[APWG] Biocontrol of alien species Re: Tamarix

[Wayne Tyson]

Dr. Lair, Gary Page, and APWG:

Oops! My bad--transposition (over-reliance on spell-checkers is a bad idea). My apologies to Dr. Lair, and my thanks to Gary for his correction. 

Page's point ("I believe that given enough time and circumstance all biology will adapt to perpetuate the species and we may see them migrate to some other native plants. However does it not seem reasonable that they will not have any greater effect on a chosen native host than they will on the introduced host.") is well-taken. He may not "have any authority," but he makes more sense than a lot of "authorities" I have read and heard talk. 

I would like to hear more of Page's ideas about the influence of colonizing species' causing a trend toward homogeneity rather than heterogeneity (which I might have said before reading this by Page). 

Money should not drive science, but we all know it does and, to some extent, always has. But the issue is, HOW MUCH should money drive science? It seems to me that there has been an exponential increase over the last several years. 

WT

PS: The sooner we get away from the tendency of a scientific priesthood, hierarchy, and authoritarianism, the better off science will be. Page is a shining example of how "lesser" beings can make major contributions. As a fellow lesser-being, I raise my (beer, or course) glass in his honor.

BTW, I think there are other more effective ways to approach things like alien invasions, and Tamarix spp. in particular. 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gary Page 
  To: Wayne Tyson 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:18 AM
  Subject: Tamarix


  Hello Wayne!
      I have been enjoying the discussion concerning Salt cedar leaf beetles. Others may have mentioned this, but in your comments within Dr. Lair's response you misspelled his name as Dr. Liar. 
      We have Tamarisk here in far Eastern Oregon and have the introduced beetle as well. It has shown great promise so far with large areas defoliated for two or more years successive. I know that many in the community are queasy about the introduction of insects. I believe that given enough time and circumstance all biology will adapt to perpetuate the species and we may see them migrate to some other native plants. However does it not seem reasonable that they will not have any greater effect on a chosen native host than they will on the introduced host. Given the budget situation, which is always pitifully inadequate no matter the state of the economy as well as the state of our present technology, so called biocontrol seems our best hope to slow the expansion of introduced plants. I am not a scientist so perhaps have no authority to speak on these matters. I do think that from natural progression there would be some degree of homogeneity across the planet both in flora and fauna, however humans have greatly increased that rate of change. I think that obligates us to make ever effort to reduce that impact. Biocontrol selections are becoming increasingly scrutinized because of concerns to native species. It is curious that what prompted USDA APHIS to get involved in this whole issue was the opposition of farm commodity groups that were worried that introduced insects would cause damage and expense. Now the concern has shifted to native ecology concerns and both groups have valid reasons to question the science. I guess that I was unaware that the folks working on with these insects and pathogens were not communicating their research outside their community. I think you may find this common among many scientific disciplines and it is left to the interested individual to seek out the information. Anyway, thanks for hosting all the interesting discussion.

  Gary Page
  Malheur County Weed Inspector
  Vale, OR 
  541/473/5102


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