The Emerald Ash Borer: Destruction in North American Forests

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) (EAB) is a relatively new invasive species to North America. It is thought to have been first introduced and established in Michigan around 1997, though it was not discovered until June of 2002. The EAB is a relatively minuscule insect, only measuring 7.5-13.5mm long, and slender bodied. It ranges in colour from green to bronze, with emerald wing covers, and a metallic red-purple abdomen under the wings. The larvae are white/cream coloured, are around 26-32mm long, and have segmented bodies.<!-- more --.

The EAB originates from Asia, most commonly found around the Eastern coast. The emerald ash borer has spread quickly throughout North America, wreaking havoc on the ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in more than half of American states (see map image) and 2 Canadian provinces, Ontario and Quebec. With the very quick spread of EAB, knowledge on their life strategy is an asset in helping prevent further damage. With 150-200 million trees already deceased, the emerald ash borer is costing the US approximately one billion dollars every year in treatment, removal and replacement of trees. This number is only expected to continue to rise unless better preventative measures are taken.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY ASH TREE IS INFESTED BY EAB? -D-shaped exit holes through the bark about 1/8 inch wide (see photo) -S-shaped larval galleries just beneath the bark -Thinning leaves or branches -Vertical splits in the bark -Unusual shoots sprouting from the main trunk or base of the tree -Damage from woodpeckers trying to get the borer at its larvae stage

If you think your tree is infested, report it to your Department of Agriculture or Nature ASAP

Unfortunately the best treatment for in infested to tree is to cut it, and all neighbouring trees, down.

THE BEST TREATMENT IS PREVENTION! -DO NOT bring firewood from one city to another – THIS IS THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF EAB SPREADING. -Check your trees regularly -Do not plant more ash trees -Awareness -Report infested trees IMMEDIATELY

I'm sad to say that this pest has reached my own little Canadian town, so I'd hate to see it happen to yours. Prevention is key!

~Rosie

Images and references: http://www.nyis.info/?action=eab # http://bit.ly/1DPKmaz

Joe Heller[_

_](https://www.facebook.com/TheEarthStory/photos/a.352867368107647/870899142971131/?type=1&theater#)

Burmese Pythons: Insatiable appetite

The everglades have a new top predator, and it is not a panther, bobcat or member of the Crocodilian family. It is the Burmese python. Native to Southeast Asia, wild Burmese pythons average sizes of 3.7 meters (12 feet) but can reach lengths of 5.4 meters (19 feet). Devoid of venom, the python uses the technique of constriction to kill its prey. Sharp teeth allow it to grip prey, which are then suffocated as the python’s body coils around it, cutting off airflow. It has been known to kill and eat birds, mammals, as large as adult deer, and alligators. Scientists rightfully fear that the pythons are altering the food chain of the everglades.

A recent study conducted by University of Florida and the USGS makes a strong case for the scientists’ worries. 26 marsh rabbits were fitted with tracking devices and released into the park. Rabbits were chosen as the specimen for the study because they are generally resilient to predation as they are prolific breeders. The rabbits settled in and thrived at first, but as temperatures rose they were quickly picked off. The results of the study found that pythons ate 77% of the rabbits. Pythons have no dietary restrictions, so the decrease in rabbit numbers could be a reflection of decreases in other small mammal populations.

Humans brought the Burmese python into this ecosystem and have recently attempted to take it out, which is no easy task. Burmese pythons can be inactive for extended periods of time and are difficult to locate and remove from the environment. In a 2013 state-sponsored hunt, around 1600 participants found and captured a measly 68 pythons. It is going to take a lot of effort, time, money and people to remediate this problem.

KKS

News story about study: http://bit.ly/1DnweeY

General info about Burmese Python:http://on.natgeo.com/1NB2j2l

Photo _https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/florida/stories-in-florida/stopping-a-burmese-python-invasion/

_

Asian Carp: to eat, or not to eat?

As a means of water quality improvement, silver carp and bighead were introduced into American fisheries in 1973 in an effort to control zooplankton and phytoplankton populations. However, they were much more successful than expected and spread rapidly through the waterways. Because of their plankton-based diet, the carp compete for resources with the native plankton-eaters, such as mollusks and native juvenile fish. Silver carp are notorious for jumping out of the water due to their sensitivity to sound. Aside from potential danger to boaters and fisherman, they make for an easy fishing trip. To quote Landers, "This was the easiest fish I ever caught in my life, but it wasn’t exceptional. A dozen more voluntarily followed it into the boat without any encouragement..." (http://slate.me/1GwyS2z).

