Biological Controls - Fair or Fowl?

A variety of approaches exist to deal with invasive species, and one of the most prominent methods has been to introduce biological controls, or biocontrol. Essentially, this method fights fire with fire by introducing another foreign species to take care of the foreign species that has invaded the local environment. Typically, for example, insects are introduced to control invasive plants. One of the major benefits of biocontrols is that, if effective, it can reduce or eliminate the need for chemical controls like pesticides or herbicides. Quarantine studies are conducted to see whether a potential biocontrol is suitable for the affected habitat, and to determine host specificity – that is, whether the biocontrol will affect only the invasive species and not become invasive itself. Host specificity can be one of the big benefits of biocontrol, in that organisms with specific diets can target invasive species more precisely than chemicals, which often affect an array of plants, animals and qualities within in an ecosystem. One of the major drawbacks to biocontrol, however, is that it is not very reversible. Whereas chemical applications can cease when environmental damage is detected, it’s difficult if not impossible to eradicate a biocontrol species once it has established itself as an invader. Furthermore, host specificity is not an absolute requirement of biocontrol species introduction, and many biocontrol proponents urge the introduction of non-host-specific agents. Serious problems may then arise when species switch hosts, start attacking native plants, or other biocontrol agents.

Biocontrol is widely used, but has had a mixed track record, in some instances proving safe and hugely effective, and in others becoming major boondoggles. An example of a great biocontrol success can be found in the handling of alligatorweed, which by the 1950s had become a huge problem here in Jacksonville, infesting local waterways and wetlands. After various studies, alligatatorweed flea beetles and two other insects were released into affected areas and it worked so well that within three years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completely stopped herbicide application to control the weed.

Sometimes biocontrol agents turn out to be thoroughly mediocre. For instance, the aquatic plant hydrilla remains problematic throughout Florida and no biocontrol efforts have yet proven very effective. Several host-specific insects were identified and introduced to control hydrilla, but each has its drawbacks and have not been up to the task of taking down the weed, which in ideal conditions can grow up to ten inches each day! Some places have been introducing grass carp fish to control hydrilla populations. The grass carp eat even faster than hydrilla can spread, so it has no problem eliminating outbreaks – however, these fish do not feed only on the weed and thus they are prime candidates for becoming invasive, nuisance species themselves! As such, grass carp stocking requires a permit in Florida and generally is only done in smaller lakes and ponds.

On the other side of the coin, the Bufo toad (or Cane toad) is a very good example - or rather, very bad - of biocontrol gone wrong in Florida. Native to Central America, this toad was intentionally introduced to Hawaii, Florida, Australia, and other tropical locations in order to control sugar cane beetles and other pesky insects interfering with sugar production. In Australia, the introduction was a major mistake as it was completely ineffective in combating their beetle problem, and merely became a problem itself. The Bufo has also become a major pest in South Florida, where it has become extremely well-established, since it breeds year-round, will eat almost anything, and thrives in the moist landscape. Unfortunately, the Bufo’s skin secretes a highly toxic fluid that has killed many native animals and domestic pets that attempt to eat the toad, and can also cause skin and eye irritation in humans. Today, the Bufo is well-known and thoroughly hated by South Floridians, and can serve as a hard lesson of the importance of caution in introducing biocontrol agents.

-Amanda Hudson, Legal Intern

Urban heat Islands

Big cities rule the world in this day in age, but they are also the culprit to a very dangerous phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.  The “heat island” effect refers to built up areas, usually within large cities, that are warmer than nearby rural areas.  Urban area development causes the landscape to change with construction of roads, buildings, and other infrastructures.  The open, moist land is then replaced by dry and impermeable structures, causing an increase in temperatures in the developed areas.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer than its surroundings.  The EPA also reports that during the evening hours, the difference can get as high as 22 °F (12 °C).

By the year 2025, two-thirds of the world will be living in urban settings.  This means that a raised awareness is essential in preventing this harmful effect.  While there are very few positives as a result of heat islands, such as a longer plant-growing season, most impacts are severally negative that include: increased energy consumption, elevated emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, compromised human health and comfort, impaired water quality.  This also has a strong impact on our local and global economies.  The Heat Island Group says that the urban heat island around Los Angeles, California, costs the city $100 million a year in energy.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, communities can take a number of steps to diminish the heat island effect, using four main strategies: increasing tree and vegetative cover; creating green roofs (also called “rooftop gardens” or “eco-roofs”); installing cool—mainly reflective—roofs; and using cool pavements.  These strategies will not only have a positive effect on the local communities, but will create a safer environment for the surrounding rural areas and our global climate. 

-Adam Gruszcynski, Legal Intern

“Invasive Species, An Exotic Problem”

Ever wondered what it would feel like to live exotically, surrounded by unusual plants and animals?  Most everyone would answer yes but never think twice about the consequences in maintaining and sustaining an exotic species.  This is where it becomes a problem and that the exotic species you once thought was so different and unique, transforms into what is called an invasive species.  An invasive species is “a non-native species whose introduction does, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health” (Executive Order 13112, 1999).  Invasive species displays rapid growth and spread, allowing it to establish over large areas in sometimes a hasty manner.  They are free from the complex arrangement of natural controls, including herbivores, parasites, and diseases, that are present on their native lands.  Some invasive species provide a high social, environmental and economic concern, like the giant Burmese pythons that have severely crippled Florida’s Everglades, while some species may have only a modest impact on the environment, like the nutria, a large rodent from South America who has presently made its way into the lowlands of Louisiana.  Their presence has been made well known throughout the country.  The National Park Service of the United States has reported that over 6,500 non-native invasive species have been documented on park lands. 

