Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees
If you had only the excerpt from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service statement that Paul posted to go on, you'd be stunned to learn that some eucalyptus species are highly invasive in California. It seems to me that engineering cold-tolerance into eucalyptus presents a serious risk of expanding its potential range as an invader. My concern is not so much with the field test (which I think can plausibly be controlled) as with eventual commercialization and widespread distribution of these trees in places eucalyptus is not currently able to invade. After this carefully-controlled test under conditions that minimize the risk of harmful effects, how much more testing is needed before the trees can go to market? Once they're on the market, we can't expect the consumer to monitor the trees quite so carefully. The only test that will definitively tell us if these trees will be invasive is their release in the environment under poorly-regulated conditions, and if they're invasive, we will most likely only know it once they're beyond our control. This, in turn, brings up a more general concern of mine. If we haven't introduced a species to a region, we obviously don't know if it will be invasive; why does this always seem to be seen as an argument in favor of introduction? For an argument against the approval of the field trial that doesn't involve the prefix franken-, you could try the Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/solutions/sensible_pharma_crops/ucs-comments-to-usda-on-2.html . Jim Crants On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 4:50 PM, Paul Cherubini mona...@saber.net wrote: To learn about the benefits of GM eucalyptus visit the ArborGen website: http://www.arborgen.com/newsroom.php ArborGen trees will allow landowners to grow more wood on less land with fewer agricultural inputs, thus protecting our native forests and ecosystems. To learn about why the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service doesn't consider GM eucalyptus field tests dangerous for the environment, google arborgen USDA and you'll find this notice: http://tinyurl.com/mutlmu Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Notice 1. The field test sites are located on secure, private land in Baldwin County, Alabama, and are physically isolated from any sexually compatible Eucalyptus. 2. There is little probability of asexual spread since this hybrid Eucalyptus does not propagate readily without the aid of special environmental conditions. 3. Eucalyptus seed is not adapted to wind dispersal so the dispersal of seed is expected to be limited to the proximity of the field test area. 4. It is unlikely that viable seeds will be produced by the Eucalyptus hybrids in the field test, and it is unlikely that any seeds produced will be able to germinate andproduce viable offspring. Therefore, APHIS concludes that it is not reasonably foreseeable that Eucalyptus seeds will be spread by severe wind events and establish outside of the field site. 5. If any seeds were to be formed due to crossing within the field test, there is very little probability that they will germinate since Eucalyptus seeds have very limited stored food reserves, are intolerant of shade or weedy competition, and need contact with bare mineral soil to successfully germinate. 6. If any viable seeds were to be produced and grow into seedlings, they will be easily identified by monitoring the field sites and destroyed with herbicide treatment or removed by physical means. 8. Horizontal movement of the introduced genes is extremely unlikely. The foreign DNA is stably integrated into the plant genome. 9. No adverse consequences to non-target organisms or environmental quality are expected from the field release of these transgenic Eucalyptus for the reasons stated below. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478
Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees
James Crants wrote: My concern is not so much with the field test as with eventual commercialization and widespread distribution of these trees in places eucalyptus is not currently able to invade. James, the APHIS link I provided in my previous post http://tinyurl.com/mutlmu explained: the Eucalyptus species used by ArborGen, Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophyll is not considered invasive. the GE hybrid trees are unlikely to produce seed, the trees are unlikely to hybridize with any nearby species, any offspring are likely to be sickly, and Eucalyptus grandis has difficulty establishing in the wild. Eucalyptus grandis has been grown commercially in Florida since the 1960s and there has been no evidence that the species has escaped from cultivation and has become invasive. There is no reason to believe that adding cold tolerance to this genetic background would increase the likelihood that the species would become invasive. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees
