Happy Thanksgiving!
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Single invasive mussel found in Maryland
By Candus Thomson, BaltimoreSun.com
For the first time, Maryland waters have been invaded by an alien mussel capable of fouling public water systems, destroying native aquatic life and causing millions of dollars in damage.
A single zebra mussel was scooped from inside a water intake pipe upstream from the Conowingo Dam that spans Harford and Cecil counties by a fish survey team on the Susquehanna River. The mussel, about a half-inch in size, was sent to a Pennsylvania laboratory for positive identification.
"Finding just one doesn't make sense," said Jonathan McKnight, an invasive species expert with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. "When they show up, they show up with a vengeance."
McKnight says DNR staff will post signs at Susquehanna River launching ramps to remind boaters and anglers to report any sightings and to scrub their vessels and equipment before moving them to prevent unwanted hitchhikers. Link
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Scientist says he may have bacteria to tame zebra mussels
WCAX.com
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (AP) - A New York State Museum researcher says he has created a non-toxic alternative natural means to kill zebra mussels, the invasive aquatic species that has taken hold in New York and covers the bottom of some lakes.
Using bacteria that the mollusks can feed on in small quantities, but which will kill them if they eat too much of it, Dr. Daniel Molloy calls it "a biological pesticide."
Expected to be available next year, it will be sold by the Museum’s commercial partner, Marrone Organic Innovations, based in Davis, Calif.
Earlier this year the company received a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to commercialize the pesticide. The New York State Museum received $275,000.
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Invasive plants threaten Florida's native species
By Steve Patterson, The Times-Union
In sand dunes by the St. Johns River, chain saws and squirt bottles became weapons to defend Florida's ecology.
Land-clearing crews crossed Buck Island in teams, some slicing through young trees as others sprayed herbicides to kill the fresh-cut stumps. Their targets were the Jacksonville island's 5,000 shoots of saltcedar, a fast-spreading Asian plant that long ago overran the American Southwest and is emerging on the Atlantic coast.
The project was organized by the First Coast Invasive Working Group, a collection of governments and landowners trying to control an explosion of plants that aren't native to the state. In some cases, foreign plants can crowd out native plants that birds and animals use for food or shelter.
About 1.5 million acres of Florida parkland and uncounted millions of private acres are covered with non-native plants, the state Bureau of Invasive Plant Management estimated last year.
The agency, part of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, tracked almost $25 million in state, local and federal spending in 2007 to control upland plants and another $16 million to fight aquatic weeds.
The First Coast group was set up to help land managers get money for local projects and make the most of their efforts, said Trish Gramajo-St. John, the group's chairwoman. Link
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Earthworms’ Underground Invasion Threatens Forest Sustainability
ScienceDaily
Earthworms have long been considered a friend to farmers and home gardeners, playing a vital role in soil quality. However, recent studies have shown that glaciated forests in North America—forests that evolved without native earthworms--now face the invasion of European earthworms from agriculture and fishing.
This underground invasion has compounding impacts on the capacity of the soil to provide nutrients and sequester carbon—an important role as the world faces global climate change.
Kyungsoo Yoo, University of Delaware assistant professor of soil and land resources, and colleagues Anthony Aufdenkampe of the Stroud Water Research Center and Cindy Hale, an ecologist at the University of Minnesota Duluth, were recently awarded a three-year, $397,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative (USDA-NRI) to study the quantitative coupling of the ecology of European earthworm invasion--specifically in Canada, New England and the Great Lakes region--with mineral chemical weathering and carbon cycling.
Prior to colonization, the glaciated areas of North America were devoid of native earthworms. European earthworms were first introduced to U.S. soils when immigrants brought crops from their native lands, harboring earthworm cocoons. Worms made their way to the edges of farmlands and to the forests.
In addition, these glaciated areas are pocked with small lakes; fishermen often dispose of unwanted live bait, infesting areas where native earthworms were not typically found. Unpaved logging roads through these regions also assisted the spread of non-native earthworms, as compacted soil on tires disperses cocoons and live earthworms.
“Gardeners and farmers all appreciate the beneficial effect of earthworms,” says Yoo, “However, there were systems where worms didn’t exist before and, as we have seen with other non-native invasions, there are ecosystem implications.”
According to Yoo, 10 to 20 years ago, hikers in Minnesota’s forests noticed changes in the leaf litter layer. They noticed that the leaf layer was rapidly disappearing over the years. The researchers understand why this was happening, as Hale’s doctoral research showed that non-native earthworms were slowly eating their way into the forest, mixing the litter layer into the mineral soils in the process.
“Soil scientists and agriculturalists recognize the benefits of mixing organic matter with the mineral soil in production agriculture,” Yoo says. “However, in native forests the leaf litter is essential to the survival of native trees’ seedlings. The litter layer provides protection for temperature changes and deer browse. As earthworms invade and consume the leaves, the layer and therefore the success of seedlings, is compromised.”
He adds, “This relationship has been singled out as one of the most important factors impacting the future sustainability of forests in the glaciated areas in the U.S.” Link
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Volunteers needed at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts
Maynard, Massachusetts - Volunteers are needed to help to help clear invasive plants from Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon.
A second session is scheduled for, Thursday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Meet at the Hudson Road entrance to the refuge in Sudbury, about 2.7 miles west of Route 27 and just east of the Stow line.
For all refuge projects, work boots and gloves are recommended.
Please bring water, sunscreen and gloves and dress for cold weather.
Clippers, weed wrenches and saws provided. Herbicide will be used.
All dates are subject to change based on weather conditions and snow depth. Please call or e-mail in advance to confirm your participation and that the work party will take place at the time and date indicated. Contact Amber at acarr@massaudubon.org or 978-580-0321.
