[APWG] Exotics species overhyped, according to Feb.2011 SCI AMER article

[John Barr]

" Has he not heard about the “island effect” "

Holly,
Agreed, and more so!  Lets forget man caused fragmentation for a moment.

To the lay person, an island is a piece of land in a sea of water.   
 From a species perspective, an island is a moist mountain top in a  
sea of desert, or a spring in a sea of arid land. It is the isolation  
from other species that leads to speciation.  And it is the human  
induced movement of species that breaks down the isolation.  In the US  
there are so many invasives invading so many ecosystems that I doubt  
few smoking guns can be identified.

I guess it is a testament to our "success" bringing attention to the  
problems with invasives that there is a backlash.  Here is Texas we  
have this industry sponsored gem:

House Bill 338 would require a public entity, other than the  
department (Agriculture), that produces a list of noxious or invasive  
terrestrial plant species growing in this state shall provide with the  
list a disclaimer that states:

“This plant list is only a recommendation and has no legal effect in  
the State of Texas. The Texas Department of Agriculture has sole  
authority to label terrestrial plants as noxious or invasive.”

If passed, this disclaimer will be required on all printed material  
made for public distribution including newspaper, trade publication,  
notice, circular, or internet website.


Best to all,
john

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