Map Callery Pear Challenge!

How many states are seeing Callery Pear becoming an invasive issue? Map infestations you see and let's find out! 

The University of Illinois is mapping Callery Pear in their state - Let's all join the challenge

The University of Illinois Extension Forestry is encouraging everyone in the state to map Callery Pear.  This invasive is rapidly spreading across the state.  Currently we have documented escaped populations in 65/102 counties in Illinois but we are sure it is more widespread than that.  And, based upon the data in www.eddmaps.org, we are ahead of the other states in mapping this species!  As we are asking everyone in Illinois to help fill out our map, I want to challenge the other Midwestern states to do the same!  Let’s build a single map that relays the true distribution of this species across the Midwest!

 We’re asking everyone to report to www.eddmaps.org or use the GLEDN app - http://apps.bugwood.org/apps/gledn/

Christopher EvansForestry Extension and Research SpecialistUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences

To find the best app in your area for mapping Callery Pear and other invasive species go to: EDDMapS Apps

Trees in Trouble: A documentary film about America’s Urban Forests. Coming to PBS

Trees in Trouble: A documentary film about America’s Urban Forests. Coming to PBS broadcasting near you in association with Earth Day/ Arbor Day programming during the month of April. The film will be aired numerous times during the week of April 25th.

Trees in Trouble http://www.treesintrouble.com/#about-film tells the story of Cincinnati’s response to the threat to its trees posed by the emerald ash borer. However, the film’s message is not limited to southern Ohio: across the country, from Massachusetts to San Diego, Minneapolis to Charleston, thousands of communities face the same threat: valuable and beloved trees being killed by non-native insects or diseases. While the trees and killers differ, the cost to the communities is the same: destruction of trees that provide shade and other important ecosystem services and create our sense of home. Trees in Trouble helps us understand what we are losing and links us to actions we can take to counter this tragedy.”   Faith Campbell, Vice President, Center for Invasive Species Prevention

 Check the PBS schedule chart at: http://www.treesintrouble.com/national-public-television-release/ to find out when Trees in Trouble will be airing on PBS in your area

Native Predators May Be Having a Larger Impact than Expected on Invasive Stink Bug

Entomology Today. March 25, 2016 issue. 

By Dr. Rob Morrison, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, WV. 

Research recently appearing in the journal Biological Control may change how we view native predators of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). BMSB is an invasive species that was accidentally introduced to the United States from Asia in Pennsylvania, and has since been detected in more than 40 U.S. states. It feeds on more than 150 plant species, making it a large threat to many agricultural systems in the country.

Researchers with the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station and Shepherd University evaluated 25 native generalist natural enemy species collected from the field as potential predators of BMSB egg masses in the laboratory. 

To better evaluate and characterize damage inflicted by the various predators, the researchers photographed egg masses before and after predator exposure with the aim of linking egg damage to specific groups or guilds of predators.

Predators were also observed using videography, and some interesting behaviors emerged.  Bottom line, results suggest that native predators may not be getting as much credit as they deserve in the biological control of BMSB. 

The complete article is available at: http://entomologytoday.org/2016/03/25/native-predators-may-be-having-a-larger-impact-than-expected-on-invasive-stink-bug/

USDA-APHIS Associate Administrator Shares some Trade Accomplishments

This USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Stakeholder Registry Release is worth a read. GKD 

March 14, 2016

Dear Stakeholders:

Now more than ever, producers need access to the global marketplace to expand their businesses and enhance their profitability. This is a message that is reinforced every time we meet with commodity representatives. These groups have come to rely on APHIS’ pivotal role in maintaining existing markets and negotiating new market opportunities based on sound science and meaningful protocols.

APHIS leads the way working with our programs to manage and resolve Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) trade issues. In fiscal year (FY) 2015 alone, we facilitated and provided in-country support to successfully resolve 171 trade-related issues involving $2.5 billion in U.S. agricultural exports.

Our trade staff helped negotiate market access to China for all apple varieties from all U.S. states—a market worth an estimated $100 million. They also facilitated highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-related outreach and negotiations that helped the United States retain $248.9 million in poultry exports during the worst animal disease outbreak in U.S. history. At the same time, they were instrumental in the negotiations that removed long-standing trade restrictions around bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to allow more than $13 million in exports. Finally, they were significant in retaining our $168.7 million wheat exports to Brazil and Kenya by conducting outreach around flag smut.

APHIS also leads several pest control programs in the Americas designed to reduce or eliminate populations of pests like Screwworm, Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), and Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly). These pests can impact trade if they are found here in the United States, and although we have battled a number of fruit fly outbreaks this year, it could have been far worse without this pro-active work beyond our borders.

I could fill several more pages with the work we are doing around the world to maintain markets and foster new opportunities overseas, but I hope what I have shared underscores the priority APHIS places on exports, and you can expect more of the same in 2016.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jere Dick, Associate Administrator, USDA APHIS 

Internet Propels Invasive Species

By Chris Bennett, Farm Journal Technology and Issues Editor.  AgWeb. 

 Friday, February 12, 2016

Ten websites, 50 days and 2,625 plant species for sale at the click of a button. Specimens were sold in 55 different countries spread across the globe. … Of the 2,625 species up for grabs, 510 were invasive. Hang on for the kicker. Out of the 510 invasive examples, 35 are on the International Union for Conservation Nature’s 100 worst invasive species list.   

The Internet has merely compounded a deeply rooted problem for agriculture. 

Karan Rawlins, Invasive Species Coordinator at The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, is quoted throughout the article. 

