive plant should
accompany both notes and papers.
New invasions and range extensions should consist of a significant
population or plants with potentially high impact, and not a single plant or
very small low impact population. Papers can be either short research papers
or non-experimental notes. Both formats should contain an abstract and
supporting citations. Notes and papers should also contain a short
introduction to species including conditions associated with presence and
impacts, previous distribution in native and non-native range, and relevant
taxonomic information. Indicate on the left hand upper corner of the paper
the region of the United States (West, North Central, South or Northeast) or
country (other than the US) where the invasive was found or the study was
conducted. Good color photos or line drawings of the invasive plant should
accompany both notes and papers.
For more details, contact Joe DiTomaso, jmditomaso(at)ucdavis.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------
3. Screening tool study, again (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
In our last digest, we reported on recent research by Doria Gordon, et al.,
on important research on the accuracy of the Australian plant screening tool
to predict invasiveness. Yet another good paper has come out of this
research, "Predicting invasive plants in Florida using the Australian weed
risk assessment," in Invasive Plant Science and Management. (See the tie-in
to posting #2, above?) I have placed a pdf copy of this document for your
appreciation at:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/temp/gordonetal2008b.pdf
A brief story about the Australian weed risk assessment also appeared in The
American Gardener (May/June 2008, vol 87, p46)!
---------------------------------------------------------------
4. Prevention of invasive wildlife in Florida (Florida, USA)
From: Doria Gordon(dgordon(at)tnc.org)
Kristina Serbesoff-King (TNC-Florida) and I helped the Environmental Law
Institute develop a new report called: Cooperative prevention of invasive
wildlife introduction in Florida. The full report and Executive Summary are
online at:
http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11282.
The summary contains the recommendations for increasing effectiveness in
preventing invasive animal imports to Florida, which include increased
interagency (federal and state) cooperation and information sharing,
revising regulations, providing funding for prevention programs and
enforcement efforts, and developing incentives and educational programs to
increase compliance with state regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------
5. What will we tell the children? (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Mary Batten (mtbatten(at)verizon.net)
I am the author of a children's book about invasive species, "Aliens from
Earth." My book was recently selected by New York City Public Schools in
support of the 4th grade science requirement for the study of ecosystems. It
also received the 2006 Izaak Walton League of America Conservation Book of
the Year Award. The invasive include kudzu, zebra mussels, Africanized (or
"killer") bees, gypsy moths, and fire ants. At the end of the book, there is
a list of things that young people can do to minimize their impact on local
environments.
More information about my book, including a teacher guide, is available on
the publisher Peachtree's website
(http://www.peachtree-online.com/product/2553.aspx) or on my website
(http://www.marybatten.com).
---------------------------------------------------------------
6. Invasives on Oregon TV (Oregon, USA)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
Stephen Anderson (TNC-Oregon) told us that Oregon Public Broadcasting has
produced an excellent one-hour documentary called "The Silent Invasion." It
focuses on stories of people whose lives and livelihoods are affected, like
ranchers, marina operators, port inspectors. You can see a trailer and clips
at http://www.opb.org/programs/invasives/ (click on video tab).
While the program focuses on Oregon, OPB wants to revise it to make it
relevant everywhere and release it nationwide. It would be free to local
public television stations. Much of the content is already cross-border and
international.
Meanwhile, TNC's own Mandy Tu appeared on a Fox News TV show to spread the
message about invasives, gardening, and non-invasive alternatives. As Mandy
would say, "wiggy!" Who can say how long the piece will be archived, so see
it now!
http://www.kptv.com/video/16442093/index.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
7. Successful rat removal! (Canna, Scotland)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
In the TimesOnline, writer Lewis Smith reported on a remarkable rat removal
project from Canna, an island off the coast of Scotland. The island is home
to a native woodmouse, and is also a breeding site for seabirds such as
puffins, razorbills, and Manx shearwaters. 10,000 rats were exterminated in
this project, which began in 2005.
More of the story:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4082880.ece
---------------------------------------------------------------
8. CWMA Presentations online (Nationwide, USA)
From: Janet Clark (janet.clark(at)montana.edu)
PowerPoint presentations (with audio!) from "People-Powered Projects: The
National Cooperative Weed Management Area Conference" can now be viewed as a
slideshow at http://www.weedcenter.org/CWMAconf/CWMA_conf_home.html (click
on "Presentations").
The conference (April 15-17, 2008) focused on CWMA funding and logistics,
working with volunteers, EDRR, awareness and outreach, approaches to
mapping, and state and national initiatives. Attendees from 37 states
provided glimpses of cooperative weed management activities in their own
states. Their two-minute presentations are compiled into a slideshow that
offers a great snapshot of people-powered projects across the nation.
The conference was organized by the Center for Invasive Plant Management and
co-hosted by a broad coalition of organizations: Alaska Committee for
Noxious and Invasive Plant Management, California Invasive Plant Council,
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council,
Midwest Invasive Plant Network, National Park Service, Nevada Department of
Agriculture, and the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. Financial support
was provided by the Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Land
Management, Western Weed Coordinating Committee, and Center for Invasive
Plant Management.