As a matter of interest in the abstract below: ... A rapid assessment of the invasive status of Eucalyptus species at 82 sites in South Africa (54 in the Western Cape and 28 in Mpumalanga) indicated that only ... flooded gum (E. grandis) are clearly invasive. It may be worth considering that a species that is not invasive in wet Florida may well be invasive in the dry parts of the western US and vice versa. There are several instances to suggest that it is easy to underestimate the potential of a species to become a serious noxious weed. Juanita Ladyman Centennial CO Original: Title: A rapid assessment of the invasive status of Eucalyptus species in two South African provinces. Personal Authors: Forsyth, G. G., Richardson, D. M., Brown, P. J., Wilgen, B. W. van Author Affiliation: CSIR Division of Water, Environment and Forestry Technology, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa. Document Title: South African Journal of Science Abstract: Gum trees, or eucalypts (Eucalyptus species), have been targeted for invasive alien plant clearing programmes in many parts of South Africa. This has caused some dissatisfaction where the species concerned also have useful characteristics, and stakeholders contend that some of these useful species are not invasive. A rapid assessment of the invasive status of Eucalyptus species at 82 sites in South Africa (54 in the Western Cape and 28 in Mpumalanga) indicated that only Red River gum (E. camaldulensis) and flooded gum (E. grandis) are clearly invasive. Surveys were not undertaken in parts of the Western Cape known to be invaded by spider gum (E. lehmannii); the invasive status of this species is well known and is not contested. Red River gum has transformed long stretches of rivers and its importance as a major weed has been underestimated in previous reviews of alien plant invasions in South Africa. Most other species were naturalized. We recommend that projects aimed at clearing eucalypts should focus on riparian areas and nature reserves (where all eucalypts have deleterious effects), but that clearing projects outside these areas should only target species known to be invasive until such time as the invasive status of the other eucalypts (notably sugar gum, E. cladocalyx, and karri, E. diversicolor) can be ascertained with a greater degree of confidence. Publisher: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Paul Cherubini Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 1:46 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees James Crants wrote: My concern is not so much with the field test as with eventual commercialization and widespread distribution of these trees in places eucalyptus is not currently able to invade. James, the APHIS link I provided in my previous post http://tinyurl.com/mutlmu explained: the Eucalyptus species used by ArborGen, Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophyll is not considered invasive. the GE hybrid trees are unlikely to produce seed, the trees are unlikely to hybridize with any nearby species, any offspring are likely to be sickly, and Eucalyptus grandis has difficulty establishing in the wild. Eucalyptus grandis has been grown commercially in Florida since the 1960s and there has been no evidence that the species has escaped from cultivation and has become invasive. There is no reason to believe that adding cold tolerance to this genetic background would increase the likelihood that the species would become invasive. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees
For some reason, my response to the postings on GM trees was rejected. Could you post it for me? Bob Mowbray Despite reassurances from APHIS there seems to be a possibility, perhaps very remote, that these GM Eucalyptus can become invasive. Considering there is a possibility that this proposal could result in the introduction of yet another invasive plant to ecosystems which are already threatened by invasives, climate change, suburban sprawl, and air and water pollution, it seems reasonable to ask, WHY? In general eucalyptus wood is of low quality. What is the intended use of the wood from these trees? Since the wood is probably of low quality, it seems that the proposed use might be pulpwood. Will these trees grow significantly faster than pines and poplars? Is it worth the risk? Bob Mowbray Tropical Forest Ecologist -- Original message from Juanita Ladyman juanita_lady...@hotmail.com: -- As a matter of interest in the abstract below: ... A rapid assessment of the invasive status of Eucalyptus species at 82 sites in South Africa (54 in the Western Cape and 28 in Mpumalanga) indicated that only ... flooded gum (E. grandis) are clearly invasive. It may be worth considering that a species that is not invasive in wet Florida may well be invasive in the dry parts of the western US and vice versa. There are several instances to suggest that it is easy to underestimate the potential of a species to become a serious noxious weed. Juanita Ladyman Centennial CO Original: Title: A rapid assessment of the invasive status of Eucalyptus species in two South African provinces. Personal Authors: Forsyth, G. G., Richardson, D. M., Brown, P. J., Wilgen, B. W. van Author Affiliation: CSIR Division of Water, Environment and Forestry Technology, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa. Document Title: South African Journal of Science Abstract: Gum trees, or eucalypts (Eucalyptus species), have been targeted for invasive alien plant clearing programmes in many parts of South Africa. This has caused some dissatisfaction where the species concerned also have useful characteristics, and stakeholders contend that some of these useful species are not invasive. A rapid assessment of the invasive status of Eucalyptus species at 82 sites in South Africa (54 in the Western Cape and 28 in Mpumalanga) indicated that only Red River gum (E. camaldulensis) and flooded gum (E. grandis) are clearly invasive. Surveys were not undertaken in parts of the Western Cape known to be invaded by spider gum (E. lehmannii); the invasive status of this species is well known and is not contested. Red River gum has transformed long stretches of rivers and its importance as a major weed has been underestimated in previous reviews of alien plant invasions in South Africa. Most other species were naturalized. We recommend that projects aimed at clearing eucalypts should focus on riparian areas and nature reserves (where all eucalypts have deleterious effects), but that clearing projects outside these areas should only target species known to be invasive until such time as the invasive status of the other eucalypts (notably sugar gum, E. cladocalyx, and karri, E. diversicolor) can be ascertained with a greater degree of confidence. Publisher: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Paul Cherubini Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 1:46 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees James Crants wrote: My concern is not so much with the field test as with eventual commercialization and widespread distribution of these trees in places eucalyptus is not currently able to invade. James, the APHIS link I provided in my previous post http://tinyurl.com/mutlmu explained: the Eucalyptus species used by ArborGen, Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophyll is not considered invasive. the GE hybrid trees are unlikely to produce seed, the trees are unlikely to hybridize with any nearby species, any offspring are likely to be sickly, and Eucalyptus grandis has difficulty establishing in the wild. Eucalyptus grandis has been grown commercially in Florida since the 1960s and there has been no evidence that the species has escaped from cultivation and has become invasive. There is no reason to believe that adding cold tolerance to this genetic background would increase the likelihood that the species would become invasive. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
[ECOLOG-L] GM trees
Hello, I received the following alert from the Organic Consumers Association, and I thought it might be of interest to the list. Would someone please comment on the consequences of an action such as this introduction? Thank you. Mtreem mtr...@owc.net The USDA is currently taking public comments on whether or not the company ArborGen should be allowed to conduct 29 field trials of genetically engineered cold tolerant eucalyptus trees in the U.S. For the first time in history, this massive experiment, which is on the verge of being green-lighted, will literally be using nature as the laboratory to test more than 260,000 franken-trees. Scientists across the U.S. are voicing concerns over this proposal including: -The USDA failed to do an Environmental Impact Statement to assess potential negative issues related to the proposed field trials. -The spread of the these plants into the wild through seeds and plant matter is highly likely, and the impacts on native ecosystems from this invader are unknown. -One of the experimental GE tree varieties is a known host for cryptococcus gatti, a fatal fungal pathogen whose spores cause meningitis in people and animals. Comments are being accepted by the USDA until July 6, 2009. Take action today: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18262.cfm
Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees
To learn about the benefits of GM eucalyptus visit the ArborGen website: http://www.arborgen.com/newsroom.php ArborGen trees will allow landowners to grow more wood on less land with fewer agricultural inputs, thus protecting our native forests and ecosystems. To learn about why the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service doesn't consider GM eucalyptus field tests dangerous for the environment, google arborgen USDA and you'll find this notice: http://tinyurl.com/mutlmu Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Notice 1. The field test sites are located on secure, private land in Baldwin County, Alabama, and are physically isolated from any sexually compatible Eucalyptus. 2. There is little probability of asexual spread since this hybrid Eucalyptus does not propagate readily without the aid of special environmental conditions. 3. Eucalyptus seed is not adapted to wind dispersal so the dispersal of seed is expected to be limited to the proximity of the field test area. 4. It is unlikely that viable seeds will be produced by the Eucalyptus hybrids in the field test, and it is unlikely that any seeds produced will be able to germinate andproduce viable offspring. Therefore, APHIS concludes that it is not reasonably foreseeable that Eucalyptus seeds will be spread by severe wind events and establish outside of the field site. 5. If any seeds were to be formed due to crossing within the field test, there is very little probability that they will germinate since Eucalyptus seeds have very limited stored food reserves, are intolerant of shade or weedy competition, and need contact with bare mineral soil to successfully germinate. 6. If any viable seeds were to be produced and grow into seedlings, they will be easily identified by monitoring the field sites and destroyed with herbicide treatment or removed by physical means. 8. Horizontal movement of the introduced genes is extremely unlikely. The foreign DNA is stably integrated into the plant genome. 9. No adverse consequences to non-target organisms or environmental quality are expected from the field release of these transgenic Eucalyptus for the reasons stated below. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
