[APWG] Biological control of invasive species by import of alien species Re: NEWS: Invasive Saltcedar Triggers Lively Debate

[Wayne Tyson]

APWG:

Much as I would like to see the truly invasive "saltcedars" sent back where 
they came from, we're probably stuck with them--they're just too seedy.

Much as I would like to see a savior, even in the form of a bug, the 
true-believers ("Now land managers are adding new biological control agents 
to their arsenal by releasing saltcedar leaf beetles (Diorhabda elongata) 
imported from China and Greece. The small insects strip saltcedar of its 
leaves, while ignoring native vegetation." 
http://www.wssa.net/WSSA/PressRoom/WSSA_SaltCedar.htm ) in insect-messiahs 
are at it again. These little buggers may "ignore" native vegetation for a 
while, have they been DEMONSTRATED in a peer-reviewed manner with replicated 
experiments to have left every species indigenous to the Western Hemisphere 
to continue to do so? I await the evidence, and I should not be expected to 
chase it down from a press-release.

A more serious question remains to be answered--do we know, to a "scientific 
certainty," that such imported populations cannot and will not evolve to 
survive on other prey?

WT


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Olivia Kwong" <plant at plantconservation.org>
To: <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 7:27 AM
Subject: [APWG] NEWS: Invasive Saltcedar Triggers Lively Debate


> http://www.wssa.net/WSSA/PressRoom/WSSA_SaltCedar.htm
>
> Invasive Saltcedar Triggers Lively Debats Among Weed Scientists and Land
> Managers
>
> Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) is an invasive plant that is crowding out native
> vegetation and dominating the shorelines of southwestern rivers and
> streams. But put a room full of weed scientists and land managers together
> to discuss how to tame the aggressive plant and you'll trigger a lively
> debate about how -- or even whether -- it should be controlled.
>
> See the link above for the full text of the press release.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PCA's Alien Plant Working Group mailing list
> APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org
>
> Disclaimer
> Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the 
> opinion of the individual posting the message.


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