For additional information about the Friends of Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge events and volunteer opportunities, go to http://www.farnwr.org/.
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Deer abundance is topic of talk
Connecticut - The Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance hosted its second fall seminar on the impact of deer overabundance recently at the Weston Public Library.
Chairman Patricia Sesto, Ridgefield representative to the alliance, introduced the expert speakers, saying, “Damage to our natural areas and the consequences to other wildlife are probably the least recognized negative impacts associated with deer overabundance.”
Dr. Emile DeVito, manager of science and stewardship at New Jersey Conservation Foundation, spoke of the loss of native vegetation below the browse line of five feet and the opportunity this browse line provides for non-native vegetation.
“If you want your forests to recover,” said Dr. DeVito, “you are going to have to reduce the deer population to single digits.” Once the forest is healthy again, which could take a decade or more, the forest can support 15-20 deer per square mile.
Dr. DeVito also spoke to the need to create seed banks within the recovering forest. He recommends fencing off plots within the damaged forest and replanting those with native species to provide the desired seed source.
He spoke about the need for a multi-layered forest of shrubs and saplings in the understory and mature trees in the canopy. “The dense shade that results from these multiple layers favors native flowers and discourages non-native species,” he said, adding a diversity of plants is needed to support a diversity of wildlife.
The multiple layers also contribute to more stable soils and less stormwater runoff, according to the alliance’s release. Soil compaction from deer “traffic” and accelerated consumption of leaf litter by an invasive Asiatic earthworm were also cited as contributors to more stormwater runoff. Link
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Job Opening: Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Job Type: full-time permanent position
LOCATION: Summerland Key, Florida
DATE PREPARED: November 18, 2008
SALARY: $35,000/yr + benefits
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The GreenSweep Invasive Species Program Coordinator participates in preserve operations including the maintenance, management and development and coordination of conservation programs. This may include one or more of the following functions:
• Leads work teams and supervises staff
• Coordinates community support
• Removes exotic plant species
• Maintains budgets, assists with grant reporting and grant writing
• Maintains tools and equipment
POSTING DEADLINE: Open
TO APPLY, SEND COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO:
Keith A. Bradley, Assistant Director
22601 SW 152 Ave.Miami, FL 33170
Phone: (305-547-6547 Fax: (305) 245-9797
Email: bradley@regionalconservation.org
Link
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Showing posts with label earthworms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label earthworms. Show all posts
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Week of October 26, 2008
Updated 10/31
Vermont's forests threatened by invasive insects
By Ross Sneyd, Vermont Public Radio
(Host) Vermont's forests are threatened by three insects that could devastate stands of many tree species, including the state's trademark sugar maple.
Officials hope to keep timber and firewood out of the state that could be harboring the tiny bugs.
VPR's Ross Sneyd has this report.
(Sneyd) On all sides, Vermont is surrounded by states that already have been infested by tiny insects that literally eat trees to death.
From New Hampshire, there's the hemlock woolly adelgid. They've already been found in Vermont.
The Asian longhorned beetle has infested 18 square miles in central Massachusetts.
New York is trying to hold off emerald ash borer. Just this summer that insect was found 40 miles north of Vermont's border with Quebec.
(Turmel) "So, yeah, we're right in the middle and we're pretty nervous about it.''
(Sneyd) State entomologist Jon Turmel is out in the field surveying Christmas tree lots for pests.
The Christmas trees look OK. But the state's hardwoods could be in danger. More
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Emerald pest killing ash trees; could hit New York
By Brian Dwyer, News10Now.com
OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y. -- "The Emerald Ash Borer is a small shiny metallic green beetle. It's about a half an inch long." Salmon River Seward Greg Chapman said.
It's amazing how something so small can cause so much damage.
However, the Emerald Ash Borer, first found in the U.S. six years ago, has killed millions of trees in the Midwest and Northeast by feeding on the tree's water and nutrient system.
"The Emerald Ash Borer has been shown to cause just massive die-offs of ash in the areas where it has been found. There's almost a 100% mortality rate of trees in those areas,” Chapman said.
It's not yet been found in New York, but it's been confirmed in Quebec, Ontario and Pennsylvania, all of which border New York. Experts say there's serious reason for concern. Article
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Pesticide For Zebra and Quagga Mussels
From Midwest Lakes Policy Center blog
Researchers from the New York State Museum have developed a bacterial toxin to control zebra and quagga mussels that is environmentally friendly. The two invasive species from the Caspian and Black Seas have clogged water-intake pipes at factories and power plants around the world and throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
The bio-pesticide was derived from a common soil bacterium. When ingested in large quantities, the bacterium is lethal to zebra and quagga mussels, but is harmless to other organisms and humans. Blog
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Million Dollar Milestone in the Adirondack Park
New York State bolstered efforts to combat invasive species in the Adirondack region when it approved the contract with the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy to provide $1.3 million to operate the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) for five years. Funds support three full-time staff who facilitate invasive species coordination, early detection, monitoring, control, research, education and spread prevention in the Adirondacks. APIPP was the first of eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management to receive state funds for core coordination.
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Invasive species may be linked to canal
Associated Press
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Experts from Vermont and New York are to meet next week to talk about whether the Champlain Canal plays a role bringing invasive species to Lake Champlain.
Experts say the movement of water and boats through the canal that links Lake Champlain with the Hudson River is a likely path by which some invasive species have reached the lake.
Biologists say there are nearly 50 invasive species in Lake Champlain, including zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil.
But 184 invasive species have been recorded in the Great Lakes, 87 in the St. Lawrence River and 91 in the Hudson River.
The Nov. 6 meeting in Fort Edward, N.Y., is sponsored by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New York State Champlain Canal Corp.
Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/
Link
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Earthworm activity can alter forests' carbon-carrying capabilities
Physorg.com
Earthworms can change the chemical nature of the carbon in North American forest litter and soils, potentially affecting the amount of carbon stored in forests, according to Purdue University researchers.
The Purdue scientists, along with collaborators from the Smithsonian Institution and Johns Hopkins University, study the habits of earthworms originally brought to North America from Europe. They want to determine the earthworms' effect on forest chemistry by comparing carbon composition in forests that vary in earthworm activity.
Some earthworms eat fallen leaves and other plant material - the litter of the forest floor - while others eat roots or soil organic matter. This begins a decomposition process in which organic materials pass through the animals' digestive tracts and back into the soil.
The research team found that forests with greater numbers of invasive earthworms tend to have litter and soil organic matter enriched in the plant material lignin, which is typically harder for bacteria to decompose, said Purdue biogeochemist Timothy Filley. Sites with low numbers of these earthworms accumulate plant carbon in forms more easily degraded by bacteria.
Overall, the amount of carbon in the litter and duff layer, which is the surface mat of decaying organic matter and roots, decreases because of earthworm activity. However, the change in carbon chemistry may make it harder for soil organisms to decompose the carbon remains. After earthworms feed on forest litter, they take the carbon down into the soil and mix it in, potentially leading to a buildup of carbon in the soil.
"If the litter just stays on the surface of the soil, then it's likely that normal oxidation of organic matter happens and a lot of that carbon will just go into the atmosphere," said Cliff Johnston, a Purdue environmental chemist and professor of agronomy. "However, if carbon can bind to the soil particles, such as clay, it might be a long-term way of stabilizing carbon."
Another way earthworm activity may affect the fate of carbon and the environment is in the thickness of layers of leaves and debris left on forest floors. Bare soil is generally very dark, absorbing more sunlight, which may dry it out quickly. A layer of lightly colored leaves is moderately reflective and holds moisture near the soil. Either condition may affect factors such as the warming of forest soil and the timing of snowmelt.
"Ultimately, we will look at such things to determine the potential invasive earthworms have in changing the flux of CO2 out of the forest and how much that could impact climate change," said Filley, who also is an associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences.
The earthworms that the team studies were brought to North America by early European colonists, probably in the ships' ballasts or in plant soil. In northern North American forests the settlers found land devoid of such creatures because the worms never reoccupied soils formed when the glaciers melted. Link
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Game Commission Removes Protection on Feral Swine
Marketwatch.com
HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct 27, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe recently rescinded protection on feral swine found in the wild in Butler, Bedford and Cambria counties.
"In May, when we removed protection on feral swine in Pennsylvania, we maintained the protection on them in Butler, Bedford and Cambria counties to facilitate trapping by the U.S. and Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture," Roe said. "Trapping is viewed as the most effective way to remove feral swine from the wild, because it limits their dispersal into new areas.
"However, as we are now outside the time of year in which trapping is most effective, we want to afford hunters the maximum opportunity to remove feral swine that they encounter while participating in the upcoming big game seasons."
The Game Commission has determined that the eradication of feral swine from Pennsylvania is necessary to prevent further harm to public and private property, threats to native wildlife and disease risks for wildlife and the state's pork industry.
"We are not seeking to establish a hunting season for feral swine, but rather we are committed to rid Pennsylvania of this invasive species," Roe said.
Licensed hunters, including those who qualify for license and fee exemptions, are eligible to participate in the unlimited taking of feral swine. They may use manually-operated rifles, revolvers or shotguns, as well as and muzzleloaders, bows and crossbows. All other methods and devices legal for taking feral swine must be conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 2308 of Title 34 (Game and Wildlife Code), which can be viewed on the agency's website ( http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/) in the "Laws & Regulations" section in the left-hand column of the homepage.
Any person who kills a feral swine must report it to the Game Commission Region Office that serves the county in which the harvest took place within 24 hours. Residents who witness feral swine also are urged to contact the Region Office that serves their county. For contact information, as well as list of counties that each region office serves, visit the Game Commission's website ( http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/), click on the "Contact Us" link in the left-hand column of the homepage and scroll down to "Region Offices."
Nearly 25 states across the nation have persistent and possibly permanent populations of feral swine established in the wild, and Pennsylvania is one of 16 new states where introduction is more recent and may still be countered through decisive eradication efforts.
Feral swine have been declared to be an injurious, non-native, invasive species of concern in Pennsylvania that are suspected to have been introduced into the wilds of this Commonwealth through a variety of means, including both intentional and unintentional releases. Feral swine also have been determined to pose a significant, imminent and unacceptable threat to this Commonwealth's natural resources, including wildlife and its habitats; the agricultural industry, including crop and livestock production; the forest products industry; and human health and safety. Article
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Spiny water flea found in New York lake
dailygazette.com
GREAT SACANDAGA LAKE, NY — The spiny water flea, an aquatic invasive species, has been confirmed in the Great Sacandaga Lake by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
This DEC officials said this confirmation marks the first time the spiny water flea has been confirmed in an inland body of water. It had previously been identified in the Great Lakes.
"Unfortunately, another invasive species has spread in the waters of New York state," said Steve Sanford, chief of DEC's Office of Invasive Species. "We are doing our best to alert fishermen, boaters and all users of New York waters to the presence of the spiny water flea and to promote practices that minimize the spread of these non-natives."
Native to Eurasia, the spiny water flea is a crustacean that can have a major impact on aquatic life because of its rapid reproduction rates. In warmer water, the spiny water flea can hatch, grow to maturity, and lay eggs in as few as two weeks. Sometimes its eggs can remain in a dormant state for years before hatching, making tracking it and limiting its spread difficult.
Spiny water fleas were first found in Lake Huron in 1984 and in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario a year later.
