[Lapg] Interesting perspective about invasive species

[Katie Liljedahl]

Has anyone heard of the upcoming evenT?:

PEAK OIL - HOW SOON?  HOW SERIOUS?  JEFFREY BROWN- THE IMPACT OF PEAK OIL
EXPORTS-- TUESDAY APRIL 15TH UCSB CORWIN PAVILION 7:00

On Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 12:50 AM, Marc Bailey <playtoe1 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>   I've been thinking about plants labeled as invasive species and how many
> of them have extremely positive aspects.  Much time, effort, and money is
> spent fighting these plants, but perhaps our energies could be directed in
> more fruitful ways (pun intended).
>
> Coincidentally, a book that I had been reading called "Edible Forest
> Gardens" (Jacke & Toensmeier) recomends another book: "Invasion Biology:
> Critique of a Pseudoscience".   I went to the website and found the
> following synopsys of the book that I thought other's on this list would
> find interesting.
>
> Happy composting,
> -Marc
>
> http://jlhudsonseeds.net/Books.htm#Invasion%20Biology
>
> We have all heard the breathless tales of the dangers of "invasive alien
> species," but what does *science* say about them? Did you know that
> studies show that purple loosestrife does *not* affect species richness of
> native plants? Or that it supports* higher* bird densities than native
> vegetation? That saltcedar supports native birds and insects in high numbers
> and at high levels of diversity, including endangered species? That the
> "invasive alien" hydrilla supports the *highest* bird species diversity in
> Florida, and it supports* higher* fish species density and many times the
> fish biomass than natives? That the zebra mussel *increased* the catch of
> yellow perch five-fold, and that it *improves* water quality? That the
> so-called "killer algae" reduces pollution and helps native species? That in
> * all cases*, including even oceanic islands, introduced species have *
> increased* biodiversity?
>
> Thoroughly researched, with full citations to scientific literature, this
> book will definitely change your view of introduced species. It will give
> you the facts you need to counter those promoting invader fears.
>
> Chapters cover the origins of "natural" ecosystems and their changes over
> time, and detail the true underlying causes of "invasion" in the damage
> industrialism is wreaking on the planet. Case studies of many of the most
> feared "invaders" are presented, each case showing the distortions of the
> nativists, and the beneficial effects of the newcomer. The resiliency of
> ecosystems and the rapid ecological integration of newcomers is
> demonstrated. A chapter details the growing extremism of the nativist
> movement, and the harm caused as they clearcut, bulldoze, herbicide, and
> burn natural areas around the world in the name of purifying the landscape
> of the "foreign," even killing endangered species as "invaders."
>
> A detailed analysis of the writings of these nativists reveals the
> psychopathologies that drive this reactionary movement. Numerous quotes are
> compared which demonstrate that the same fears that underlie xenophobia,
> racism, and fascism fuel the anti-invader movement. A chapter covers in
> detail the pseudoscientific nature of invasion biology-why the invasive
> species model *cannot* be scientific, and the poor practices that
> characterize the field. The impossibility of predicting invasions is
> covered, showing the "white list" concept to be useless as public policy.
>
> The hidden influence of the herbicide industry is exposed. The regulatory
> industry and corporate interests are colluding in an effort to leverage the
> fictitious "invasion crisis" into a system of complete bureaucratic control
> of nature, and corporate privatization of the earth's biological diversity.
>
> The final chapters concern the beneficial, diversifying effects of
> anthropogenic dispersal-the movement of species by man. These species
> increase biological diversity, benefit ecosystems, prevent extinctions, and
> act as an important force for healing the planet. Dispersal is a powerful
> driving force of evolution, and the book concludes by pointing out a new
> direction for conservation-the incorporation of dispersal as an essential
> strategy.
>
>
> <http://mail.yahoo.com/>
>
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