Exotic Earthworm Invasion

Forests Under Threat from Exotic Earthworm Invasion: Study Shows Humans to Blame for Spread of Non-Native Species an article in Science Daily reports on information reported in an article from Human Ecology. Both articles are very interesting and worth reading. Unfortunately it really does not come as a surprise that humans are the culprits in the importation and spread of non-native, invasive or potentially invasive species. We are continually looking for a better, easier way to do things. This is one of those human qualities which has a good side and a bad side. We have learned that we need to be much more cautious when introducing something non-native to the ecosystems we live in and are a part of. These non-native species are living organisms that do not recognize our man made boundaries. They don't stop at the fence in our backyard or at county, state or national boundaries. Each and every one of us can help to stop the introduction and spread of invasive species by starting with informed, responsible stewardship of our own little piece of America, however large or small that may be. Fruit from an invasive plant grown in a container on an apartment balcony can be spread for many miles by wildlife eating that fruit. Most states have an Exotic or Invasive Species Council. Join your local council and ask for ways you can help and for a list of non-invasive alternatives for landscaping. For Georgia go to GA-EPPC.org


Forest floor before non-native earthworm invasion is rich in organic material
photo by Robert Lee, Bugwood.org

Forest floor after non-native earthworm invasion. Orgainc material is gone.
Photo by Robert Lee, Bugwood.org

Call for Data - National Data Collection Project

Through funding from U. S. Forest Service - Forest Health Protection, we are now expanding the call for invasive plant distribution data nationwide! This will allow EDDMapS to display the true range of known invasive plants as well as add new species to the distribution maps as they are reported. Plants such as jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) have noticeably patch distribution maps; we hope to be able to connect "isolated" populations to the existing known range. To handle the anticipated influx of data, we hired Rebekah Wallace, MS Weed Science - University of Georgia, as EDDMapS Data Coordinator to streamline the recruiting, formatting, and uploading bulk data into EDDmapS. Please contact Rebekah at bekahwal@uga.edu or 229-386-3298 and help us to complete the picture of invasive plant distribution nationwide.

Certificate in Coastal Native Plants Program

Conserving native plants is an important part of protecting habitats from invasive plants. This program will help you learn more about the wonderful native habitats here in Georgia.

The Certificate in Coastal Native Plants Program

by

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Coastal Wildscapes

For more information about the Certificate program or to register for classes, pease contact Cora Keber at 706-542-6156 or ckeber@uga.edu.

Or you may register online at http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/eduregister.html

Rhexia alifanus
photo by Karan Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

 ORIENTATION SESSION (Optional and Free) 

 

Orientation for New or Interested Students to the Certificate in Native Plants Program. Friday, September 16, 2011. 9:00am – 10:00am. Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, Savannah. 

CORE COURSES (All four are required of Certificate students)

Plant Taxonomy. Saturday, November 5, 2011. 10:00am – 5:00pm. Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, Savannah. Members $95*, non-members $105.     

Basic Botany. Saturday, January 28, 2012. 10:00am – 5:00pm. Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, Savannah. Members $95*, non-members $105.  
Natural Communities of Georgia. Saturday, March 3, 2012. 9:00am – 5:00pm. Ogeechee Canal, Savannah. Members $95*, non-members $105.
Plant Conservation: Protecting Plant Diversity in the Garden and in the Wild. Saturday, June 2, 2012.10:00am – 5:00pm. Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, Savannah. Members $95*; non-members $105

ELECTIVE COURSES (Certificate students choose six or more and there are many to choose from)

And then 16 SERVICE HOURS Completes your requirements.

*Class fees are reduced for members of the following organizations. To receive discount, class fees must be paid by check only.

• Friends of the State Botanical Garden (http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/supmember.html )
• Friends of the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens (http://www.bamboo.caes.uga.edu/friends.html)
• Coastal Wildscapes (http://coastalwildscapes.org/join-us )

EDRR Alert - Ravennagrass

Ravennagrass (Ripidium ravennae (L.) Trinius) was noticed by several sharp observers in the mid-Atlantic region who reported it in 2009, in time for it to be included in the 4th edition of the Plant Invaders book as one of the "Plants to Watch" (p. 130). If you spot this non-native plant outside of landscaped areas, please report your observation to MAEDN.

Ravennagrass, Ripidium ravennae
photo by  The Nature Conservancy Archive, Bugwood.org

The Mid-Atlantic Early Detection Network or MAEDN is powered by EDDMapS.
Other images for Ravennagrass can be found at Invasive.org.

Swallow-wort Biocontrols Pass Test

"Entomologists Richard Casagrande and Heather Faubert helped rid a Rhode Island farm of cypress spurge, an invasive weed, in the late 1990s. The spurge is a pretty thing but a thug nonetheless, and poisonous to cattle. Their weapon: a cadre of hungry beetles, biocontrol agents so keyed into spurge they won’t eat anything else." excerpt from the article, Swallow-wort Biocontrols Pass Test, by Mary Woodson, Northeastern IPM Center. Read more about biocontrol for swallow-wort and the stringent tests any biocontrol agent must pass before it can be released to tackle harmful invasive plants.

The Cost of Invasive Species

Invasive non-native species cause harm to  native ecosystems. For example, the brown marmorated stink bug, introduced accidentally from Asia, has moved along the east coast of the United States. With no natural predators, the insects are able to multiply and feed on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, damaging the farmer's crops and raising food prices for all of us. Read more about how much money is spent in our country controlling or managing invasive species in the US Fish & Wildlife Service blog.

Halyomorpha halys,  brown marmorated stink bug
photo by Gary Bernon, USDA APHIS, Bugwood.org

Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month

August is Asian Long-horned Beetle Awareness Month!

 The Asian long-horned beetle is killing in America. Everyone can help to stop it. Learn the signs. Look for it. Report it. And Never move firewood. Always use locally grown and harvested firewood and untreated wood products.

Asian long-horned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis
photo by Melody Keena, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

For more information BeetleBusters.Info

For more information on Asian long-horned beetle.