It is not known how or when they were introduced into Great Sacandaga Lake, thoguh DEC officials specualted the adult, larvae or eggs may have been brought in by bait bucket, bilge water, live well, boat, canoe, kayak, trailer or fishing equipment. Article
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Vermont's forests threatened by invasive insects
By Ross Sneyd, Vermont Public Radio
(Host) Vermont's forests are threatened by three insects that could devastate stands of many tree species, including the state's trademark sugar maple.
Officials hope to keep timber and firewood out of the state that could be harboring the tiny bugs.
VPR's Ross Sneyd has this report.
(Sneyd) On all sides, Vermont is surrounded by states that already have been infested by tiny insects that literally eat trees to death.
From New Hampshire, there's the hemlock woolly adelgid. They've already been found in Vermont.
The Asian longhorned beetle has infested 18 square miles in central Massachusetts.
New York is trying to hold off emerald ash borer. Just this summer that insect was found 40 miles north of Vermont's border with Quebec.
(Turmel) "So, yeah, we're right in the middle and we're pretty nervous about it.''
(Sneyd) State entomologist Jon Turmel is out in the field surveying Christmas tree lots for pests.
The Christmas trees look OK. But the state's hardwoods could be in danger. More
----------------------------------------------------------
Emerald pest killing ash trees; could hit New York
By Brian Dwyer, News10Now.com
OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y. -- "The Emerald Ash Borer is a small shiny metallic green beetle. It's about a half an inch long." Salmon River Seward Greg Chapman said.
It's amazing how something so small can cause so much damage.
However, the Emerald Ash Borer, first found in the U.S. six years ago, has killed millions of trees in the Midwest and Northeast by feeding on the tree's water and nutrient system.
"The Emerald Ash Borer has been shown to cause just massive die-offs of ash in the areas where it has been found. There's almost a 100% mortality rate of trees in those areas,” Chapman said.
It's not yet been found in New York, but it's been confirmed in Quebec, Ontario and Pennsylvania, all of which border New York. Experts say there's serious reason for concern. Article
------------------------------------------------------------
Pesticide For Zebra and Quagga Mussels
From Midwest Lakes Policy Center blog
Researchers from the New York State Museum have developed a bacterial toxin to control zebra and quagga mussels that is environmentally friendly. The two invasive species from the Caspian and Black Seas have clogged water-intake pipes at factories and power plants around the world and throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
The bio-pesticide was derived from a common soil bacterium. When ingested in large quantities, the bacterium is lethal to zebra and quagga mussels, but is harmless to other organisms and humans. Blog
---------------------------------------------------------
Million Dollar Milestone in the Adirondack Park
New York State bolstered efforts to combat invasive species in the Adirondack region when it approved the contract with the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy to provide $1.3 million to operate the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) for five years. Funds support three full-time staff who facilitate invasive species coordination, early detection, monitoring, control, research, education and spread prevention in the Adirondacks. APIPP was the first of eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management to receive state funds for core coordination.
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Invasive species may be linked to canal
Associated Press
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Experts from Vermont and New York are to meet next week to talk about whether the Champlain Canal plays a role bringing invasive species to Lake Champlain.
Experts say the movement of water and boats through the canal that links Lake Champlain with the Hudson River is a likely path by which some invasive species have reached the lake.
Biologists say there are nearly 50 invasive species in Lake Champlain, including zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil.
But 184 invasive species have been recorded in the Great Lakes, 87 in the St. Lawrence River and 91 in the Hudson River.
The Nov. 6 meeting in Fort Edward, N.Y., is sponsored by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New York State Champlain Canal Corp.
Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/
Link
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Earthworm activity can alter forests' carbon-carrying capabilities
Physorg.com
Earthworms can change the chemical nature of the carbon in North American forest litter and soils, potentially affecting the amount of carbon stored in forests, according to Purdue University researchers.
The Purdue scientists, along with collaborators from the Smithsonian Institution and Johns Hopkins University, study the habits of earthworms originally brought to North America from Europe. They want to determine the earthworms' effect on forest chemistry by comparing carbon composition in forests that vary in earthworm activity.
Some earthworms eat fallen leaves and other plant material - the litter of the forest floor - while others eat roots or soil organic matter. This begins a decomposition process in which organic materials pass through the animals' digestive tracts and back into the soil.
The research team found that forests with greater numbers of invasive earthworms tend to have litter and soil organic matter enriched in the plant material lignin, which is typically harder for bacteria to decompose, said Purdue biogeochemist Timothy Filley. Sites with low numbers of these earthworms accumulate plant carbon in forms more easily degraded by bacteria.
Overall, the amount of carbon in the litter and duff layer, which is the surface mat of decaying organic matter and roots, decreases because of earthworm activity. However, the change in carbon chemistry may make it harder for soil organisms to decompose the carbon remains. After earthworms feed on forest litter, they take the carbon down into the soil and mix it in, potentially leading to a buildup of carbon in the soil.
"If the litter just stays on the surface of the soil, then it's likely that normal oxidation of organic matter happens and a lot of that carbon will just go into the atmosphere," said Cliff Johnston, a Purdue environmental chemist and professor of agronomy. "However, if carbon can bind to the soil particles, such as clay, it might be a long-term way of stabilizing carbon."
Another way earthworm activity may affect the fate of carbon and the environment is in the thickness of layers of leaves and debris left on forest floors. Bare soil is generally very dark, absorbing more sunlight, which may dry it out quickly. A layer of lightly colored leaves is moderately reflective and holds moisture near the soil. Either condition may affect factors such as the warming of forest soil and the timing of snowmelt.
"Ultimately, we will look at such things to determine the potential invasive earthworms have in changing the flux of CO2 out of the forest and how much that could impact climate change," said Filley, who also is an associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences.
