Invasive Species: The Never Ending Battle

Moderator:  Timothy J. Banek, Invasive Species Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. (573) 522-4115 ext 3371. tim.banek@mdc.mo.gov

Invasive species are not new. For as long as people have been traveling, they have been carrying remnants of their homeland with them either unintentionally as “hitchhikers” on themselves or their possessions, or intentionally as a means of survival and a taste of home. What is new are the types of species that are being dispersed, the methods of dispersal, and how we deal with them. Risk analysis techniques help to identify potential threats that allow us to implement actions and regulations to prevent particularly problematic species from entering the U.S and Missouri. Species such as the Emerald Ash Borer from Asia have found their way to North America through wooden packing materials. Chinese mystery snails are imported though the pet trade and were used as food for certain ethnicities. Several new Chinese mystery snail populations have been reported in Missouri within the last year. Employing bioagents is opening new doors for combating many invasive plants such as, spotted knapweed. Experiences that our neighboring states have had with invasive species are important so that we are aware of lessons learned about seriously detrimental species such as, northern snakeheads in Arkansas. Innovative imagery techniques can detect invasive species for early eradication, or in locations that would otherwise be missed. As the issue of invasive species draws the attention of academics and government officials, more research is being conducted to determine what the threats are and what the best way of combating these threats may be. This workshop will examine some of this research and address some of the tactics that are being utilized to combat invasive species in order to protect our native ecosystems.

Presentations:

1:00-1:20 pm	Risk Analysis Model Michael Hoff – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minneapolis, MN
1:20-1:40 pm	Emerald ash borer: One of many invasive pest threats in firewood Dr. Rob Lawrence – Missouri Department of Conservation
1:40-2:00 pm	Freshwater invasions, dispersal, and the Chinese mystery snail Dr. John Havel – Missouri State University
2:00-2:20 pm	Spotted Knapweed Rand Swanigan – Missouri Department of Transportation
2:20-2:40 pm	Northern Snakehead Fish Lee Holt – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
2:40-3:00 pm	Mapping invasive species with multi- and hyper-spectral aerial imagery Dr. Susan Wang – University of Missouri