The silver carp has an undeserved reputation for being unpalatable. Its cousin, the common carp, is known throughout North America as fairly inedible due to its bony flesh and bottom-feeding diet. However, unlike the common carp, the silver carp feeds on plankton. This results in flesh that is low in fat and low in mercury. The firm, white flesh is described by many to be comparable in taste to Atlantic cod or tilapia. To encourage consumption of the silver carp, industries have renamed it "silverfin" or "Kentucky tuna." The average fish is 13-30lbs, but can exceed 50lbs. It is easy to catch, abundant, large-bodied, and good to eat, making it an excellent game fish.

The harvest of silver carp would allow for an increase in the economy, a decrease in silver carp population, and hopefully an increase in native fish populations. Next time you go fishing, or even just grocery shopping, give the silverfin a try, you'll be surprised.

Jumping silver carp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfG4vsJ5_xI Asian carp identification: http://bit.ly/182DOxd Distribution map: http://bit.ly/18tPbOM More information & FAQ: http://www.freep.com/article/20110720/NEWS06/110720021

~Rosie Image credit: AP Photo/Illinois River Biological Station References: http://eattheinvaders.org/asian-carp/ http://slate.me/1GwyS2z http://bit.ly/1Bi4Yf1 http://bit.ly/1Nz5fzl http://bit.ly/1FyhoPJ http://bit.ly/1Mm3RyK

Mutant Crayfish Invade Europe

You can call them “Marmorkrebs”, crayfish, crawfish, or, as we did as kids: crawdads. Whatever you call them, these crustaceans are both prized as a food source and at the same time, have become a cause for concern.

Twenty-three years ago, in 1995, a slough crayfish from the Everglades (US) was bought by a hobbyist at an insect fair. For reasons that will probably never be known, that single crayfish mutated into a new species, now known as the marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis). The mutation of the crayfish has given it 3 complete sets of chromosomes. In addition, all of the crayfish are female, who reproduce asexually. Every single one of the hundreds of eggs produced by the crayfish is its clone and is itself capable of reproducing hundreds of identical offspring. The hobbyist who originally bought what was described as a “Texas crayfish”, became unable to care for the many offspring of his purchase and began giving them away to his friends. Eventually, they started appearing in pet shops. Other aquarium keepers bought them and eventually, someone released the crayfish into the wild. In three decades, that single organism has become an invasive species across Europe and Madagascar and is making inroads in other nations as well.

The marbled crayfish’s ability to survive in widely varied environments is courtesy of its 3 sets of chromosomes, which are thought to influence how the genes are expressed. In one environment, one copy may be expressed and a completely different one expressed in another environment. This has enabled the crayfish to survive in acidic environments and in both polluted and clean water. Cancer researchers are currently studying tumor cells, which also clone themselves and can adapt to multiple environments. It’s hoped that the crayfish can help scientists build models for understanding the early stages of tumor development. CW

Image

http://bit.ly/2ErOE42

Sources

http://bit.ly/2ErOE42

http://bit.ly/2FqELBF

http://nyti.ms/2nKQ1QV

http://bit.ly/2skpKi3

THE BLACK HILLS AND THE MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE—SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING

The Black Hills National Forest is located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. This majestic landform is visible from many roadways in South Dakota because the hills are 201 kilometers (125 miles) long and 105 kilometers (65 miles) wide. The hills were named by the Lakota, who dubbed the area “Paha Sapa;” this means “hills that are black.” The hills’ characteristic color is created by the pine trees that dot the terrain. However, these trees are temporarily dwindling due to a small menace that is taking over: the mountain pine beetle.

