Prof. Stewart with A. leptosoma. Photo credit: SUNY-ESF
Professor Donald Stewart, from my Alma-mater the State University New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry (Syracuse, NY), has recently described a new fish species Arapaima leptosoma (Osteoglossomorpha: Osteoglossidae),the first new arapaima species since 1847 (Copeia, 2013). Research funding for describing this new species was provided in part by National Geographic and SUNY-ESF. Arapaima is a genus of large-sized (up to 2.5 m and 200 kg) freshwater fish found in South America. The new species name, derived from Greek, refers to the organism's relatively slender ("lepto") body ("soma").
Arapaima via ESF.edu
Three traits helped identify this organism as a distinct species: 1) Shape of the dorsal sensory cavity, 2) Underlying bone structure of the head which makes the head relatively flat, 3) Dorsal fin sheath covering anterior dorsal rays.
Listen to this interview from Northeastern Public Radio (WAMC) of Prof. Stewart describing how the new species was identified. Arapaima live in backwater areas of the Amazon rainforest, these waters are often oxygen-poor, which makes their primitive air-breathing lung an advantageous trait. Indigenous peoples have long depended on arapaima as a food source. With new knowledge of arapaima species diversity, biologists are becoming concerned about species conservation, particularly because not enough information is known regarding their spatial distribution and abundance. Charismatic mega-fauna, particularly those hunted for sport, are especially vulnerable to the threats of over fishing.
Mile-a-minute overtaking trees. by Furryscaly via Flickr CC
Mile-a-minute (Persicariaperfoliata) is one of the most pervasive
and damaging nonnative invasive plant species in the United States. Mile-a-minute, a member of the Buckwheat
family (Polyganaceae), was first introduced to the U.S. in 1890 from its indigenous
range of Asian and Southeast Asia. The
plant did not successfully establish a permanent population in the U.S. until a
reintroduction in the late 1930s when a Pennsylvanian nursery germinated Holly
seeds from Japan and in doing so, the stowaway mile-a-minute seeds.
Approximate U.S. distribution as of July 2013. Source: Eddmaps.
www.eddmaps.org#sthash.Oa4NZqHa.dpuf
www.eddmaps.org#sthash.Oa4NZqHa.dpuf
Mile-a-minute earned its name
Mile-a-minute is an annual trailing vine with distinctive
alternate triangular leaves. Another identifying
trait is the round saucer-shaped structures, or ocreae, which occur at nodes
and branching points along the stem. Self-pollinating
flowers and subsequent fruit arise from the ocreae. Recurved barbs along the
stem and leaf petioles make this plant particularly unpalatable to most potential
herbivores. Low predation rates in the
U.S. coupled with the species’ prolific seed production and readily available dispersal
mechanisms (water and birds) are traits characteristic of an exceptionally weedy
plant.
Most impressing, and most ecologically damaging, is mile-a-minute’s
growth rate of up to six inches a day,
or 77’ (33.8 m) in a single growing season.
For perspective, mile-a-minute could cover the Statue of Liberty from
heal to torch in two growing seasons.
Methods to control this invasive plant include traditional methods of manual
removal and chemical pesticide applications.
However, given the rate at which mile-a-minute spreads, traditional
methods are not practical of well-established or remote populations. In 1996, the U.S. Forest Service began
researching possible biological control agents.
Following annual die-back mile-a-minute leaves and stems continue to weigh down the plants they have climbed and shade groundcover. by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut via Invasives.org
Mile-a-minute leaves and ocreae. by Leslie J. Mehrhoff
Fighting nonnative with nonnative: biological control
Biological control is a way of using an invasive species
natural predator or disease, most often from the species’ indigenous region, to
reduce the invasives’ proliferation and dominance. Finding a biological control agent that is truly
host-specific to your target species takes a lot of research. Inadequate research into a control agent’s
life history and ecology prior to release may have dire consequences, which are
worse than the original cause for their introduction. A classic example of biological control gone awry
is that of Cane
Toads introduced to Australia in 1937.
Thankfully, the science of introducing biological control agents has
come a long way!
Adult R. latipes are approx. 2mm long. by Amy Diercks, via Invasives.org
Colpetzer et al. published a study in Biological Control (2004) examining potential biological control agents for use on mile-a-minute. Results from their study supported the introduction of a small host-specific weevil from Asia, Rhinoncomimus latipes, which feeds on mile-a-minute roots as a
larvae and foliage as an adult. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the use of the weevil as a biological control agent. After
several regional releases, the introduced weevils have successfully established
populations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Ongoing weevil
releases, such as one recently conducted in Union County, New Jersey, help
sustain and expand the current weevil populations.
