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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dr. <U>Lair</U>, Gary Page, and APWG:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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).
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>WT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BTW, I think there are other more effective ways to
approach things like alien invasions, and Tamarix spp. in particular.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gpage@malheurco.org href="mailto:gpage@malheurco.org">Gary Page</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=landrest@cox.net
href="mailto:landrest@cox.net">Wayne Tyson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:18
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Tamarix</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Wayne!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gary Page</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Malheur County Weed Inspector</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Vale, OR </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>541/473/5102</FONT></DIV>
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