The pine trees that populate the Black Hills are under attack by the mountain pine beetle. The beetle is actually native to the Black Hills. It spends most of its life in the inner bark of trees, and favors the ponderosa pine tree, which grows on more than one million acres of the Black Hills; however, other pine tree species are also vulnerable to the beetle. Most of their feeding and movement from tree to tree occurs in June and July, when adults move to new trees in order to lay eggs by tunneling into the trees. The tunneling by the beetles disrupts the trees from transporting nutrients and food between their needles and roots. Adult beetles may also carry a fungus that can stop water from moving throughout the tree. The beetles are especially prevalent now because they are in an abundant life cycle. Normally, the beetles only colonize stressed or weakened trees during their periods of smaller populations. Every ten years, their population flourishes so that healthy trees are also colonized; this is now occurring over many sections of the Black Hills.

Approximately one-third of the National Forest Service trees that grow on the Black Hills landscape have been destroyed by the beetle during this life cycle. That corresponds to roughly 384,000 acres out of 1.2 million acres of forested land. Not only is losing the forest to the beetles devastating from an emotional standpoint; the loss of trees could have a negative effect on tourism in the area (which is home to Mount Rushmore). In addition, dead and dying trees in the area could become fuel for wildfires. However, these standing dead trees, called snags, can provide habitat for many organisms.

Over the past two years, over 240,000 acres of the region have been inspected for mountain pine beetles, since most people in the region view the beetle as a menace. I was in the Black Hills in August and the sparser network of trees is noticeable, even while one is driving on the highway. Eventually, I would like to visit the area again and see the trees back to their healthy numbers when the beetle population has dwindled again.

-Jeanne K.

Photo of insect damage in the Deerfield Lake area of the Black Hills National Forest, courtesy of Gary Chancey, Black Hills National Forest.

References: http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/blackhills/home/?cid=stelprdb5110568

http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/pine-beetles-in-the-black-hills

http://www.newscenter1.tv/stories/14236.aspx

http://sdda.sd.gov/conservation-forestry/identification-biology/

Lake Effect: Restoration Efforts in the Great Lakes

In any map of North America, the Great Lakes draw the eye to their irregular shape, stamped on the continent like an aquatic Rorschach test. Formed after the last glacial period, the five lakes straddle the border between the US and Canada and contain centuries of history in their shipwreck-studded depths. Erie, Ontario, Huron and Michigan, and the largest of them all, Superior, together make up the largest system of fresh surface water in the world, providing drinking water for 40 million people around their shores and generating billions of dollars in revenue from tourism and recreational or commercial boating and fishing.

The Great Lakes play a crucial ecological role, providing critical breeding, feeding, and resting areas for a wide range of native species as well as migration corridors for migratory birds. For many years, though, the lakes have been subject to ecological degradation: polluted by industrial and agricultural activities, invaded by non-native species, and hit by toxic algal blooms. In 2014, for example, 500,000 residents in the city of Toledo, Ohio went without water for three days because of an algal bloom in Lake Erie. We’ve covered the effects of algal blooms before (http://bit.ly/2opK8eo); they happen when runoff of phosphorus-heavy fertilizer from farmlands and feedlots provides a surge in available nutrients for algae in waterways, leading to an explosion of growth.

In 2010, a federal effort called the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched to help strengthen and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem. Previously, target areas of significant degradation had been designated as “Areas of Concern;” the initiative aims to delist all of the US AOCs by funding more than 3,000 projects to rehabilitate the lake environments. To deal with the pollution that causes algal blooms, watershed management programs have partnered with farmers to reduce excess fertilizer runoff, while green infrastructure projects and wetlands restoration in shoreline cities like Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee reduce urban runoff. In the Toledo area, best practices have been established for farmers, and parks and roadways have been retrofitted with rain gardens and bioswales (landscape elements designed to trap contaminants) to capture and filter runoff into Maumee Bay, the site of the 2014 algal bloom.

Other projects aim to keep the water in the lakes safe for drinking and recreation, control the spread of harmful invasive species, restore natural habitats, and promote the health of endangered and threatened native species like the Canada lynx, piping plover, and the Lake Erie water snake, which is one of only 23 species to be removed from the Endangered Species List due to recovery. In 2016, the five-year program was renewed through 2021 by Congress, which appropriated $300 million per year of funding for the initiative. However, budget proposals for the coming year reduce funding 97%, despite broad bipartisan and local support for the program.