Led by state and county agriculture officials, the recent release of 2,000
weevils in Watchung Reservation, Union County’s largest park, is sure to reduce
local mile-a-minute growth in the coming years.
The below video is from a recent weevil release in New York
City
With today’s heat wave, it
is hard to imagine the autumnal equinox will soon be upon us!Nevertheless, the official end of
summer is near.In honor of this seasonal
shift, I thought this TED-Ed talk was very fitting, a good reminder as to why we
have seasons.
An omnivorous mammal species found in the Americas was
recently described – the first new omnivorous mammal species to be described in
35 years! The olinguito (Bassaricyon
neblina), a member of the
raccoon family (Procyonidae), is indigenous the high-altitude cloud forests of Ecuador and Columbia (map below).
(Olinguito habitat range (red) and sitings (black dots) by National Museum of Natural History, via Smithsonian.com)
(Olinguito by Mark Gurney via Smithsonian.com)
The mystery specimen:
("A comparison of olinguito skulls (far right) with those of other olingos shows their smaller size and slightly different shape." By Lauren Helgen via Smithsonian.com)
Kristofer Helgen and his team at the
Smithsonian National Museum stumbled upon the new species as they worked with
clarify known species of olingos (Bassaricyon spp.).The mysterious
specimens differed compared to know species in their fur color (reddish vs. grey), fur length (long vs. short, comparatively), and the elevations at which the specimens were collected (high vs. low).Olinguitos are also smaller than their olingos kin - hence, their suffix–“ito”,
translating as "little" in Spanish.
To the field!
(Andes Cloud Forest by Slack12 via Flickr CC)
Kristofer Helgen and colleagues observed this new species in
its native cloud forest habitat, where they learned it is primarily nocturnal
and arboreal, with a diet comprised largely of tree fruit and some insects. Read more about this neat species at Smithsonian.com.
(One of my favorite "weeds" Blue-eyed grass - by L. Shappell)
a(1) : a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially : one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.
Context is key.
A weedy plant species value is relative to that of other
plant species - it is all about context. Weeds, by definition, are plants
that we have deemed to be less valuable than other plant species. Weedy
plant species may be indigenous, naturalized, or non-native (alien); their
commonality being that they are all considered a nuisance to
someone. It is important to note that, as with most things, one
person's nuisance can be another's treasure; that said - weedy plants
are not necessarily considered invasive.
(First edition cover of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn via Wikipedia)
Weedy plants are quite hardy, making them able to colonize and
tolerate disturbed or polluted environments foreboding to
their less-weedy counterparts. Weeds therefore thrive in urban and
suburban environments.
A classic urban weedy
species (that is also considered invasive) is the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthusaltissima),
most famously known for its portal as “the” tree in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,
a novel by Betty Smith (1943).
To learn more about invasive plant species and common horticultural plants to avoid because they are invasive visit the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team. (Nearly all local nurseries and home improvement stores sell horribly invasive non-native plant species! NJISST has a list of native alternatives [PDF] to some common invasive horticultural species.)
Weeds: coming into their own.
Weedy plants are often ignored by passersby or bemoaned by gardeners. A small, but growing contingent has come to
appreciate weeds for their added greenery in a sea of cement, while others go a
step further, foraging for these delectable discards.
(The cover of our Weedy Plants Guide!)
Ever wonder what that little purple flower is growing in your
lawn? Or the little white flower growing
in the sidewalk crack? I know I
have. Therefore, I teamed up with my graduate
advisor, Dr. Lena Struwe, lab-mate,
Jennifer Blake, and the botanical artist Bobbi
Angell to design a weedy plant guide for New Jersey.
Our field guide débuted at Rutgers Day 2013, as part of an outreach
education table organized by Dr. Struwe and Ms. Blake. The goal of the table was to educate the public
about ways in which weedy plants do have value (e.g., food).
The first step to appreciating weedy plants is to be able to identify
some of the most common weeds we encounter in our everyday life! Please download and printour free pocket-sized field
guide to help you learn more about plant species in your neighborhood. For best results when printing, use legal-size paper
and make sure page scaling is set to “none”.
Indigenous peoples have long depended on arapaima as a food source. With new knowledge of arapaima species diversity, biologists are becoming concerned about species conservation, particularly because not enough information is known regarding their spatial distribution and abundance. Charismatic mega-fauna, particularly those hunted for sport, are especially vulnerable to the threats of over fishing. 
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