Study Provides First Evidence of Coevolution Between Invasive, Native Species (Jun 28, 2012)
University of Georgia. UGA Today.
A new University of Georgia study shows that some native clearweed plants have evolved resistance to invasive garlic mustard plants -- and that the invasive plants appear to be waging a counterattack. The study, published in the early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is thought to provide the first evidence of coevolution between native and invasive plant species. See article Coevolution between invasive and native plants driven by chemical competition and soil biota for more information.

Divide the Antarctic to Protect Native Species, Propose Experts (Jun 13, 2012)
AlphaGalileo Foundation.
An international team of scientists have published the first continent-wide assessment of the Antarctic's biogeography, and propose that the landmass should be divided into 15 distinct conservation regions to protect the continent from invasive alien species. Invasive species are identified as one of the biggest threats to Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in a warming climate.

A Planet in Peril: Is Earth Approaching a Tipping Point? (Jun 12, 2012)
Time Science.
Scientists from around the world looked at past research on ecological change, and found that the planet may be approaching a "critical transition," otherwise known as a "tipping point," as a result of human activity like agriculture and urbanization. There are signs that climate change, habitat loss and population growth is dramatically reshaping life on Earth, an international team of researchers recently reported in the journal Nature. See the related article Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (Jun 6, 2012).

A New Tool for Studying Insect-Plant Warfare (Jun 7, 2012)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
When an insect pierces the surface of a plant to feed, much of the action takes place in the plant's interior. A device called the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) is a critical tool for peering into the process. Now a new type of EPG developed by USDA entomologists is giving scientists the clearest view yet of the wars waged between piercing-sucking insects and the plants they attack.

Floating Dock from Japan Carries Potential Invasive Species (Jun 7, 2012)
Oregon State University.
When debris from the Mar 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan began making its way toward the West Coast of the U.S., there were fears of possible radiation and chemical contamination as well as costly cleanup. But a nearly 70' floating dock that unexpectedly washed ashore in Newport, Oregon has been traced back to the Japanese disaster has brought with it a completely different threat -- invasive species. Scientists at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center said the cement float contains about 13 pounds of organisms per square foot.

Pollinator Week 2012 -- Jun 18-24, 2012
Pollinator Partnership.
Five years ago the U.S. Senate's unanimous approval and designation of the final week in June as "National Pollinator Week" marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.

Pollinators
DOI. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Species Profile -- Burmese Python
USDA. NAL. National Invasive Species Information Center.
Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia and were imported to the U.S. for the pet trade. Wild populations became established in 2000 in Florida from animals that escaped or were intentionally released. Burmese pythons prey on native species and may also compete with threatened native species.