Live in the Great Lakes watershed and want to see what the GLRI has done for your town or county? You can find an interactive map and list of projects here: www.glri.us

-CEL

Sources: https://www.glri.us/ http://bit.ly/2nwXAcI http://bit.ly/2oxuif0 http://nyti.ms/2n1o7CH http://bit.ly/2ns1fw2 http://bit.ly/2nLt5Rv http://bit.ly/2nZDMll http://bit.ly/2nOd3HX Images: 1. NASA (https://go.nasa.gov/2opXeZM), 2. An algal bloom in Lake Erie. 3. A water snake in Lake Erie. 2&3: NYT (http://nyti.ms/2n1GyXZ)

Invasive Species: Earthworms

As you begin to plant the seeds that will become your summer garden take a minute to think about all the worms you see. They are so numerous and widespread that it would appear they have always been a part of the ecosystem. In the northern United States and Canada, this was not always the case, as all native worm species went extinct in the last Ice Age. So how is it that earthworms exist in almost any place you can find a spot of bare ground? As you may have already guessed, the spread of earthworms across North America closely follows the spread of humans.

The earthworm colonization of North America is a direct consequence of European settlement of the continent. Earthworms hitched a ride across the ocean and quickly established themselves in an ecosystem that did not have any worms for at least 10,000 years. Successful invasive species, no matter what kind of animal, typically thrive in an ecosystem where they have limited competition from other species. They often do this by creating a new role (niche) for themselves. In the case of earthworms, they found the vast amounts of decaying organic matter as a prime source of food and shelter.

Since the end of the last Ice Age, forests had adapted to not having earthworms to break down organic matter. The forests would have a very thick layer of dead leaves and trees which would take years and years to decompose. With the introduction of earthworms, the ground level of many forests was altered by the quick breakdown of organic matter. This releases many chemicals and nutrients into the soil much faster than would naturally occur, so this has the impact of altering plant populations significantly. Within a few years, earthworms can turn a forest floor blanketed with a variety of plants into one of mostly bare soil.

Note: Invasive, exotic, and/or introduced species is a topic of great interest to me. I have written about starlings in the past and I hope to cover them more in the future. If you have any species in your part of the world you would like me to mention, feel free to let me know in the comments.

JRA

Image Credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources http://bit.ly/1qln91p

Sources: http://1.usa.gov/237VQpk http://bit.ly/1GlL1o4 (This is a good image of a forest floor before and after earthworm introduction) http://bit.ly/1GlL1o4

Shakespeare’s Birds or (The Folly of Scientific Ignorance)

Shakespeare’s works have forever impacted our culture but did you know that he is at least indirectly responsible for one of the most notorious ecological disasters in history? Shakespeare was quite a fan of birds, so much so that he references nearly 60 different species in his works. One man with a serious Shakespeare obsession took notice of this and forever changed the environment of North America in the process.

The first act of this story begins in late 1800s New York City. The man central to this tragedy is one Eugene Schieffelin. Schieffelin was the chair of the American Acclimatization Society, an orgnaization focused on “the introduction and acclimatization of such foreign varieties of the animal and vegetable kingdom as may be useful and interesting”.

Having introduced the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) to New York in 1851, Schieffelin’s next goal was to bring all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s works to America. At the time, this wasn’t seen as a problem but a rather noble endeavor (See http://nyti.ms/1pnomoc for an 1877 article mentioning Schieffelin). We had little to no understanding of species interactions or population dynamics but it did not take long for the impact of this experiment to be seen across the continent.

Not all of Shakespeare’s birds were able to adapt to life on a new continent, but one that did found endless opportunities for expansion. The most successful introduction was that of the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Schieffelin released 80 starlings in New York in March 1890 and 40 the following year, thus setting in motion a series of events he could never have imagined.

Starlings have many of the characteristics that make an invasive, or in this case intentionally introduced, species successful. They eat a variety of foods, can adapt to many different environments and are able to outcompete other species. Starlings have strong beaks and excellent vision, which allows them to poke and prod small areas for food better than most other birds. Their hunting prowess also means they do not have to migrate in winter, giving them first choice of prime nesting spots. They are also small yet bulky, which allows them to occupy a variety of nesting areas or just bully other species out of theirs. Starlings are known to lay their eggs in other species’ nests (brood parasitism) and have been documented pecking other species to death before taking over their nest.

