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— by Nancy Pumphrey
Our program on October 10, 2019 was an engaging talk by Drs. Robin Doughty and Matt Warnock Turner, co-authors of the book Unnatural Texas? The Invasive Species Dilemma. They spoke of starlings, sparrows and their introduction into the United States. They then went on to pigs, feral felines and then to plants. Of interest was the proliferation of water hyacinths, and how they are clogging up waterways around the world. An interesting unintended consequence is that they actually clean waterways by filtering heavy metals and contaminants when used with control.
We know about the Chinese tallow. But new to me is that the USDA actually encouraged plantings in the ‘60’s as an agricultural crop for oils, fuel and wax products like candles.
Salt cedars were introduced in Galveston to control erosion and make windbreaks, now crowding out salt marshes.
The new threat is the emerald ash borer which was noted in Michigan in 2000 and is now spreading across the US.
More info about Robin’s and Matt’s book can found be at Texas A&M University Press or on Amazon. (Shopping at Amazon Smile? Designate the Native Plant Society of Texas as your nonprofit charitable organization of choice!)
You can see the October 10, 2019 business presentation slides here.
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