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This is pretty interesting to read... I think our media normally ignores North American pests travelling to other parts of the world. Around here we have a lot
by ben7799 7y ago
This is pretty interesting to read... I think our media normally ignores North American pests travelling to other parts of the world.
Around here we have a lot of talk about pests that have arrived from China that affect our local plants but not many that talk about our pests that have invaded China.
Locally I've had to deal with the Asian Winter Moth decimating trees in my yard and throughout the area I live in. That seems to have gotten under control the last few years though interestingly.
And of course everyone knows about the American Chestnut tree and the blight from China that wiped it out.
- seszett 7y agoI guess most people just know best about what pests affect their area. Here in France, phylloxera is well known for having decimated our vines after having arrived from America (what saved the French wine industry was grafting our species on the roots of phylloxera-resistant but unpalatable American vines). Same for the Argentinian ants that have founded the supercolony along the Mediterranean coast.
- mytailorisrich 7y agoAlso a disease of plane trees introduced in France/Europe from the US (WWII, I believe) Here in the UK we also have a problem with american squirrels.
- ivanhoe 7y agoWhole Europe is invaded by grey squirrels. Also red-eared turtles and bullfrogs and probably many more species...
- zupzupper 7y ago> phylloxera-resistant but unpalatable American vines Hey now. You send me a palatable French wine and I'll send you a palatable American one =)
- bthecohen 7y agoThis is actually referring to different species of grapes, and has nothing to do with winemaking technique or prowess. Virtually every type of "quality wine" that is consumed in the world comes from the old world species vitis vinifera. This includes basically every variety you've heard of: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, just to name a few French varieties (but the same applies to Italian, Spanish, German, etc. wines). Any American winemakers making those kinds of wines (and I agree that many New World wines go toe-to-toe with the best France has to offer!) are using grape vines that were originally imported from Europe. In addition, there are several species of grapes that are native to North America, the best known of which is probably the Concord grape. Unfortunately, due to their flavor profiles these species don't tend to be used for winemaking (one exception being Manischewitz and other sweet ritual wines). However, they have a natural resistance to phylloxera, which saved vitis vinifera from decimation and likely extinction through the grafting technique.
- zupzupper 7y agoI did not know this. However I would still like to exchange bottles with other fellow =)
- seszett 7y agoAmerican wines are made from European Vitis vinifera, grafted on the roots of American species just like in France.
- 52-6F-62 7y agoOne that concerns me in North America is the Pine Beetle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pine_beetle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pine_beetle) and its native, but affected by recent climate events. The current infestation is actually causing the BC forests to be nearly a net carbon negative! (edit: to clarify I mean negative as in they're increasing the carbon output of the forests compared to the carbon sink. May be wording it wrong)
- tejtm 7y agoI think you got it right, forests are only carbon sinks as long as the trees are alive then they release their sequestered carbon as they rot. Typical tree dying is sporadic event and can be taken back up by other trees in a normal situation. Here the tree death is not sporadic and there are not enough growing things to re-uptake the all the released carbon so it enters circulation.
- v77 7y agoInvasive species and their impact are relative to your area, of course. Of equal interest is the use of non-native species to provide more genetic diversity. In Canada, we are using lots of 'Amur' trees and bushes from Russian and Northern China to increase diversity of our treestock after the huge diebacks caused by Dutch Elm, Emerald Ash Borer and other imported pests.
- jonathankoren 7y agoIt wasn't that long ago when rich dudes used import species to North America to show off their love of Shakespeare. See flock of starlings? Thank Eugene Schieffelin and his American Acclimatization Society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Acclimatization_Society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Acclimatization_Socie...
- foobarian 7y agoAre you near Boston? I observed the same thing, winter moths destroying trees at an alarming rate until about 2 years ago. I wonder what changed. Edit: Wow. https://www.masslive.com/news/2018/09/umass_amherst_scientists_claim.html https://www.masslive.com/news/2018/09/umass_amherst_scientis...