This story ends with where we are now in regards to managing the effects of the Shakespeare bird experiment. Starlings can be found from New York to Alaska to Mexico and are estimated to number at least 200 million birds. Flocks numbering thousands are not uncommon. They eat a variety of fruit crops and livestock feed, can spread zoonotic diseases, harm native bird populations (such as bluebirds, kestrels and woodpeckers) and their dense flocks can be a threat to airplanes (http://1.usa.gov/1ROIGFV). It is estimated that they cause $1billion USD in damage to fruit trees annually. Starlings are here to stay and all that can be done is to mitigate the damage they cause through a variety of lethal and nonlethal strategies.

This is just one of many instances of humanity acting with good intentions in regards to the environment when in reality it led to unintended and mostly negative results. In the case of Shakespeare’s birds, one seemingly innocent action made all the difference in disrupting the delicate balance of life that exists on Earth.

Note: I feel it important to mention that I am not passing judgement on the birds themselves for doing exactly what they are genetically hardwired to do. Starlings are very intelligent and their vocal mimicry abilities are some of the most complex of any bird. For a rather positive look at starlings in the Americas, watch ( http://bit.ly/1pupSp0). Also watch (http://bit.ly/21vqvKL) for an example of their amazing vocalization skills.

JRA

Image Credit: Cheepshot http://bit.ly/1M6Mzth

Sources: http://bit.ly/1YYOLFo http://bit.ly/1Uyb5oC https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/id http://nyti.ms/1pnomoc http://bit.ly/21uECjl (Pages 135-147) http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27055030

“Toadally” Interesting

One of the many species originally described and named in the 1700’s by Carolus Linnaeus, the Cane toad (a.k.a. Marine toad or Giant toad) is native to the Americas, from extreme south Texas to the Amazon basin. It is an ancient organism, as evidenced by a fossil specimen from the La Venta Fauna of the late Micocene period that was discovered in a Columbian flood plain. This fossilized toad is indistinguishable from modern Cane toads (other than being fossilized, of course). Originally included with other toads in the genus Bufo (B. marinus), Cane toads are now considered by some to belong to the separate, distinct genus Rhinella (R. marina).

As with many other species that are now labeled as invasive, R. marina was deliberately introduced in the 1930’s-1940’s to the Caribbean, the Philippines, Fiji, Australia, and Japan as a natural method of controlling agricultural pests, particularly the Cane beetle (hence the name, “Cane toad”). Its scientific name, R. marinus, and its secondary common name, “Marine toad,” seem to indicate a relationship to the sea. However, the toad is completely terrestrial, with a preference for forested areas with a semi-permanent water source nearby. Multiple deliberate attempts were also made to introduce the toad to Florida, but were unsuccessful. After an accidental release at Miami International Airport in 1957, the toad finally established itself in the rest of the U.S. It is now classified as an invasive species in more than 20 countries.

Intensive study of the toad has been done in Australia, where it has posed serious problems. The main reasons for R. marinus’ success as an invader are its wide tolerance for any tropical or subtropical climate, prolific procreation, and the fact that it will eat virtually anything it can swallow. It threatens native species through competition for habitat and food sources, as well as being toxic in all stages of its development. The neurotoxin of R. marinus, bufotenin, is produced in the parotid glands found on the top of the toads’ shoulders. Ingestion of the toxin by animal predators causes rapid heart beat, excessive salivation, paralysis, and in some cases, death.

Native tribes in parts of South America traditionally “milked” the toads’ toxins for use on arrowheads, while in Peru, they are hunted humans as a source of food, with the skin and parotid glands being carefully removed before they are eaten. If the meat is properly prepared, it is considered to be a healthy source of protein and is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. In Japan, bufotenin, is used in non-traditional medicine as a hair-restorer and as an aphrodisiac. Surgeons in China employ the chemical to slow the heart rate of cardiac patients during surgery. Recent research seems to indicate that there may be uses of bufotenin in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Image by author

Sources

http://bit.ly/1QOjkvZ

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/canetoad.shtml

http://www.canetoadsinoz.com/invasion.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toad

An A-Z of Extinction (Part 2/4: G-M)

As we enter what has now been termed the 6th mass extinction on Earth, I thought we could take a closer look at the process and causes of extinctions, as well as the species that have suffered. Do you know your ABCs?

G is for Gulf Porpoise (also known as the Vaquita). The Gulf Porpoise is found in the Northern end of the Gulf of California. In 2014, numbers of Gulf porpoises dropped to 100, leading to predictions this animal would become extinct by 2018.