The earthworms that the team studies were brought to North America by early European colonists, probably in the ships' ballasts or in plant soil. In northern North American forests the settlers found land devoid of such creatures because the worms never reoccupied soils formed when the glaciers melted. Link
--------------------------------------------------------
Game Commission Removes Protection on Feral Swine
Marketwatch.com
HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct 27, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe recently rescinded protection on feral swine found in the wild in Butler, Bedford and Cambria counties.
"In May, when we removed protection on feral swine in Pennsylvania, we maintained the protection on them in Butler, Bedford and Cambria counties to facilitate trapping by the U.S. and Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture," Roe said. "Trapping is viewed as the most effective way to remove feral swine from the wild, because it limits their dispersal into new areas.
"However, as we are now outside the time of year in which trapping is most effective, we want to afford hunters the maximum opportunity to remove feral swine that they encounter while participating in the upcoming big game seasons."
The Game Commission has determined that the eradication of feral swine from Pennsylvania is necessary to prevent further harm to public and private property, threats to native wildlife and disease risks for wildlife and the state's pork industry.
"We are not seeking to establish a hunting season for feral swine, but rather we are committed to rid Pennsylvania of this invasive species," Roe said.
Licensed hunters, including those who qualify for license and fee exemptions, are eligible to participate in the unlimited taking of feral swine. They may use manually-operated rifles, revolvers or shotguns, as well as and muzzleloaders, bows and crossbows. All other methods and devices legal for taking feral swine must be conducted in compliance with the provisions of Section 2308 of Title 34 (Game and Wildlife Code), which can be viewed on the agency's website ( http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/) in the "Laws & Regulations" section in the left-hand column of the homepage.
Any person who kills a feral swine must report it to the Game Commission Region Office that serves the county in which the harvest took place within 24 hours. Residents who witness feral swine also are urged to contact the Region Office that serves their county. For contact information, as well as list of counties that each region office serves, visit the Game Commission's website ( http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/), click on the "Contact Us" link in the left-hand column of the homepage and scroll down to "Region Offices."
Nearly 25 states across the nation have persistent and possibly permanent populations of feral swine established in the wild, and Pennsylvania is one of 16 new states where introduction is more recent and may still be countered through decisive eradication efforts.
Feral swine have been declared to be an injurious, non-native, invasive species of concern in Pennsylvania that are suspected to have been introduced into the wilds of this Commonwealth through a variety of means, including both intentional and unintentional releases. Feral swine also have been determined to pose a significant, imminent and unacceptable threat to this Commonwealth's natural resources, including wildlife and its habitats; the agricultural industry, including crop and livestock production; the forest products industry; and human health and safety. Article
--------------------------------------------------------
Spiny water flea found in New York lake
dailygazette.com
GREAT SACANDAGA LAKE, NY — The spiny water flea, an aquatic invasive species, has been confirmed in the Great Sacandaga Lake by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
This DEC officials said this confirmation marks the first time the spiny water flea has been confirmed in an inland body of water. It had previously been identified in the Great Lakes.
"Unfortunately, another invasive species has spread in the waters of New York state," said Steve Sanford, chief of DEC's Office of Invasive Species. "We are doing our best to alert fishermen, boaters and all users of New York waters to the presence of the spiny water flea and to promote practices that minimize the spread of these non-natives."
Native to Eurasia, the spiny water flea is a crustacean that can have a major impact on aquatic life because of its rapid reproduction rates. In warmer water, the spiny water flea can hatch, grow to maturity, and lay eggs in as few as two weeks. Sometimes its eggs can remain in a dormant state for years before hatching, making tracking it and limiting its spread difficult.
Spiny water fleas were first found in Lake Huron in 1984 and in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario a year later.
It is not known how or when they were introduced into Great Sacandaga Lake, thoguh DEC officials specualted the adult, larvae or eggs may have been brought in by bait bucket, bilge water, live well, boat, canoe, kayak, trailer or fishing equipment. Article
-----------------------------------------------------------
Monday, January 28, 2008
Week of January 27, 2008
Updated 1/31/08
Report calls for more united effort to halt spread of invasive species
By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal
In 2004, the snakehead, a voracious aquatic predator, managed to make its way into the Potomac River, apparently released by an aquarium owner.
For the last two years, the spiderlike Chinese mitten crab has turned up in the Chesapeake and been reported in other places along the East Coast. The crab is suspected of having hitched a ride to the Bay in the ballast tank of a cargo ship.
And last summer, the zebra mussel-famed for wreaking havoc throughout the Great Lakes-was reported for the first time in Pennsylvania's portion of the Susquehanna River. It is believed to have been carried into a reservoir on a recreational boat.
Those are the latest in a string of aquatic invasions that date back to the earliest European settlers. Without aggressive action by states, they are likely to continue, a recent report warns.
But the region's laws and policies to hold back the tide of nonnative fish, plants and animals are highly fragmented, hindering efforts to provide a unified effort in keeping potentially harmful species out of the Bay and its watershed, according to the report, "Halting the Invasion in the Chesapeake Bay," from the Environmental Law Institute.
The report cautions that federal funding and support to lead efforts to combat the invaders "are unlikely to materialize," making state leadership essential. That means states need to go much further in both coordinating existing regulations and in imposing new measures such as regulating ballast discharges from oceangoing ships, requiring the cleaning of recreation boats and limiting the importation and sale of exotic species, the report said. Full Article The full report is available at the Environmental Law Institute website, www.eli.org .
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Worms: Wonderful or wicked?
Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghampton, New York
Earthworms are considered a gardener's best friend. Their burrowing helps aerate the soil and the results of their digestive efforts enrich the soil with organic matter and plant nutrients. So what's not to like about worms?
