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<body class='hmmessage'>Interesting discussion. Personally, my biggest concern in New Jersey is the spread of species from southern areas with a warming climate. Species such as English ivy, porcelain berry, kudzu etc. are present but somewhat limited (by climate?) in NJ for now...maybe there are also invasive species with more northerly affinities that will be lessened though...Time (and some research?) will tell...<BR>
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-Mike<BR><BR>Michael Van Clef, Ph.D.<BR>Ecological Solutions, LLC<BR>9 Warren Lane<BR>Great Meadows, NJ 07838<BR>908-528-6674<BR><A href="http://www.njecologicalsolutions.com/" target=_blank>www.njecologicalsolutions.com</A><BR> <BR><BR><BR><BR>
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To: apwg@lists.plantconservation.org; native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org; rwg@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>From: Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov<BR>Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:28:31 -0400<BR>Subject: Re: [PCA] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change likely to increase fires<BR><BR><BR><FONT face="" 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 face="" size=3>The article below mentions two conditions that will contribute to the proliferation of invasives in response to global climate change:</FONT>
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<LI><FONT face="" size=3>fires deposit nutrients into the soil that encourage the growth of cheatgrass </FONT>
<LI><FONT face="" size=3>increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, typically associated with climate changes, encourages the growth of tough cheatgrass </FONT></LI></UL><BR><FONT face="" 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 face="" 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 face=sans-serif size=2>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><BR><BR><BR>
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<TD width="40%"><FONT face=sans-serif size=1><B>Wayne Tyson <landrest@cox.net></B> </FONT><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>Sent by: rwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</FONT>
<FONT face=sans-serif size=1>10/12/2007 11:02 PM</FONT> <BR>
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<TD><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>Olivia Kwong <plant@plantconservation.org>, native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org, apwg@lists.plantconservation.org, rwg@lists.plantconservation.org</FONT>
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<TD><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>[RWG] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change likely to increase fires</FONT></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>
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<TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><BR><BR><FONT face="" 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" target=_blank><FONT face="" color=blue size=3><U>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_sc/wildfires_climate_change</U></FONT></A><FONT face="" 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>_______________________________________________<BR>PCA's Restoration Working Group mailing list<BR>RWG@lists.plantconservation.org</FONT><FONT face="" color=blue size=3><U><BR></U></FONT><A href="http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/rwg_lists.plantconservation.org" target=_blank><FONT face="" color=blue size=3><U>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/rwg_lists.plantconservation.org</U></FONT></A><FONT face="" size=3> </FONT><BR><FONT face="" size=2><TT><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>PCA's Restoration Working Group mailing list<BR>RWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/rwg_lists.plantconservation.org<BR></TT></FONT><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><br /><hr />Climb to the top of the charts! Play Star Shuffle: the word scramble challenge with star power. <a href='http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_oct' target='_new'>Play Now!</a></body>
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