H is for Humans. It has been estimated that up to 80% of extinctions occur due to the actions of humans. Such activities threatening species include; habitat fragmentation, pollution, climate change, habitat conversion, deforestation, overgrazing and urbanisation.

I is for Invasive Species. An invasive species is one not natural to a habitat. This species then invades using resources that those originally living in the habitat had required. This leads to a situation of survival of the fittest if the two species compete. However, often the invader is generally more likely to survive and thus outcompetes the original species. A prime example of this is the Signal Crayfish in Europe.

J is for Japanese River Otter. During the 1930s the Japanese River Otter’s population began to contract from the 1940s and was then only sighted a few times during the 1960s and 1970s. This decline in numbers of River Otters was attributed to an increase in hunting of the otters due to the price of their pelt and to increased river pollution. In 2012 the Japanese River Otter was classified as extinct. However, despite this in January 2013, many witnesses claim to have spotted the otters again.

K is for Kiwi. The North Island Brown Kiwi is the most common Kiwi in New Zealand. Despite this, this bird is classed as endangered. This Kiwi is particularly threatened by predators such as stoats, and rats which eat the Kiwi’s eggs causing a decimation of the population. In areas without pest control, up to 94% of chicks die prior to breeding.

L is for the Amur Leopard (also known as the Far Eastern Leopard). The Amur Leopard is considered one of the rarest cats in the world, in 2007 there were only thought to be approximately 20 individuals left. Despite this major indent of their population though, in early 2015, it is thought there are now up to 70 leopards in the wild.

M is for Mass Extinction. In Earth History, there have been five major extinction events (a peak from background extinctions where there is a reduction in species on Earth). These extinctions include the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction (K-Pg) 66 million years ago, the End Triassic extinction 200 million years ago, the Permian-Triassic extinction 251 million years ago, the Late Devonian extinction 370 million years ago, and the Ordovician-Silurian event 445 million years ago. In all five of these events there was a rapid change in the biodiversity of species on Earth. However, now scientists believe we may be entering a 6th mass extinction. Since 1900, 469 vertebrates have become extinct.

~SA

Image: http://bit.ly/1Nn7oga by Tony Hisgett Further Reading: http://bit.ly/1GYgpLT Post 1: A-F: http://on.fb.me/1GSV2dp

The Emerald Ash Borer: Destruction in North American Forests

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) (EAB) is a relatively new invasive species to North America. It is thought to have been first introduced and established in Michigan around 1997, though it was not discovered until June of 2002. The EAB is a relatively minuscule insect, only measuring 7.5-13.5mm long, and slender bodied. It ranges in colour from green to bronze, with emerald wing covers, and a metallic red-purple abdomen under the wings. The larvae are white/cream coloured, are around 26-32mm long, and have segmented bodies.

The EAB originates from Asia, most commonly found around the Eastern coast. The emerald ash borer has spread quickly throughout North America, wreaking havoc on the ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in more than half of American states (see map image) and 2 Canadian provinces, Ontario and Quebec. With the very quick spread of EAB, knowledge on their life strategy is an asset in helping prevent further damage. With 150-200 million trees already deceased, the emerald ash borer is costing the US approximately one billion dollars every year in treatment, removal and replacement of trees. This number is only expected to continue to rise unless better preventative measures are taken.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY ASH TREE IS INFESTED BY EAB? -D-shaped exit holes through the bark about 1/8 inch wide (see photo) -S-shaped larval galleries just beneath the bark -Thinning leaves or branches -Vertical splits in the bark -Unusual shoots sprouting from the main trunk or base of the tree -Damage from woodpeckers trying to get the borer at its larvae stage

If you think your tree is infested, report it to your Department of Agriculture or Nature ASAP

Unfortunately the best treatment for in infested to tree is to cut it, and all neighbouring trees, down.

THE BEST TREATMENT IS PREVENTION! -DO NOT bring firewood from one city to another – THIS IS THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF EAB SPREADING. -Check your trees regularly -Do not plant more ash trees -Awareness -Report infested trees IMMEDIATELY

I'm sad to say that this pest has reached my own little Canadian town, so I'd hate to see it happen to yours. Prevention is key!

