An Invitation from the PPQ Deputy Administrator to Stakeholders to Provide Feedback (Nov 23, 2010)
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.
Stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft Road Map to 2015: A Strategic Plan for Plant Protection & Quarantine (PDF | 487 KB). The team developing the plan identified patterns and trends that could impact PPQ's ability to achieve its mission over the next 5 years and assessed PPQ's internal capacity to meet these challenges. They set goals and objectives and produced a complete set of strategies to support the achievement of the Strategic Goals. PPQ is now inviting feedback before they finalize the plan. Please provide feedback by Jan 14, 2011.

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $4 Million Investment to Combat Invasive Species in Great Lakes (Nov 22, 2010)
DOT. Maritime Administration.
The Maritime Administration is funding a $4 million project to help prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species found in cargo ships in the Great Lakes. The funding is part of the Obama Administration's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the largest federal investment in the Great Lakes in 20 years.

Potential Hemlock Hybrids Tolerant to Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Nov 10, 2010)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
New hemlock hybrids that are tolerant to the invasive insect known as Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) have been created by USDA scientists. Over the past few decades, two hemlocks native to the United States—Tsuga Canadensis (Eastern hemlock) and Tsuga caroliniana (Caroline hemlock)—have been under attack by the HWA. Originally from Asia, this aphid relative has spread to forests and backyards in 17 eastern states, killing hemlock trees and devastating natural ecosystems. The scientists and their colleagues crossed hemlock species native to the U.S. with germplasm—collected in Asia—of hemlocks that have shown tolerance to the insect. The hybrids are appealing not only due to their tolerance, but because they have good vigor and shape. Still, the researchers have several years of testing to complete before they can release these hybrids. Read more about the research in the article Saving America's Hemlocks, published in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

GAO Report: Live Animal Imports. Agencies Need Better Collaboration to Reduce the Risk of Animal-Related Diseases (Nov 8, 2010)
U.S. Government Accountability Office.
GAO recommends that the Secretaries of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and the Interior develop a strategy to address barriers to agency collaboration that may allow potentially risky imported animals into the U.S. and jointly determine data needs to effectively oversee imported animals. The GAO reviewed joint strategies developed by interagency working groups, such as the National Invasive Species Council's Management Plan and the National Aquatic Animal Health Plan. The GAO Highlights Agencies Need Better Collaboration to Reduce the Risk of Animal-Related Diseases (PDF | 89 KB) provides a summary of the report and recommendations.

Beetles Offer Effective Weed Control, but Native Vegetation Hard to Re-establish (Nov 8, 2010)
Allen Press. Rangeland Ecology & Management.
With the help of the weed-eating flea beetle, researchers significantly reduced infestations of a non-native plant, Leafy Spurge, on Montana rangeland. This biological method of weed control worked effectively over the course of a 9-year study, but rather than native plants returning to flourish in the absence of leafy spurge, other non-native species became dominant in its place. By the study’s end in 2006, leafy spurge foliar cover was reduced 80% to 90% compared to 1998 assessments. While other vegetation did increase once this invader was controlled, another non-native plant, Poa spp., became the dominant species. The findings are published in the Rangeland Ecology & Management article Lack of Native Vegetation Recovery Following Biological Control of Leafy Spurge.

Professional Anglers Join Invasive Species Fight (Nov 2, 2010)
National Professional Anglers Association.
Wildlife Forever and the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) have formed a partnership to fight invasive species. Wildlife Forever's collaborative conservation efforts include the Threat Campaign, an education outreach effort designed to enlist the support of the public and encourage them to take action. This new partnership will empower the more than 400 NPAA members and a growing number of NPAA Supporting Partners with the facts they need to help eliminate the threat that invasive species pose to our waterways.

Species Profile -- Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
USDA. NAL. National Invasive Species Information Center.
The brown marmorated stink bug is an insect native to southeast Asia. In addition to being annoying, the pest is a serious concern because it feeds on field crops like soybeans and a number of vegetable crops and ornamentals. It can also attack crops that produce fruit, like peaches, cherries, pears and crabapples. The insect is very mobile, adaptable to different ecosytems and restistant to most common pesticides.

Governments urged to finalise ballast water's invasive species rules (Nov 3, 2010)
World Fishing & Aquaculture.
The World Ocean Council, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, and desalination industries have called for an urgent ratification of the Ballast Water Convention. To control the spread of marine invasive species through ballast water, governments approved an international treaty in 2004, but the global regulations are still not in force due to the lack of a few government ratifications.

Antibody Locks up West Nile's Infection Mechanism
(Nov 2, 2010)
Purdue University.
Researchers have learned the structure that results when an antibody binds to the West Nile virus, neutralizing the virus by locking up its infection mechanism. The information could help scientists develop a vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease.