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Last week's topic: invasive species.

We asked about invasive species in your area.

Here's what some of you had to say...


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Japanese Beetles

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Several years ago I came across a seed catalog from J. L. Hudson in California. The author refers to it as an ethnobotanical catalog of seeds and deals with the seed of plants that have had an impact on man, whether as sources of food, medicine, or aesthetics. The catalog is loaded with information and also has quotes by a variety of people pertaining to our place on the planet.

One of the more interesting things is a kind of a treatise that he calls "Natives vs. Exotic: The myth of the menace." My impression is he suggests that man's impact on the environment has been a boon to biodiversity. Some things he says: "There are no adequate definitions of 'native' and 'exotic,' since there has been constant movement of species since the beginning of life. Witness the migration of species across the Bering Straits and the Isthmus of Panama." He also writes: "Intact ecosystems are highly resistant to invasion, and there are also many cases of 'exotics' acting as nurse-plants and revegetators, helping the native ecosystem to reclaim its man-destroyed habitat. Even the wildest unfounded claims of 'exotics' pale in comparison to the land area occupied by technological man's monoculture crops. These crop-deserts and modern man's extractive land-domination economy are the threat to biodiversity, not 'escaped exotics.' "

Another thing he says which I think is interesting: "It is ironic to me to hear people of European ancestry accuse other organisms of being 'invasive exotics, displacing native species.' "

I think the biggest problem I have with any discussion like this is that many people seem to act as though our impact is transparent. Anyway, my view of this is that they can't see the forest for the trees.

Michael J. Fasig

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The Charles River watershed has been overtaken by a beautiful flower that is dominating other species, Purple Loosestrife. Once established it can take over a large area in just a few seasons although it is a colorful plant.

Jerrold Fleishman

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Mostly affluent posers. They're detectable by their constant low-level whining about everything.

Talk about pests.

Mike Pica.

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Here in Arizona the most invasive species is snowbirds.

Steve Hiner

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I live in South Florida, which is probably more susceptible to invasive species than most regions. In my direct neighborhood, there are at least 3 invasive plant species.

The most obnoxious is a relative newcomer, colloquially know as "Cow Itch", (which I now see is a common name given to many plants that produce some kind of irritation). I don't know it's scientific name yet, but from my brief research on the web it is not the "Trumpetcreeper". The problem with this vine is that it produces seed pods that are coated with a bristly fuzz. As the seed pod ripens, the fuzz dries and becomes more like thousands of very small splinters that are easily carried by the wind. Being downwind from these plants with exposed skin produces an itchy irritation. Not pleasant.

Brazilian pepper tree or Schinus terebinthifolius. This tree is a remarkable agressive tree which succeeds in preventing other plants from growing around it, thus taking over and dominating many areas.

Finally, Australian pine or Casuarina cunninghamiana.

chris

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In north central Indiana, we have problems with Garlic Mustard invading our woodland habitats. Amur Honeysuckle & Multi-flora (wild) Rose are also problems in the forest & edge habitats. Local parks & conservation organizations battle these invasives, in order to preserve our native flora.

Jill

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We are beekeepers, constantly protecting our hives from mites!

Karen

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I am a Master's student at the University of Washington studying Aquatic Non-Indigenous Species. I think a very important distinction between terrestrial invaders and aquatic invaders is that aquatic invaders are primarily UNINTENTIONALLY introduced; they are often "hitchhikers" for lack of a better word, coming in via human-mediated transport. Thus in the realm of aquatic invaders we need to focus on our behaviors that may transport and introduce species in order to CLOSE the transportation pathways. This is especially important in the aquatic realm as both contol and eradication methods are incredibly costly, riddled with scientific uncertainty, and most often unsuccessful.

For example, my work, which is focused on the Chinese mitten crab, a species that is of great concern to Washington State but is not yet here (it is in San Francisco Bay), is an unusual species that is most likely to be introduced via human activity, both unintentional and intentional (they are worth more than $30/ea at live seafood markets although they are Federally Injurious Species and it is illegal to bring them into, or transport them live in the county).

Awareness is the key to prevention

Robyn Draheim

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