~Rosie

Images and references: http://www.nyis.info/?action=eab # http://bit.ly/1DPKmaz

http://1.usa.gov/1ELNLLw

Joe Heller

Shipwrecks and Mussels

A few years ago I attended a Great Lakes shipwrecks presentation by a Divemaster out of a Lake Michigan SCUBA shop. The underwater photos he showed us were amazing, but he kept making one point over and over again – his photos shouldn’t be so impressive. In his decades of diving the lakes, his shipwreck photos were getting better and better, not because his equipment improved, but because the water in the lakes is getting clearer. That’s not supposed to happen.

I’ve been thinking a lot about his presentation this last week because of these Coast Guard photos that have been circulating. During a routine patrol, an aircrew near Sleeping Bear Point in Michigan discovered that Lake Michigan’s water was so clear that they could see normally obscured shipwrecks. The pilot stated that it isn’t unusual to see a wreck during patrols due to beach erosion, wind, waves, or variable lake levels, but seeing several in one flight is rare.

It’s estimated that there are over 6,000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, including about 1,500 in Lake Michigan. The lakes have a reputation for providing little or no warning before a dangerous storm hits. Supposedly it’s harder to navigate the lakes during a storm than it is an ocean, because waves on the lakes jump and strike quickly compared to the ocean, and there aren’t many natural or man-made harbors to take shelter in. Once a ship sinks, the cold freshwater preserves it.

On the day these photos were taken, the water was only 3-degrees Celsius (38F). It’s not unusual for the water to be clearer in the spring right after the ice melts, but it shouldn’t be this clear. The lake is being filtered by invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which are native to Europe’s Caspian Sea, and arrived via ballast water tanks in international freighters. Each mussel can filter up to a liter of water per day, consuming the plankton that makes up the base of the food chain as they filter. Scientists estimate they can filter all the water in Lake Michigan in nine to 12 days under the right conditions. While improved water clarity may seem like a nice benefit from invasive species, what actually happens is that the clearer water allows more sunlight to penetrate the lake, which fuels algae blooms. By mid-summer the nearby beaches will likely be covered with dark green algae. More than just an eyesore, this algae harbors bacteria that can harm humans and wildlife.

The invaders are also degrading some of the shipwrecks. Divers are reporting that some wrecks are so covered they look more like a coral reef of mussels rather than a ship. Whether or not the mussels have gotten to the wrecks in these photos hasn’t been reported.

Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard http://on.fb.me/1KuH02v

References: http://bit.ly/1DWRX7H

http://n.pr/1P79CBF

http://1.usa.gov/1Fyo5Ed

http://bit.ly/1PZcUXW

http://bit.ly/1HS3fjd

Rebecca Eisel's photo.

Burmese Pythons: Insatiable appetite

The everglades have a new top predator, and it is not a panther, bobcat or member of the Crocodilian family. It is the Burmese python. Native to Southeast Asia, wild Burmese pythons average sizes of 3.7 meters (12 feet) but can reach lengths of 5.4 meters (19 feet). Devoid of venom, the python uses the technique of constriction to kill its prey. Sharp teeth allow it to grip prey, which are then suffocated as the python’s body coils around it, cutting off airflow. It has been known to kill and eat birds, mammals, as large as adult deer, and alligators. Scientists rightfully fear that the pythons are altering the food chain of the everglades. A recent study conducted by University of Florida and the USGS makes a strong case for the scientists’ worries. 26 marsh rabbits were fitted with tracking devices and released into the park. Rabbits were chosen as the specimen for the study because they are generally resilient to predation as they are prolific breeders. The rabbits settled in and thrived at first, but as temperatures rose they were quickly picked off. The results of the study found that pythons ate 77% of the rabbits. Pythons have no dietary restrictions, so the decrease in rabbit numbers could be a reflection of decreases in other small mammal populations.

Humans brought the Burmese python into this ecosystem and have recently attempted to take it out, which is no easy task. Burmese pythons can be inactive for extended periods of time and are difficult to locate and remove from the environment. In a 2013 state-sponsored hunt, around 1600 participants found and captured a measly 68 pythons. It is going to take a lot of effort, time, money and people to remediate this problem.

KKS

News story about study: http://bit.ly/1DnweeY

General info about Burmese Python: http://on.natgeo.com/1NB2j2l

Photo courtesy of National Geographic

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