---------------------------------------------------------------
9. Ants in the Pacific (Asia-Pacific)
From: Stas Burgiel (sburgiel(at)tnc.org)
A good story featuring red imported fire ants in the Pacific has recently
gone online here:
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies/misc/art24555.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
10. New Invaders Watch Program contest (Illinois, USA)
From: Debbie Maurer (dmaurer(at)co.lake.il.us)
(Heavily edited by B. Rice)
The New Invaders Watch Program is running a contest during 2008, to reward
participants that submit the greatest number of reports of target invasive
species. Reports must include a digital image or voucher specimen, to be
confirmed by the Illinois Natural History Survey Herbarium. The contest will
run through 2008. Awards include exciting prizes such as a Magellan GPS unit
and various plant guides. Contact Debbie Maurer for more details; do it soon
as it is invasive plant hunting season already!
---------------------------------------------------------------
11. The Weeds CRC will survive? (Australia)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Australia for weeds is a much
beloved program that was extremely valuable. However, funding and perhaps
politics indicated it would be terminated on 20 June 2008. However, the web
site for the CRC recently announced that it will be funded for at least
another two years! Excellent!
http://www.weeds.crc.org.au/main/weeds_crc_to_end.html
Contents
1. Weeds and biofuels (Global, Planet Earth)
2. Reporting alerts in a new invasive plants journal (Nationwide, USA)
3. Screening tool study, again (Global, Planet Earth)
4. Prevention of invasive wildlife in Florida (Florida, USA)
5. What will we tell the children? (Global, Planet Earth)
6. Invasives on Oregon TV (Oregon, USA)
7. Successful rat removal! (Canna, Scotland)
8. CWMA Presentations online (Nationwide, USA)
9. Ants in the Pacific (Asia-Pacific)
10. New Invaders Watch Program contest (Illinois, USA)
11. The Weeds CRC will survive? (Australia)
---------------------------------------------------------------
1. Weeds and biofuels (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Tim Low (tim.low(at)uq.net.au)
Biofuels have received a hammering in the media lately, with Time magazine
running a major article called, 'The Clean Energy Scam', exposing the
habitat destruction going on in their name, and pointing to a lack of
evidence that they will reduce greenhouse gas levels. Many articles like
this have been published in recent months. But despite all the critiques
going on, the capacity of biofuels to spawn weed problems is largely going
unnoticed. The Invasive Species Council in Australia has been raising
awareness about this issue. We have just released a revised edition of our
report, 'The Weedy Truth about Biofuels'. See this report at:
http://www.invasives.org.au/issues/biofuels.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
2. Reporting alerts in a new invasive plants journal (Nationwide, USA)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
The newly fledged journal, Invasive Plant Science and Management, is a fine
home for your reports of invasive plants--new detections, range extensions,
or taxonomic revelations.
New invasions and range extensions should consist of a significant
population or plants with potentially high impact, and not a single plant or
very small low impact population. Papers can be either short research papers
or non-experimental notes. Both formats should contain an abstract and
supporting citations. Notes and papers should also contain a short
introduction to species including conditions associated with presence and
impacts, previous distribution in native and non-native range, and relevant
taxonomic information. Indicate on the left hand upper corner of the paper
the region of the United States (West, North Central, South or Northeast) or
country (other than the US) where the invasive was found or the study was
conducted. Good color photos or line drawings of the invasive plant should
accompany both notes and papers.
New invasions and range extensions should consist of a significant
population or plants with potentially high impact, and not a single plant or
very small low impact population. Papers can be either short research papers
or non-experimental notes. Both formats should contain an abstract and
supporting citations. Notes and papers should also contain a short
introduction to species including conditions associated with presence and
impacts, previous distribution in native and non-native range, and relevant
taxonomic information. Indicate on the left hand upper corner of the paper
the region of the United States (West, North Central, South or Northeast) or
country (other than the US) where the invasive was found or the study was
conducted. Good color photos or line drawings of the invasive plant should
accompany both notes and papers.
For more details, contact Joe DiTomaso, jmditomaso(at)ucdavis.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------
3. Screening tool study, again (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
In our last digest, we reported on recent research by Doria Gordon, et al.,
on important research on the accuracy of the Australian plant screening tool
to predict invasiveness. Yet another good paper has come out of this
research, "Predicting invasive plants in Florida using the Australian weed
risk assessment," in Invasive Plant Science and Management. (See the tie-in
to posting #2, above?) I have placed a pdf copy of this document for your
appreciation at:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/temp/gordonetal2008b.pdf
A brief story about the Australian weed risk assessment also appeared in The
American Gardener (May/June 2008, vol 87, p46)!