Scientists have found that worms are harming some forest ecosystems, and may even be pests in few garden and agricultural situations. To understand why worms are not always welcome, it's helpful to take a look at the history of worms in this part of the world.
The forests that now cover much of the northern United States developed after the last ice age ended, approximately 12,000 years ago. The soil on which these forests grew contained a complex mix of soil organisms from bacteria to millipedes, but there were no earthworms. Many of the native soil organisms are decomposers that slowly break down the layers of fallen leaves, dead wood and other plant material to help enrich the soil. Trees, wildflowers and other forest plants evolved along with these soil organisms in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
When European explorers and settlers arrived, they inadvertently brought European earthworms with them in the soil that was used as ship ballast or potting soil for plants. The agricultural activities of settlers helped spread worms, and these invaders from Europe thrived in the once wormless North American soils. Full Article
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Florida volunteers round up air potatoes
By DAYNA MALEK, Special to The Sun
Its long unmerciful vines curl and twine through innocent trees, wrapping around its towering prey, suffocating its victims. But now in the dead of winter, when it lies shriveled and dry, it has met its match: a volunteer with gloves and a bucket.
The vines have no where to crawl to; all that is left is surrender. On Saturday morning in cold, rainy weather, more than 900 volunteers gathered at 33 sites across Gainesville to embark on the task of rounding up as many of the intrusive air potato plants as possible - all part of the Ninth Annual Great Air Potato Roundup.
Strategically organized by the City of Gainesville, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Nature Operations Division, the event, according to program coordinator Sally Wazny, gives the community a chance to come together to work to get rid of the air potato, an invasive plant that has taken over in many areas of Gainesville. Full Article
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University of Rhode Island students search for invasive species
By Lindsay Lorenz, University of Rhode Island
While most University of Rhode Island students were working on their tans or part-time jobs, senior Rebecca Allen spent her summer making a splash in the ecosystem. Through URI's Coastal Fellows Program, an initiative that aims to engage undergraduates in environmental issues, Allen took a paid internship with Save The Bay, a local environmental group, which focuses its efforts on the Narragansett Bay.
The project is a follow-up to a similar survey conducted by the group in 2000. From May to August, Allen and another intern conducted visits to 11 docks scattered from Providence to Bristol, spending 20 hours a week examining organisms that have claimed the docks as their habitat."Our objective was to see what new and potentially harmful species might be showing up in the bay," Allen said in a press release. "These non-native species could be taking over the habitats of native species and offsetting the natural balance in the bay. The project was the first step in determining what is here and where they are coming from so we can eventually do something about them." Full Article
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Request for Nominations for the Invasive Species Advisory Committee; Extension of Submission Deadline
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, National Invasive Species Council.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the SAC.
DATES: The submission deadline for nominations has been extended. All must now be postmarked by February 13, 2008. ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Lori Williams, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council (OS/NISC), Regular Mail: 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Express Mail: 1201 Eye Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelsey Brantley, Program Analyst, at (202) 513-7243, fax: (202) 371-1751, or by e-mail at Kelsey_Brantley@ios.doi.gov.
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Report calls for more united effort to halt spread of invasive species
By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal
In 2004, the snakehead, a voracious aquatic predator, managed to make its way into the Potomac River, apparently released by an aquarium owner.
For the last two years, the spiderlike Chinese mitten crab has turned up in the Chesapeake and been reported in other places along the East Coast. The crab is suspected of having hitched a ride to the Bay in the ballast tank of a cargo ship.
And last summer, the zebra mussel-famed for wreaking havoc throughout the Great Lakes-was reported for the first time in Pennsylvania's portion of the Susquehanna River. It is believed to have been carried into a reservoir on a recreational boat.
Those are the latest in a string of aquatic invasions that date back to the earliest European settlers. Without aggressive action by states, they are likely to continue, a recent report warns.
But the region's laws and policies to hold back the tide of nonnative fish, plants and animals are highly fragmented, hindering efforts to provide a unified effort in keeping potentially harmful species out of the Bay and its watershed, according to the report, "Halting the Invasion in the Chesapeake Bay," from the Environmental Law Institute.
The report cautions that federal funding and support to lead efforts to combat the invaders "are unlikely to materialize," making state leadership essential. That means states need to go much further in both coordinating existing regulations and in imposing new measures such as regulating ballast discharges from oceangoing ships, requiring the cleaning of recreation boats and limiting the importation and sale of exotic species, the report said. Full Article The full report is available at the Environmental Law Institute website, www.eli.org .
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Worms: Wonderful or wicked?
Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghampton, New York
Earthworms are considered a gardener's best friend. Their burrowing helps aerate the soil and the results of their digestive efforts enrich the soil with organic matter and plant nutrients. So what's not to like about worms?
Scientists have found that worms are harming some forest ecosystems, and may even be pests in few garden and agricultural situations. To understand why worms are not always welcome, it's helpful to take a look at the history of worms in this part of the world.
The forests that now cover much of the northern United States developed after the last ice age ended, approximately 12,000 years ago. The soil on which these forests grew contained a complex mix of soil organisms from bacteria to millipedes, but there were no earthworms. Many of the native soil organisms are decomposers that slowly break down the layers of fallen leaves, dead wood and other plant material to help enrich the soil. Trees, wildflowers and other forest plants evolved along with these soil organisms in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
When European explorers and settlers arrived, they inadvertently brought European earthworms with them in the soil that was used as ship ballast or potting soil for plants. The agricultural activities of settlers helped spread worms, and these invaders from Europe thrived in the once wormless North American soils. Full Article
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Florida volunteers round up air potatoes
By DAYNA MALEK, Special to The Sun
Its long unmerciful vines curl and twine through innocent trees, wrapping around its towering prey, suffocating its victims. But now in the dead of winter, when it lies shriveled and dry, it has met its match: a volunteer with gloves and a bucket.
