<br><font size=3>It's great to see this issue getting more press. But,
I also see where Wayne is coming from.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3>The article below mentions two conditions that will contribute
to the proliferation of invasives in response to global climate change:</font>
<ul>
<li><font size=3>fires deposit nutrients into the soil that encourage the
growth of cheatgrass </font>
<li><font size=3>increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, typically associated
with climate changes, encourages the growth of tough cheatgrass </font></ul>
<br><font size=3>I just attended a conference two weeks ago on global climate
change and the effect on local flora in the Appalachians of Maryland and
West Virginia. One of the speakers mentioned that recent research
was suggesting that invasives would take off with global climate change
- that the hotter, drier conditions will favor them. He pointed out
that this is not necessarily true. <i>Microstegium </i>(Japanese
stiltgrass), for instance, which is plaguing the Appalachians is not good
at getting into the drier sites. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3>So, although I am pleased at the increased attention to
this issue, I think Wayne's point is well taken. As plant scientists,
it's important for us to resist the urge to put specific situations into
a general "Inbox." Different species will react differently
in different environments. It's our job to explore the possibilities
and to help others understand them without making sweeping generalizations.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural resources.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><br>
</font>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Wayne Tyson <landrest@cox.net></b>
</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: rwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">10/12/2007 11:02 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Olivia Kwong <plant@plantconservation.org>,
native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org, apwg@lists.plantconservation.org,
rwg@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[RWG] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS:
Climate change likely to increase fires</font></table>
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<br><font size=3>Invasive plants like the Sahara mustard are quite likely
to be a factor in wildfires, as they fill spaces between widely-scattered
shrubs, and climate change will no doubt affect fire behavior, but I yearn
for more evidence and less opinion and conjecture regarding such sweeping
conclusions. It makes for good press, but what is needed is good
research and solid data. Fires have, and will continue to be, a factor
in Great Basin ecosystems, but the real question is what precisely is the
connection between the data and the conclusions, and what is the <i>marginal
</i>difference. Sensationalism destroys credibility, and "we"
need credibility more than ever in these truly pivotal times. <br>
<br>
WT<br>
<br>
At 12:53 PM 10/12/2007, Olivia Kwong wrote:</font>
<br><a href=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_sc/wildfires_climate_change><font size=3 color=blue><u>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_sc/wildfires_climate_change</u></font></a><font size=3>
<br>
<br>
Climate change likely to increase fires<br>
<br>
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 11, 8:26 PM ET<br>
<br>
LAS VEGAS - Climate change is likely to increase the number of wildfires
<br>
fueled by invasive weeds that are spreading throughout the Great Basin,
<br>
researchers told a U.S. Senate subcommittee Thursday.<br>
<br>
See the link above for the full article text.<br>
<br>
<br>
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