One of the leading contributions to the development of an invasive species is unruly pet ownership.  Owners of these exotic creatures tend to underestimate the care and maintenance required and then so release them into the wild or let them run rampant.  Conscious control and maintenance would help to prevent an outbreak of an invasive species.  There are other ways you can help as well such as: checking boat trailers, boat hulls and propellers; rinsing and removing aquatic plants or other creatures such as snails; refraining from dumping aquarium contents in lakes, channels or other water bodies; replacing invasive and other non-native plants in your yard with native species; making sure produce bought and delivered through the mail is from highly regarded companies that have their shipments inspected; and have houseplants brought into the state inspected for potential pests.  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. You may think that just one exotic plant or one animal won’t hurt anything, but in reality, the damage from just one of these species entering your local environment could tarnish the ecosystem forever.

-Adam Gruszcynski, Legal Intern

Look at the Apalachicola River

Formed by the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers, and drawing on around 20,000 square miles of watershed in from the tri-state area, the Apalachicola River supports over 1,500 native plants and animals, and the river system is recognized as one of six biodiversity hotspots in America. Unfortunately, this important and impressive river is under threat from several sources. In addition ongoing problems with decreasing water flow due to increased water drawing upstream, attention is not being turned to an old power plant in Sneads that seems to be polluting the waters.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Waterkeeper Alliance, and Apalachicola Riverkeeper are now taking action to protect the river from a 40-acre coal ash dump at Gulf Power Company’s Scholz Generating Plant. Coal ash is the toxic byproduct of coal burnt in power plants, and it includes heavy metals, neurotoxins and carcinogens such as cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, lead, beryllium and mercury. These dangerous chemicals can cause cancer as well as developmental and reproductive disorders, and if not properly handled these chemicals can penetrate and poison drinking water sources. And it seems that coal ash deposit at the Scholz Plant, near Sneads, Florida, is not being handled properly. There, millions of gallons of coal ash sludge generated over the years have been dumped into unlined pits, and now the pits are leaching chemicals into the uppermost reaches of the Apalachicola River,

While the entire river region is beautiful, many areas of special environmental significance abut the river along its 107 mile southward course through the panhandle and into the Gulf of Mexico. A glance at some of these valuable places can help to remind us what is at stake.

Our first stop is Torreya State Park, named for the rare Florida Torreya tree grow along the bluffs and ravines along the river banks. Colloquially named “stinking cedars,” because they smell strongly when cut or bruised, Torreya trees were cut and put to work for a variety of uses by early settlers. Today, with only about 200 remaining in the world, the Torreya is one of the nation’s most endangered trees. Exciting bluffs, ravines, and steepheads, carved out of the relatively high topography in the northern panhandle, range throughout the upper Apalachicola area, including Torreya State Park and the Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs.

The Apalachicola National Forest encompasses nearly six hundred thousand acres of botanically diverse Floridian goodness.  It is home to endangered animals such as the gray bat, rec-cockaded woodpecker, and wood stork, in addition to several threatened species of plants and animals.

Just to the south is Tate’s Hell State Forest, named after a legendarily unfortunate man who set off into the forest one day and stumbled out near Carabelle a week later saying he’d been through hell. Despite the name, the Forest is a haven for wildlife and flora such as Bald Eagles, Gopher Tortoises, American Black Bears, and several rare plant species, including white birds-in-a-nest.

Finally, the bay area and the coastal wetlands host incredible biodiversity, are immensely beautiful and offer important environmental services such as storm surge protection and provision of nutrients and breeding grounds for the marine life in the Apalachicola Bay. The coastal areas where the river meets the bay also provide a habitat for the vast swaths of oyster beds vital to local and state economies.

-Amanda Hudson, Legal Intern

The Importance of Garden Clubs

Garden Clubs have been a very important aspect of our communities since their emergence in the late 1800’s. Garden clubs provide many positive contributions to their communities in which they reside. They effectively address current environmental issues such as climate change and other environmental concerns. Some of the projects that garden club members take part in include: aiding in the protection and conservation of natural resources, promoting civic beautification and encouraging the improvement of roadsides and parks, encouraging the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardening, advancing the study of gardening and cooperating with other organizations furthering the interest of horticulture, conservation and environmental protection and beautification. Today’s Garden Clubs are globally focused but emphasize the importance of supporting local gardening. Additionally, some of the local projects that Garden club members frequently take on include: park and vacant lot rehabilitations, community gardening, recycling and pollution control efforts as well as local, historic-site preservation.

Garden clubs all over the country join together at both the state and national levels to form strong networks for sharing ideas and advancing common interests in order to achieve mutual goals. Garden club members have a powerful voice that can be heard from coast-to-coast and used to help further each of their community goals. Further, many garden clubs provide educational program for children, teens and young adults in their communities. For example, these clubs often provide youth gardening and school garden projects. These clubs often offer scholarships to the youth in their community for high school students who create outstanding civic projects in such areas as the environment, conservation, landscape, horticulture, recycling or gardening therapy. These Garden Clubs have bestowed many important contributions to their local communities for many years and remain an important aspect in furthering national as well as state and local environmental issues.

-Courtney Staci, Legal Intern