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The Global Invasive Species Team | |
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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #130 Fri Oct 15 2004 - 14:22:55 PDT --CONTENTS-- 1. Web updates (Global, Planet Earth) 2. Information needed on Salicornia bigelovii (California, USA) 3. Bad signs from Silphium perfoliatum? (New York, USA) 4. US Legislation update (Nationwide, USA) 5. Big opportunity vs. invasives in China (China) 6. Invasives job opportunity (Global, Planet Earth) 7. Online invasive plant course (Global, Planet Earth --------------------------------------- 1. Web updates (Global, Planet Earth) From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu) Recent updates to our web site include additions to our "meetings" page, updates to our well-received Gallery of pests, images, and more. If you haven't visited recently, now is the time! http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/ And during these times of heavy virus email traffic, remember that this listserve never includes attachments. --------------------------------------- 2. Information needed on Salicornia bigelovii (California, USA) From: Andrea Pickart (andrea_pickart(at)r1.fws.gov) We have found this plant growing at very high densities and over large areas on our high elevation salt marshes in the same habitat as two rare salt marsh annuals. At this point we know nothing about its potential to outcompete the native species, we haven't surveyed all of the bay, but in a slough we've found it only at the highest elevations on islands, not mainland salt marshes. It may be possible for us to mount a rapid response before this year's seed set. I discovered on the web that Salicornia bigelovii has been reported from Sonoma and Marin counties and San Francisco Bay, but I have no information on its extent there and would like more information. Its tips are apparently harvested in Mexico as a food crop and were evaluated as an import into US. Of course, ballast, etc., are other potential vectors. If anyone has any information on this species, please email me as soon as possible. A photograph is on-line at the ISI web site: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/salibige.html --------------------------------------- 3. Bad signs from Silphium perfoliatum? (New York, USA) From: Steven Flint (sflint(at)tnc.org) Indian cup-plant (Silphium perfoliatum) is absolutely exploding through the East Branch Au Sable River's riparian corridors in the northeast corner of the Adirondack Park. After some gumshoeing I discovered that a local musician/harp player planted it in her yard some four years ago in the Town of Keene. Her backyard is mere paces from the ordinary high water mark of the East Branch Au Sable River. To date I've documented well over five dozen populations within the watershed and I am still counting. Our Adirondack Park Agency continues to scratch their collective heads as this species is way out of its native, tallgrass prairie range, e.g. North Dakota, Texas, Minnesota, etc. Should I be concerned? **Note from list moderator---On-line resources (http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/, http://plants.usda.gov/) suggest that Silphium perfoliatum may be native in NY (it has threatened status in Michigan!). Does anyone have more information for Steven on the nativity of this plant in NY? Is it something Steven should be concerned about?---Barry --------------------------------------- 4. US Legislation update (Nationwide, USA) From: Elizabeth Sklad (esklad(at)tnc.org) Congress just put in a long working holiday weekend and a few invasive species bill that we have been working on have passed and have been sent to President Bush for signature. (They are not quite public law yet.) Please note: While funding has now been authorized for these important efforts, we will still have to work to get the money appropriated. S. 144 "Noxious Weed Control Act of 2003", Sponsor: Sen. Larry Craig (ID) As passed, S. 144 will establish a program in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance to eligible weed-management entities for noxious weed control projects. As originally written, S. 144 had the potential to address the invasive weeds crisis nationwide and would have authorized up to $100 million/year. A House Resources Committee amendment made some significant changes, including a much lower authorization ($15 million/year) and limits Federal land involvement to BLM and Forest Service lands (i.e. mostly Western U.S.). But, on the positive side, the amendment language allows the funds to be used for aquatic weed management and includes a rapid response program. While we preferred Sen. Craig's original bill language and funding level, we consider passage of any invasive species legislation in this Congress a huge victory, and are looking forward to making sure that all $15 million is appropriated. In the next few years, we'll be working to expand this bill to be more useful to Eastern states and to get additional funds. Kudos to Chelsea Maxwell (WO-Government Relations) and Will Whelan and Bas Hargrove (TNC-Idaho), who spent lots of time with Sen. Craig's staff making