[OGD] Invasive Non natives

[Alan W Stephenson]

It matters little whether the introduced species is 
flora or fauna as the cost to Australia from these invasive non-native species 
is $3.3B per year and those figures are from 1997. This of course is only a 
monetary cost, the real cost is loss of native flora and fauna. Currently in New 
South Wales a proposalis under consideration for the introduction of 
Bombus terrestris (European Bumble Bee), to aid pollination rates in the 
Greenhouse industry and in particular, Tomato production. This pest was 
illegally released in Tasmania in the late 1980's and despite claims it would 
not spread, has colonised all World Heritage areas and most National Parks. It 
has spread at a rate of 25km per year and is found in low (600mm pa) and high 
(3200mm pa) rainfall areas and altitudes from sea level to 1260 mts. It was also 
introduced into New Zealand in 1885 to aid pollination of red clover but as in 
all other countries it has proved impossible to control. Do we need any more 
evidence?
Alan W Stephenson
National Conservation Officer
Australasian Native Orchid Society
Conservation Director
Australian Orchid 
Council
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Re: [OGD] Invasive non-natives

[DennisWestler]

In a message dated 8/30/06 3:03:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Andy Easton writes:

"At the recent ASHS Summer meetings all the talk was about that the US is looking to follow the lead of two stupid countries, Australia and New Zealand, who currently operate a most restrictive control system for the importation of non-indigenous species. All the usual garbage is spouted about making sure they don't become invasive (most of us would love orchids to become invasive)" 

Living in California, the danger of invasive nonnative plants is very obvious, and cannot be downplayed. The list of plants which are currently displacing native plants, reducing habitat and food for native animals and degrading agricultural land is huge. Eucalyptus species, Acacia species, Pampas Grass, Scotch Broom, Spanish Broom, Vinca Major, Vinca Minor, Algerian Ivy, Himalayan Blackberries, Senecio ("German Ivy"), Centranthus ruber, Star Thistle, are just a few in California. European Bittersweet, and Kudzu are a couple I know of in the East, but I am sure the list is much longer.

The notion that Orchids could become invasive or noxious weeds seems far fetched, but Zeuxine strateumatica has apparently established itself in Florida, and Epipactis helleborine has managed to spread across the entire country. The latter can be found in a surprising range of conditions in California; garden beds, lawns, roadside ditches, woodlands, dry slopes, and scrublands. The danger of nonnative orchids doing the same widespread damage as Eucalyptus or Pampas Grass is probably slight. But the possibility of them displacing native orchid species, and driving them towards extinction (given the other pressures on them) is worth considering. I have seen huge drifts of E. helleborine in a roadside ditch in one location, and given the number of seed pods they produce, it is worrisome. I like Epipactis h., but would rather see our native Epipactis gigantea, and Calyso bulbosa thrive, both in habitats that E. helleborine enjoys.
Past experience with invasive nonnative plants and animals shows we need to be more careful in the future. I have no doubt any new restrictions on plant importation will be a pain in the as for us all, but they are not necessarily "garbage". 

 
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