A Comedy of Errors: The Environment, Humanity, and Non-Native Invasive Plant Species. ENVR 610 Final...
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A Comedy of Errors: The Environment, Humanity, and Non-Native Invasive Plant Species. ENVR 610 Final Paper Presentation December 1 st 2010 Christie Lovat
A Comedy of Errors: The Environment, Humanity, and Non-Native
Invasive Plant Species. ENVR 610 Final Paper Presentation December
1 st 2010 Christie Lovat
Slide 2
Introduction Traditional view of exotic species is negative.
Environmental damage Economic costs (Sherburne 1972; Blossey 1999;
Ewel et al. 1999; McNeely 2000; Knight et al. 2007) We are better
off without invasive species
Slide 3
Exotic invasive plant species are an integral part of our
environment and society, whose use we could not do without.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_doorman/517478820/
Slide 4
Introduction Definition exotic invasive plant species. Many
confusing terms. Why plants? Generalist organism group of
invasives. Problems inherent in cost-benefit analysis.
Anthropocentric. What defines good for society or environment?
(Elton 1958; Pearce 1998; Naylor 2000; Davis et al. 2001)
Slide 5
Agriculture Caloric production 70% caloric intake from nine
crop plants. Majority grown outside of their native range. Economic
gain Exotic invasive plants = ~$800 billion US/yr
http://cchronicle.com/2010/06/flex-your-power-lessons-learned-
from-an-inovative-awareness-campaign/ (Ammann et al. 2000; Burger
et al. 2006; Martnez-Ghersa and Ghersa 2006; Smith et al. 2006;
Gilbert 2010) The most caloric-dense plants are the most important
in agriculture, regardless of invasive status
Slide 6
Industry Non-food plant resources: Forestry: Profit from
invasive species alone $1.14 billion US in New Zealand.
Horticulture and Floriculture: Combined profit from both industries
in the United States = $11.2 billion US/year (Evans 1992; Ewel et
al. 1999; Dufour 2001; Reichard and White 2001; New Zealand Timber
Industry Federation 2005; Howell 2008) Plants with the most
desirable traits for their respective industries are the most
valuable, regardless of invasive status
Slide 7
Environment Conservation: Restoration of ecosystem services
Northern Guam Phytoremediation
http://ideonexus.com/2008/05/02/let-the-phytoremediation-begin/
(Blossey 1999; Ewel et al. 1999; Wilcove et al. 2000; Wolfe and
Bjornstad 2002; Ewel and Putz 2004; Gurevitch and Padilla 2004) The
best species for ecosystems are those that provide the greatest
ecosystem services, regardless of invasive status
Slide 8
Conclusion Exotic invasive plant species have achieved an
undeserved reputation. Benefits from exotics are greatest when
native plants do not suffice for the desired use or need. The costs
or benefits of a novel species is different for each situation.
Echium plantagineum : Salvation Jane and Pattersons Curse Each new
introduction should be treated in an unbiased way, so that society
and the environment can reap the greatest benefits
Slide 9
Thank you Any Questions?
Slide 10
Literature Cited oAmmann K, Jacot Y, Al Mazyad PR. 2000.
Weediness in the light of new transgenic crops and their potential
hybrids. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection. Online at:
http://www.ask- force.org/web/Weeds/weeds1.pdf [last accessed
November 12th 2010].http://www.ask- force.org/web/Weeds/weeds1.pdf
oBlossey B. 1999. Before, during and after: the need for long-term
monitoring in invasive plant species management. Biological
Invasions 1: 301-311. oBurger JC, Lee S, Ellstrand NC. 2006. Origin
and genetic structure of feral rye in the western United States.
Molecular Ecology 15: 2527-2539. oDavis MA, Thompson K, Grime JP.
2001. Charles S. Elton and the dissociation of invasion ecology
from the rest of ecology. Diversity and Distributions 7: 97-102.
oDufour D. 2001. The lumber industry: crucial contribution to
Canadas prosperity. Manufacturing overview research papers. Online
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psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/Statcan/31F0027M/31F0027MIE2002001.pdf
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oElton CS. 1958. The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants.
Methuen, London. oEvans J. 1992. Plantation Forestry in the
Tropics. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Clarendon Press. oEwel JJ, ODowd DJ,
Bergelson J, Daehler CC, DAntonio CM, Gmez LD, Gordon DR, Hobbs RJ,
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oGurevitch J, Padilla DK. 2004. Are invasive species a major cause
of extinctions? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19: 470-474.
Slide 11
Literature Cited oHowell C. 2008. Consolidated list of
environmental weeds in New Zealand. Doc Research and Development
Series 292. oKnight SK, Kurylo JS, ENdress AG, Stewart JR, Reich
PB. 2007. Ecology and ecosystem impacts of common buckthorn
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oMartnez-Ghersa MA, Ghersa CM. 2006. The relationship of propagule
pressure to invasion potential in plants. Euphytica 148: 87-96.
oMcNeely JA. 2000. The future of alien invasive species: changing
social views. In: Mooney HA, Hobbs RJ. 2000. Invasive Species in a
Changing World. Island Press: Washington. oNaylor RL. 2000. The
economics of alien species invasions. In: Mooney HA, Hobbs RJ.
2000. Invasive Species in a Changing World. Island Press:
Washington. oNew Zealand Timber Industry Federation. 2005. New
Zealand Export Summary. Online at:
http://www.nztif.co.nz/timberstats/NZExportsSummary.php [last
accessed November 26th 2010].
http://www.nztif.co.nz/timberstats/NZExportsSummary.php oPearce D.
1998. Cost-benefit analysis and environmental policy. Oxford Review
of Economic Policy 14: 84-100. oReichard SH, White P. 2001.
Horticulture as a pathway of invasive plant introductions in the
United States. BioScience 51: 103-113. oSherburne JA. 1972. Effects
of seasonal changes in the abundance and chemistry of the fleshy
fruits of northeastern woody shrubs on patterns of exploitation by
frugivorous birds. Dissertation, Cornell University. 157pp oSmith
RG, Maxwell BD, Menalled FD, Rew LJ. 2006. Lessons from agriculture
may improve the management of invasive plants in wildland systems.
Frontiers of Ecology and the Environment 4: 428-434. oWilcove DS,
Rothstein D, Dubow J, Phillips A, Losos E. 2000. Leading threats to
biodiversity. In: Stein BA, Kutner LS, Adams JS (eds) Precious
Heritage. The Status of Biodiversity in the United States. Oxford
University Press, Oxford. oWolfe AK, Bjornstad DJ. 2002. Why would
anyone object? An exploration of social aspects of phytoremediation
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