Category Archives: 2011 Texas Invasive Plant Conference

December 27, 2011 · 8:05 pm

Taking a Stand Against the Emerald Ash Borer in Texas

Dr. Stephen Clarke describes efforts to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer in Texas. Learn if researchers have discovered a native champion against this invasive pest and if warmer temperatures could halt its spread from the Northern United States. Dr. Clarke is a Forest Entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service.

This video is part of Commander Ben’s “Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed” series of interviews from the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference.

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December 27, 2011 · 7:04 pm

The Relentless March of the Soapberry Borer in Texas

Dr. Ronald F. Billings talks about the expanding range of the Soapberry Borer and how this invasive pest attacks native Western Soapberry trees in Texas. Also, learn how not moving firewood can help prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, another invasive species in the same genus. Dr. Billings is a Forest Health Manager with the Texas Forest Service.

This video is part of Commander Ben’s “Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed” series of interviews from the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference.

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under 2011 Texas Invasive Plant Conference, Emerald Ash Borer, Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed, Ronald Billings, Soapberry Borer, Texas Forest Service

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December 18, 2011 · 9:16 pm

Turn the Tide Against Zebra Mussels with Texas Parks and Wildlife

Ms. Darcy Bontempo talks about the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s continuing campaign against invasives with their spotlight on the Zebra Mussel, a species that presents an insidious danger with their millions of microscopic larva. She talks about the mussels’ economic and environmental impact and key steps boaters can take to stop their spread. Ms. Bontempo is the Marketing Director for the Communications Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

This video is part of Commander Ben’s “Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed” series of interviews from the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference.

Our state parks need help

Texas Parks and Wildlife needs our help! This year’s drought, heat, and terrible wildfires has led to a drop in park attendance, and park visitor’s fees provide about half of the funding for our state parks.

If you can, please join me in making a donation to help our wonderful natural treasures, our state parks.

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Filed under 2011 Texas Invasive Plant Conference, Darcy Bontempo, Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Zebra Mussel

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December 18, 2011 · 9:14 pm

Rare Texas Plants Struggle Against Invasive Species

Dr. Karen Clary describes the threat that invasive species pose to our rare Texas plants and recounts the ground-running, native Prostrate Milkweed’s struggle against the tall, invasive King Ranch Bluestem. She also talks about her two most disliked invasive plants, Giant Salvania and Heavenly Bamboo. Dr. Clary is a biologist with the Wildlife Habitat Assessment Program for the Wildlife Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

This video is part of Commander Ben’s “Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed” series of interviews from the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference.

Learn more about our Central Texas ecosystem

Dr. Clary is also an instructor with Go Native U, which provides a great set of classes to learn more about our native environment. The classes on the flora and fauna of central Texas look really neat, especially those on our native wildflowers, plants, insects, mammals, birds, and reptiles. I look forward to attending these classes in the future!

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Filed under 2011 Texas Invasive Plant Conference, Giant Salvinia, Go Native U, Heavenly Bamboo, Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed, Karen Clary, King Ranch Bluestem, KR Bluestem, Prostrate Milkweed, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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November 26, 2011 · 3:13 pm

iPhone Apps and Google Maps Team Up to Battle Invasive Species

In part two of his interview, Mr. Chuck Bargeron talks about his work on EDDMapS to make invasive species mapping easy; IveGot1, the iPhone app to help citizen scientists report invasives in Florida; and his eagerly anticipated iPhone app to help with the reporting of invasives in Texas. He also brings out the important role that herbariums play to documenting the location of species. Mr. Bargeron is the technology director for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.

Watch part one of Commander Ben’s interview with Mr. Bargeron, “Invasive species watch: Nile Monitor lizards and feral hogs”.

This video is part of Commander Ben’s “Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed” series of interviews from the 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference.

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under 2011 Texas Invasive Plant Conference, Chuck Bargeron, Invasive Species: Secrets Revealed, iPhone

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