NSIS Panel Discussion on Bioinvasions

Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 21:29:20 -0400
From: fitzgerg <fitzgerg@dal.ca>
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Nova Scotian Institute of Science will be hosting a public panel discussion
entitled "Introduction of Exotic Species and Biological Methods in Pest
Management" on Monday, February 3rd, 7:30 p.m. at the Guptill Theater, Room
117, Sir James Dunn Building, Dalhousie University. All are welcome.

Panelists include:  Andrea Locke, Research Scientist, Department of Fisheries 
and Oceans, Moncton; Bill Freedman, Professor and Chair of the Department of 
Biology, Dalhousie University; and Glen Sampson, Associate Professor, 
Department of Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College. The 
panel will be moderated by Gretchen Fitzgerald of the Ecology Action Centre.

Biological invasions have been ranked as the second greatest threat to
biodiversity on this planet. Bioinvaders can disrupt ecosystems by
preying on native species, out-competing native species for food and
space, or altering habitat. Some bioinvaders cause diseases which
native species have not evolved the ability to withstand. Bioinvaders
like the West Nile virus can even represent a threat to human health.
In addition to ecological damage, biological invaders have significant
economic impacts; it is estimated that bioinvaders cost the Canadian
economy billions of dollars per year. Once a bioinvader has become
established, it is often difficult - if not impossible - to eradicate.

Some bioinvaders present in Atlantic Canada include purple loosestrife, Asian
longhorn beetle, green crab, and the oyster-killing parasite MSX. What are the
effects of the presence of these species on ecosystems? How do we prevent more
bioinvaders from arriving? And, once
here, how do we mitigate damage to the environment and the economy? Is
biocontrol, or the release of organisms that will limit the spread of
bioinvaders, the answer? The Nova Scotian Institute of Science, in
collaboration with the Ecology Action Centre, has asked local experts to
discuss the ecological impacts of bioinvasions and provide possible
solutions.

For further information, please contact Calum Ewing at 424-7370 / 
ewing@gov.ns.ca or Gretchen Fitzgerald at 453-9228 / fitzgerg@dal.ca

To find out more about NSIS, see the website: 
www.chebucto.ns.ca/Science/NSIS/Home.html



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