The vines have no where to crawl to; all that is left is surrender. On Saturday morning in cold, rainy weather, more than 900 volunteers gathered at 33 sites across Gainesville to embark on the task of rounding up as many of the intrusive air potato plants as possible - all part of the Ninth Annual Great Air Potato Roundup.
Strategically organized by the City of Gainesville, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Nature Operations Division, the event, according to program coordinator Sally Wazny, gives the community a chance to come together to work to get rid of the air potato, an invasive plant that has taken over in many areas of Gainesville. Full Article
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University of Rhode Island students search for invasive species
By Lindsay Lorenz, University of Rhode Island
While most University of Rhode Island students were working on their tans or part-time jobs, senior Rebecca Allen spent her summer making a splash in the ecosystem. Through URI's Coastal Fellows Program, an initiative that aims to engage undergraduates in environmental issues, Allen took a paid internship with Save The Bay, a local environmental group, which focuses its efforts on the Narragansett Bay.
The project is a follow-up to a similar survey conducted by the group in 2000. From May to August, Allen and another intern conducted visits to 11 docks scattered from Providence to Bristol, spending 20 hours a week examining organisms that have claimed the docks as their habitat."Our objective was to see what new and potentially harmful species might be showing up in the bay," Allen said in a press release. "These non-native species could be taking over the habitats of native species and offsetting the natural balance in the bay. The project was the first step in determining what is here and where they are coming from so we can eventually do something about them." Full Article
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Request for Nominations for the Invasive Species Advisory Committee; Extension of Submission Deadline
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, National Invasive Species Council.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the SAC.
DATES: The submission deadline for nominations has been extended. All must now be postmarked by February 13, 2008. ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Lori Williams, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council (OS/NISC), Regular Mail: 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Express Mail: 1201 Eye Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelsey Brantley, Program Analyst, at (202) 513-7243, fax: (202) 371-1751, or by e-mail at Kelsey_Brantley@ios.doi.gov.
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Sunday, November 4, 2007
Week of November 4, 2007
Updated November 9, 2007
Boston, MA: Countdown to Deforestation
BOSTON, MA - The Franklin Park Coalition (FPC) says the park’s tree canopy will be gone in 30 years. The cities’ Parks and Recreation Department isn’t so sure. But both organizations recognize that maintenance of Boston’s largest park is an immediate priority, and they are getting to work.
The FPC predicts in the current draft of its Woodland Management Plan that, “The age and condition of the tree canopy in the park indicate that most of the large trees that define the park’s woodlands will be gone within thirty years.”
Heavy use and the establishment of invasive species have prevented the woodlands, which cover about 200 acres of the over 500-acre park, from fully regenerating themselves over the 125 years since they were originally planted, according to the report. Link
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Maine: Rep. Jayne Crosby Giles honored for supporting invasive plant legislation
AUGUSTA, ME (Nov 2): Rep. Jayne Crosby Giles (R-Belfast) was honored for her support of policies protecting Maine’s environment during the first session of the 123rd Legislature. The first-term lawmaker received a 5 out of 5 score from the Maine League of Conservation Voters in the 2007 Environmental Scorecard for legislators. Five pieces of legislation monitored by MLCV were used in the organization’s rating process, including control and prevention of invasive plant infestations. Link
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New York: Control Invasives to Protect Tourism
LAKE PLACID, NY — What does a lack of uniform cell phone and broadband service, invasive species control, and accessible bicycle paths mean for the tourism industry in New York state? A lot, according to representatives from the state Hospitality and Tourism Association.
Government officials and tourism leaders from across the state gathered in the Adirondack Park to discuss those issues. Needs include controlling invasive species of plants and bacteria that can cause major damage to streams and forests, especially in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park, which can hinder tourism. Hilary Oles, program coordinator with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program in Keene Valley, said invasive species are the “visitors we don’t want coming to the Adirondacks.” Link
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Gypsy Moths in Maryland
THURMONT -- If you thought this year's gypsy moth infestation was bad, just wait until next year. Gypsy moths munched their way through more than 15,000 acres of trees in the spring of 2007, and state officials expect the leaf-eating pests to defoliate more than that in 2008. How much more is anybody's guess. The state was caught by surprise in 2007 with many more gypsy moths than expected. At the same time, the federal government cut back the amount of money it provides to states to fight the invasive pest. Link
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Hydrilla: A Benefical Role in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
By PATRICK LYNCH, DailyPress.com
A recent trip up the Chickahominy River and one of its tributaries, Morris Creek, revealed one of the tidal freshwater spots in the lower Chesapeake Bay watershed where grasses — though already dying back at the onset of fall — seem to be making steady comeback. ...Kenneth Moore, a scientist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has been studying the struggling conditions of the Chesapeake's grasses since the 1970s. In some of those cases, the resurgence is led by an Asian species of grass that is not native to the Chesapeake ecosystem. Called hydrilla, it was likely introduced to East Coast waters as an aquarium plant and somehow made it to the wild.The species can become a nuisance and invasive. But it has played a beneficial role, Moore said, and is better equipped to thrive in less than ideal conditions. Native species also seem to grow alongside it in many ecosystems, Moore said, and fish find it suitable as habitat. Link
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Hillary Clinton: Invasive Species Wreak Unnatural Havoc
From a recent speech by Ms. Clinton: "Two years ago as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation, I traveled to Barrow, Alaska. That's the northern most point of the United States. And I also traveled through on my way there the Yukon Territory in Canada. Traveling over those vast coniferous forests that blanket those harsh unforgiving latitudes, I looked down to see dead trees as far as the eye could reach. These trees are part of an ecosystem formed to survive brutal conditions. But the giant spruce trees of the Yukon, some centuries old, are no match for a relative newcomer: a tiny insect known as the bark beetle. The forests, it turns out, were once protected by cold, cold winters. The beetle could not survive. But warmer temperatures have allowed this invasive species to travel into higher latitudes and wreak unnatural havoc. In once pristine forests, there was devastation. Millions of acres infested. Whole swaths of land - once green - now brown." Link
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Eurasian Watermilfoil Plan
2008 Statewide Strategic Plan for Eurasian Watermilfoil in Idaho (Oct 17, 2007; PDF 2.16 MB) Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Prepared by the Idaho Invasive Species Council and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture
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Japanese Knotweed in Vermont
Demo site winding down, mapping project gearing UP! Keep an eye on us: http://www.blackriveractionteam.org/.