For the complete article by   see:  http://www.agweb.com/article/internet-propels-invasive-species-naa-chris-bennett/

 

Possible opportunity for PhD students working with Invasive Species to gain international experience in Ireland

Two PhD studentships are being solicited to work on an Irish EPA funded three‐year project led by Institute of Technology, Sligo and partnered with Queen's University Belfast and INVAS Biosecurity, to tackle IAS problems with multiple approaches.

Invasive species are a global problem.  The European Union has ramped-up efforts to enhance collaboration and cooperation between member countries and to improve their abilities to reduce introduction, spread and impacts of invasive species. 

To that end, the EU has initiated several Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action projects focused on invasive species, one of which is COST Action 1209  European Information System for Alien Species  http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/fa/TD1209.  The aim of COST Action TD1209 is to facilitate enhanced knowledge gathering and sharing through a network of experts, providing support to a European IAS information system which will enable effective and informed decision-making in relation to IAS. An overarching priority will be to identify the needs and formats for alien species (AS) information by different user groups and specifically for implementation of EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy. Correspondingly early warning tools and rapid response protocols will be developed. 

Center Co-Director Douce has been participating in this and other Invasive Species-focused COST Action projects to gain an understanding of EU approaches to dealing with Invasive Species and to look for possibilities of exchanging information and information technology capabilities that would be beneficial to all parties involved.

The call for applicants came through the COST Action TD1209 communications systems.  

Students will join a range of research projects on invasive species being conducted by these partners to tackle IAS problems with multiple approaches. Each PhD will benefit from research and training in a truly inter-disciplinary environment with further opportunities to collaborate with ecologists, engineers, geographers, sociologists, state agencies, government and regulators, industry stakeholders and local communities.

One PhD will be based at IT Sligo and the other in QUB. Applications can be made to one or both of these PhDs before January 22nd 2016.

PhD 1

Institution: CERIS Research Centre, Institute of Technology, Sligo

Supervisors: Dr. Frances Lucy (IT Sligo), Prof. Jaimie Dick (QUB) and Dr. Joe Caffrey (INVAS Biosecurity,Ltd.)

This PhD student will: (1) address systematic reviews and horizon scans of IAS issues in general and within Ireland in particular; and (2) develop communications for prevention, control and eradication of IAS. Further, the student will examine and develop IAS biosecurity protocols (e.g. surveys of vectors, IAS signage) at points of entry (e.g. ports) and, in the field, develop herbicide/adjuvant control methods for the invasive terrestrial plant, Winter heliotrope, Petasites fragrans.

Application: Submit a CV and Letter of Motivation by January 22 at 5pm to Dr Frances Lucy lucy.frances@itsligo.ie

Funding: This fully funded 3-year PhD studentship pays IT Sligo fees plus a stipend of Euro 16,000 per annum. Applicants must have a BSc and/or MSc in Environmental Science, Ecology (or similar discipline).

PhD 2

Institution: School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast

Supervisors: Prof. Jaimie Dick (QUB), Dr. Frances Lucy (IT Sligo) and Dr. Joe Caffrey (INVAS Biosecurity,Ltd.)

This PhD student will address: (1) systematic reviews and horizon scans of IAS issues in general and within Ireland in particular; (2) development of communications for prevention, control and eradication of IAS. Further, the student will develop biosecurity protocols with disinfectants, such as Virkon, using ecotoxicological methods and, in the laboratory and field, develop control and eradication methods for the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (e.g. based on dry ice application).

Application: http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=69924. Prospective applicants may contact the lead supervisor, Prof Jaimie Dick at j.dick@qub.ac.uk.

Funding: This fully funded 3-year PhD studentship pays UK University tuition fees (currently £4,052 per annum) and stipend of £14,057stg per annum. Applicants must have a BSc and/or MSc in Ecology (or similar discipline), or equivalent qualifications.​

Dr. Frances Lucy,

Director of CERIS,

School of Science,

Institute of Technology, Sligo,

Ash Lane,

Sligo,

Ireland

Phone: +353-719305693

www.itsligo.ie<http://www.itsligo.ie/>

Board Member: Inland Fisheries Ireland

www.fisheriesireland.ie

Can the use of prescribed cattle grazing be an effective way to manage certain invasive weeds in rangeland? Results of a 6 year California pasture-scale trial.

Introducing cattle grazing to a noxious weed-dominated rangeland shifts plant communities

J.S. Davy, L.M. Roche, A.V. Robertson, D.E. Nay and K.W. Tate. 

California Agriculture 69(4):230-236. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v069n04p230. October-December 2015.

Invasive weed species in California's rangelands can reduce herbaceous diversity, forage quality and wildlife habitat. Small-scale studies (5 acres or fewer) have shown reductions of medusahead and yellow starthistle using prescribed grazing on rangelands, but little is published on the effects of pasture-scale (greater than 80 acres) prescribed grazing on weed control and plant community responses.

This study provides the results of a 6-year collaborative study of manager-applied prescribed grazing implemented on rangeland that had not been grazed for 4 years. Grazing reduced medusahead but did not alter yellow starthistle cover. Medusahead reductions were only seen in years that did not have significant late spring rainfall, suggesting that it is able to recover from heavy grazing if soil moisture is present. Later season grazing appears to have the potential to suppress medusahead in all years. In practice, however, such grazing is constrained by livestock drinking water availability and forage quality, which were limited even in years with late spring rainfall. Thus, we expect that grazing treatments under real-world constraints would reduce medusahead only in years with little late spring rainfall. After 10 years of grazing exclusion, the ungrazed plant communities began to shift, replacing medusahead with species that have little value, such as ripgut and red brome.

Read the full report at: http://ucanr.edu/repositoryfiles/cav6904p230-159795.pdf