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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INVASIVE PLANTS
In 1935, Australian government released 2,400 toads to destroy crop-eating beetles. Almost 100 years later, 200 million giant toads threaten 75 wildlife speciesSometimes, a solution can become an impending disaster. In the 1930s, the Australia government released more than 2000 cane toads imported ...- In the late 1800s, Americans planted lesser celandine for its bright yellow flowers; it escaped gardens, reached 31 states and covered 400 acres in one Ohio parkLesser celandine, once embraced for its beauty, has turned into a significant environmental challenge across multiple regions. This invasiv...
- In the 1950s, California brought in Cape ivy as an ornamental vine; it spread across 500,000+ acres, cutting native seedling variety by as much as 95%Cape ivy, introduced to California in the 1950s for ornamental purposes, has turned into a destructive invasive species. Its rapid growth s...
- By the late 1700s, European periwinkles had reached America; planted as ornamental ground cover, escaped plants covered 29,254 acres across 12 Southern states by 2008European periwinkles, once introduced to enhance gardens in the US, have become a troublesome invasive species in natural habitats. Their s...
- Nevada removed invasive blue tilapia from Moapa dace habitat from 2009 to 2012; the endangered fish later returned to an 868-meter stretch where it had vanishedConservation efforts in Nevada have successfully removed invasive blue tilapia to protect the native Moapa dace fish. After targeted remova...
- Connecticut began clearing an invasive reed from Highstead Pond in 2012; 98% was killed, and by 2017 native plant richness around the pond had increased 39%Highstead Preserve embarked on an ambitious multi-year project aimed at controlling the invasive common reed to foster the growth of native...
- In East Texas, excluding feral hogs from forest plots for 7 years more than doubled the abundance of woody plant species with large seedsIn the Big Thicket National Preserve, feral hogs significantly disrupt forest ecosystems by consuming seeds and disturbing soil. A study re...
- USDA and CBP spent $861 million checking travellers and cargo for farm pests in 2011, but fees left a $325 million gap because federal law limits who paysThe United States has struggled with funding for its Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program due to fee shortfalls. In 2011, the program...
- AI rapidly improving, could vastly boost US GDP: Anthropic's Clark tells policymakersClark, speaking at IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, said that international cooperation was needed to erect "unusual and seri...
- Bayer partners with Absolute’s INERA to expand biological crop nutrition in IndiaBayer will market and distribute a biological crop nutrition solution developed by Absolute’s agricultural biotechnology arm INERA, aiming ...
- Colorado began removing non-native brook trout from two mountain creeks in 2011; 13 years later, rare native cutthroat trout had increased more than 11-foldOver a span of 13 years in Grand County, Colorado, dedicated conservation efforts have led to a remarkable surge in cutthroat trout populat...
- In the 1700s, European teasel reached America, including a type used to finish cloth; today it grows in 43 of 48 lower states, and one plant can make 2,000+ seedsIntroduced to North America in the 1700s for its valuable role in the textile industry, teasel quickly outgrew its intended purpose, becomi...
- America brought yellow flag iris in for gardens; it escaped into wetlands, reached more than 40 states, and now congests water flow while crowding out native plantsThe yellow flag iris, first brought to North America in the 1800s, quickly evolved from an ornamental plant to a widespread ecological thre...
- Researchers removed invasive Japanese stiltgrass from 8 Indiana forest sites; native plant diversity rose 24%, while herbicide-treated plots had 123% greater tree seedling density than controlsThe spread of Japanese stiltgrass across eastern forests poses a significant threat to the diversity of native plants. Research indicates t...
- In 1921, America introduced cogongrass as a forage crop; later used for soil control, the invasive grass now covers more than 1 million acres in FloridaCogongrass was brought to the United States in the early 20th century with the noble goal of supporting agriculture and curbing erosion. Ho...
- In 2002, black rats were eradicated from Hawaii's Mokoliʻi islet; after just one shearwater chick survived from 1999 to 2001, 126 fledged in 2002 and 185 in 2003Mokoliʻi was once severely impacted by invasive black rats, which posed major risks to seabird species. In 2002, after dedicated conservati...
- In 2021, a spaceflight experiment was launched to ISS to study how plants respond to microgravityBRIC-24 is a spaceflight experiment, which was launched on June 3, 2021, to the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment uses thal...
- Amur honeysuckle arrived in America as an ornamental shrub; it later became a major invasive concern in forests across the northern United StatesIntroduced over a century ago, Amur honeysuckle quickly spread across the United States as an ornamental plant, but its aggressive growth h...
- San Francisco Bay cut invasive cordgrass by more than 97%; native Ridgway’s rails later expanded into restored former salt ponds as marsh habitat returnedIn a promising turn of events, restoration efforts in San Francisco Bay have notably decreased invasive cordgrass numbers, allowing the Rid...
- In 1998, an Iowa couple bought land to restore a lost landscape; 25 years later, it became home to hundreds of plant and wildlife speciesJim grew up on a dairy farm, and spent much of his childhood outdoors. He studies natural sciences teaching and earned a master's degree in...
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