---------------------------------------------------------------
4. Prevention of invasive wildlife in Florida (Florida, USA)
From: Doria Gordon(dgordon(at)tnc.org)
Kristina Serbesoff-King (TNC-Florida) and I helped the Environmental Law
Institute develop a new report called: Cooperative prevention of invasive
wildlife introduction in Florida. The full report and Executive Summary are
online at:
http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11282.
The summary contains the recommendations for increasing effectiveness in
preventing invasive animal imports to Florida, which include increased
interagency (federal and state) cooperation and information sharing,
revising regulations, providing funding for prevention programs and
enforcement efforts, and developing incentives and educational programs to
increase compliance with state regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------
5. What will we tell the children? (Global, Planet Earth)
From: Mary Batten (mtbatten(at)verizon.net)
I am the author of a children's book about invasive species, "Aliens from
Earth." My book was recently selected by New York City Public Schools in
support of the 4th grade science requirement for the study of ecosystems. It
also received the 2006 Izaak Walton League of America Conservation Book of
the Year Award. The invasive include kudzu, zebra mussels, Africanized (or
"killer") bees, gypsy moths, and fire ants. At the end of the book, there is
a list of things that young people can do to minimize their impact on local
environments.
More information about my book, including a teacher guide, is available on
the publisher Peachtree's website
(http://www.peachtree-online.com/product/2553.aspx) or on my website
(http://www.marybatten.com).
---------------------------------------------------------------
6. Invasives on Oregon TV (Oregon, USA)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
Stephen Anderson (TNC-Oregon) told us that Oregon Public Broadcasting has
produced an excellent one-hour documentary called "The Silent Invasion." It
focuses on stories of people whose lives and livelihoods are affected, like
ranchers, marina operators, port inspectors. You can see a trailer and clips
at http://www.opb.org/programs/invasives/ (click on video tab).
While the program focuses on Oregon, OPB wants to revise it to make it
relevant everywhere and release it nationwide. It would be free to local
public television stations. Much of the content is already cross-border and
international.
Meanwhile, TNC's own Mandy Tu appeared on a Fox News TV show to spread the
message about invasives, gardening, and non-invasive alternatives. As Mandy
would say, "wiggy!" Who can say how long the piece will be archived, so see
it now!
http://www.kptv.com/video/16442093/index.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
7. Successful rat removal! (Canna, Scotland)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
In the TimesOnline, writer Lewis Smith reported on a remarkable rat removal
project from Canna, an island off the coast of Scotland. The island is home
to a native woodmouse, and is also a breeding site for seabirds such as
puffins, razorbills, and Manx shearwaters. 10,000 rats were exterminated in
this project, which began in 2005.
More of the story:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4082880.ece
---------------------------------------------------------------
8. CWMA Presentations online (Nationwide, USA)
From: Janet Clark (janet.clark(at)montana.edu)
PowerPoint presentations (with audio!) from "People-Powered Projects: The
National Cooperative Weed Management Area Conference" can now be viewed as a
slideshow at http://www.weedcenter.org/CWMAconf/CWMA_conf_home.html (click
on "Presentations").
The conference (April 15-17, 2008) focused on CWMA funding and logistics,
working with volunteers, EDRR, awareness and outreach, approaches to
mapping, and state and national initiatives. Attendees from 37 states
provided glimpses of cooperative weed management activities in their own
states. Their two-minute presentations are compiled into a slideshow that
offers a great snapshot of people-powered projects across the nation.
The conference was organized by the Center for Invasive Plant Management and
co-hosted by a broad coalition of organizations: Alaska Committee for
Noxious and Invasive Plant Management, California Invasive Plant Council,
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council,
Midwest Invasive Plant Network, National Park Service, Nevada Department of
Agriculture, and the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. Financial support
was provided by the Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Land
Management, Western Weed Coordinating Committee, and Center for Invasive
Plant Management.
---------------------------------------------------------------
9. Ants in the Pacific (Asia-Pacific)
From: Stas Burgiel (sburgiel(at)tnc.org)
A good story featuring red imported fire ants in the Pacific has recently
gone online here:
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies/misc/art24555.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
10. New Invaders Watch Program contest (Illinois, USA)
From: Debbie Maurer (dmaurer(at)co.lake.il.us)
(Heavily edited by B. Rice)
The New Invaders Watch Program is running a contest during 2008, to reward
participants that submit the greatest number of reports of target invasive
species. Reports must include a digital image or voucher specimen, to be
confirmed by the Illinois Natural History Survey Herbarium. The contest will
run through 2008. Awards include exciting prizes such as a Magellan GPS unit
and various plant guides. Contact Debbie Maurer for more details; do it soon
as it is invasive plant hunting season already!
---------------------------------------------------------------
11. The Weeds CRC will survive? (Australia)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Australia for weeds is a much
beloved program that was extremely valuable. However, funding and perhaps
politics indicated it would be terminated on 20 June 2008. However, the web
site for the CRC recently announced that it will be funded for at least
another two years! Excellent!
http://www.weeds.crc.org.au/main/weeds_crc_to_end.html