sure that this bill kept moving! H.R. 3479 "Brown Tree Snake Control and Eradication Act of 2004", Sponsor: Rep Bordallo (Guam) As passed, this bill would require the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to better coordinate brown tree snake control, interdiction, research, and eradication efforts. It requires establishment of a pre-departure quarantine system for cargo shipped from Guam, and creates a Brown Tree Snake Technical Working Group. Funding is authorized for all of these activities. This bill will help make sure the "BTS" doesn't make it to Hawaii or the continental U.S. (Gulf Coast states and Caribbean - you are also susceptible to the snake's establishment.) Congratulations to Mark Fox of TNC in Hawaii, who should be given credit for working closely with the Hawaii delegation to raise this problem to a national priority. Electric barrier for Asian carp (H.R. 4580, section 345) Congress approved a bill authorizing the additional funds necessary for the Army Corps of Engineers to construct the second (backup) electric dispersal barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Ideally, the dispersal barriers will keep Asian carp in the Mississippi River from entering the Great Lakes and from wreaking havoc on the Great Lakes ecosystem. At this time, the funds for construction and maintenance of the barrier have not been appropriated. --------------------------------------- 5. Big opportunity vs. invasives in China (China) From: John Randall (jarandall(at)ucdavis.edu) I am pleased to bring you news of an exciting new opportunity to address invasive species threats in China at the national scale. TNC has been invited to participate in a high-level workshop in Beijing designed to contribute to development of a national strategy for prevention and management of invasive species in China. The November 2-4 workshop is being organized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences with help from CABI (formerly Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International) and support from the National Natural Science Academy of China and the Chinese Ministries of Agriculture and of Science & Technology. Its primary output will be a report to the Central Government of China with recommendations for a national invasive species strategy which embraces prevention, early detection, on-the-ground management and information needs and which uses public policy, the creation of institutional and sectoral linkages and public awareness campaigns. Tang Letian from our China Program, and Carnet Williams, director of our Hawaii-based Clean Trade project, will join me as TNC's representatives. In the coming months, Letian will assume the lead on invasive species issues for our China program. We were particularly pleased when we realized that Carnet and I are two of just 10 people from outside China who have been invited to participate, indicating the respect that TNC has generated in China and on this issue. Our inclusion at this level is also noteworthy in enabling us to give a prominent voice to biodiversity concerns because a majority of the other participants will be from agricultural and industry sectors. Following the meeting TNC will continue to work with Chinese officials to help shape a balanced, effective national invasive species strategy. China's status as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region means its position on invasive species issues will influence their neighbors and important trade practices throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim. --------------------------------------- 6. Invasives job opportunity (Global, Planet Earth) From: Elizabeth Sklad (esklad(at)tnc.org) In collaboration with Invasive Species Initiative, The Nature Conservancy's Great Lakes Program has posted the announcement of a new position to direct the Conservancy's program on preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species to the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River ecosystems. The Conservancy is looking for a bright conservation leader to guide our work in finding solutions to this important problem. Background on the need for this position and the job description can be found at http://nature.org/cgi-bin/zope.pcgi/careers/natureorg/20040921182359.html. --------------------------------------- 7. Online invasive plant course (Global, Planet Earth) From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu) The Center for Invasive Plant Management invites you to participate in a new seven-week online course developed for resource professionals who are involved in invasive plant management. The purpose of this offering is two fold: First, the course will provide you with an integrated process, presented by our expert instructors, that guides the development and prioritization of strategies for managing plant invasions, and, second, the organizers would like your professional input on the course (this is a refinement of a pilot course we offered in 2002). The course is $25, and will take place 7 January-25 February. For more information, see: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/meetings.html |
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