|
|
|
|
The Global Invasive Species Team | |
|
||
|
|
|
|||||
|
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) --------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------- 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? --------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------- 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://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/meetings.html --------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------- 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://tncweeds.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? --------------------------------------- 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. |
||||||