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Carp Management and Control Plan
Management and Control Plan for Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver carps in the United States (Oct 2007; PDF 3.62 MB) Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
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Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Maine Towns Combat Invasive Species With Beetles
By CHARLES McMAHON, Democrat Staff Writer
KITTERY, Maine — Agents from the state Forest Service have released 900 beetles in Kittery and York to combat another invasive species of bug, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Link
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Funding
The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is pleased to announce the second annual Request for Proposals (RFPs) in its Wildlife Habitat Policy Research Program (WHPRP). Project descriptions and detailed directions for submitting Letters of Intent (LOIs) are now available. Please click here .
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Asian Earthworms: Hooked on Destruction
By Lee Shearer, OnlineAthens
They're big, they're bad, and they may be wriggling soon to a patch of dirt near you. They're Asian earthworms (Amynthas agrestis). Fishermen love them, because they're good bait. They're sometimes called "Alabama jumpers," because they actually can flip themselves out of a bait cup, said Mac Callaham, an ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service's Forestry Science Laboratory in Athens. Full article
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Educating Rhode Islanders About Invasive Plants
By Dotti Farrington, The Jamestown Press
Jamestown Conservation Commissioners last month decided to develop a brochure for homeowners to be able to identify and to remove invasive plants from their properties. The educational pamphlet will supplement the commission's effort to identify and control invasive plants on town properties and along island roadsides. Full Article
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Sea Lamprey: Vermont and New York Lampricide Debate
Vermont and New York tried to resume a program Wednesday to poison Sea Lamprey. For several years, anglers have been lobbying Vermont officials to crack down on the parasites by kick-starting the program that first began almost twenty years ago. Lamprey attack and kill sport fish like trout and salmon. But environmentalists have tried to put the brakes on the program. Full Article
------------------------------------------------------------JOB: Director, Center for Invasive Plant Management, Montana State University. Seeking talented and enthusiastic individual to promote ecologically sound invasive plant management. Complete announcement and application instructions: http://www.montana.
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CASE STUDY: The long-term control of Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed (Scotland, UK)
By ADAM DRUMMOND, The Berwick Advertiser
TWEED Forum launched their best practice booklet on the control of invasive plant species this week at Paxton House. The Scottish Government sponsored Tweed Forum to produce the best practice booklet due to the Forum's success in tackling invasive plants. The booklet will show others how to approach a similar problem. Michael Russell, Minister for Environment, who launched the booklet on Monday said: "The approach taken by Tweed Forum has shown what can be done through close coordination and involvement of everyone who lives and works on the river." For the last five years Tweed Forum has been carrying out the control of invasive, non native plant species on the Tweed. As a result of this catchment based and highly coordinated approach this has quickly become one of the most successful projects of its type in the UK. Luke Comins, manager of Tweed Forum said: "Five years ago the lower part of the Tweed was infested with Giant Hogweed; taking over the riverbanks to the detriment of our native flora and fauna. We have carried out control of Hogweed on over 300 miles of river. Where there were huge stands of 12 foot high flowering Hogweed there are now virtually no flowering plants to be found anywhere in the catchment." The Tweed Invasives Project aims to control Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam on the Till, throughout the Tweed catchment, an area of over 3000 sq miles. Over the last five years, over £500,000 ($1,050,000) has been spent on tackling the problem, with the main course of action being spraying with glyphosphate; the only herbicide approved for use next to watercourses. Case Study Link
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Cornell Researchers Discover Natural Herbicide Released by Grass
By Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle Online
Certain varieties of common fescue lawn grass come equipped with their own natural broad-spectrum herbicide that inhibits the growth of weeds and other plants around them. Cornell researchers have identified the herbicide as an amino acid called meta-tyrosine, or m-tyrosine, that these lawn grasses exude from their roots in large amounts. This amino acid is a close relative of para-tyrosine (p-tyrosine), one of the 20 common amino acids that form proteins. Reporting on the discovery in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, Frank Schroeder, the paper's senior author and an assistant scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research on Cornell's campus, said, "We at first didn't believe m-tyrosine had anything to do with the observed herbicidal activity, but then we tested it and found it to be extremely toxic to plants but not toxic to fungi, mammals or bacteria." Article Link
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Cornell Researchers Discover Natural Herbicide Released by Grass
By Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle Online
Certain varieties of common fescue lawn grass come equipped with their own natural broad-spectrum herbicide that inhibits the growth of weeds and other plants around them. Cornell researchers have identified the herbicide as an amino acid called meta-tyrosine, or m-tyrosine, that these lawn grasses exude from their roots in large amounts. This amino acid is a close relative of para-tyrosine (p-tyrosine), one of the 20 common amino acids that form proteins. Reporting on the discovery in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, Frank Schroeder, the paper's senior author and an assistant scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research on Cornell's campus, said, "We at first didn't believe m-tyrosine had anything to do with the observed herbicidal activity, but then we tested it and found it to be extremely toxic to plants but not toxic to fungi, mammals or bacteria." Article Link
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