Contents |
As climate variability increases, each species within an ecological community will respond individually. With current information, it is impossible to know specifically how climatic changes will affect native plant populations or how invasive plants will respond. It is certain, however, that no two plants will respond in the same way to any given change. Regardless of the instigating factors, the establishment of invasive plants would likely be assisted if the current ecosystem breaks …
The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) (Fig. 1) was intentionally introduced from Europe to the northeastern United States in 1869. It has spread west and south in the United States as well as north into Canada, where it has reached its northern limit due, in part, to adverse climatic conditions. Currently, the gypsy moth is confined to areas east of Lake Superior, although isolated infestations …
Competition for resources (moisture, light, nutrients) is fierce in the often resource-limited environments of the desert Southwest. Species native to the desert Southwest have special adaptations to take advantage of short-lived moisture sources and to endure long drought periods (Dimmit 2000). Other arid places in the world besides the southwestern …
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (Carter, 2003) has described the effect of climate variability on invasive plants as a mounting issue: “Some native species are unlikely to be able to adapt fast enough to the changing climate regimes, resulting in a lowered competitive edge and weakened resistance of ecosystems …
Dogwood anthracnose is a relatively new disease to North America. It was first observed in 1976 affecting a population of Cornus nuttallii in Washington state (Byther and Davidson 1979). Two years later, Pirone (1980) noticed a widespread and rapid deterioration of flowering dogwoods in New York and Connecticut (Fig. 1). In 1983, the …
The balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae), a native of Europe, was first located in the southern Appalachians in 1957 on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina (Figure 1). …
Beech bark disease (Fig. 1) is caused by a complex of two agents, the beech scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga (Fig. 2), and a fungus, Nectria coccinea faginata. Infestation is easily identified by …
Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is a newly introduced species (found in 2002) from Asia. Populations have been found in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Quebec (USDA 2011). Larvae feed on phloem and sapwood of ash …
Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a recently introduced pest from China. It is believed to have entered the United States inside solid wood packing material from China (USDA – Forest Service 2002). It was first discovered in the United States in 1996 in New York. In 1998, an infestation was found in Chicago. In 2002, Asian longhorned beetle was found in New Jersey and has since spread …
