Teresa - Intuitively, I would agree that the most serious problems associated with invasive plants would be ecosystem disruption, but there is a group of scientists at Smithsonian Institution studying invasives who claim that invasives are the second most important cause of extinction. Unfortunately, I don't, at this time, have the name of the man who spoke on the topic at the U.S. Botanic Garden a few weeks ago. I will try to obtain his name and send it to you offlist.
Of course invasives could be the second leading cause of extinction as well as major disrupters of ecosystem functions. I have not yet read the New York times letter, but I understand it is from a horticulturist in the seed and plant business who sells invasive exotic seeds and plants as well as native plants. Hardly, an unbiased commentator. Bob Mowbray -- Tropical Forest Ecologist Natural Resource Managment Specialist Reston, VA -------------- Original message from Teresa Woods <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: -------------- > My understanding from the ecological literature is that invasives are > not responsible for nearly as many native species extinctions as one > would intuitively imagine, and mostly only when trophic interactions, > mainly predation, are involved. Invasive plants, rather than causing > extinctions among native plants, appear primarily to change and disrupt > ecosystem function through shifting dominance patterns, fire regimes, > etc. > > I have been surprised about the lack of documented native extinctions > due to invasive plants (main exceptions seem to be isolated island > systems). > > My question: are there studies / documentation to support the idea that > invasive plants cause, or are at least correlated with, native plant > extinctions? > > Just to conflagrate the issue here, here's a link to a recent NYTimes > opinion article from a horticulturalist in the issue of invasives -- a > view from the other side of the fence! > > http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/opinion/19ball.html?ex=1144296000&en=b173e8d3f > > db8d5e2&ei=5070 > > Teresa > > Teresa Woods > Graduate Assistant > Division of Biology > 232 Ackert Hall > Kansas State University > Manhattan, KS 66506 > 785-532-9834 > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
