I differ from Mowbray's suggestion. ALthough it wouldn't hurt to = mention this, it is more appropriately presented in an environmental = science course. Ecology should be heavy of theory and structure. A = good introductory environmental science course should address this issue = as it is the applied course relating to ecology. Most schools teach = this as a simple into to ecology course at a freshman level, but this is = realy inappropriate. Environmental scienceis an interdisciplinary = applied science encompassing the biological, chemical, economic, and = political processes involved in applied environmental problems. =20 =20 It is not wrong to address invasive species in ecology, I am just making = a distinction here that is probably less valid at a school with limited = courses than at a typical larger institution. =20 =20 Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences Texas A&M University Texarkana 2600 Robison Rd. Texarkana, TX 75501 O: 1-903-233-3134 H: 1-903-791-3843 Homepage: https://www.eagle.tamut.edu/faculty/mmccallum/index.html =20
________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of = [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tue 4/4/2006 8:05 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: ecology text Make sure that, whatever text you use, you spend some time discussing = the dangers of using invasive exotics in landscaping. An invasive exotics expert from Smithsonian recently gave a talk at the = U.S. Botanic Garden, where I do volunteer work. During his talk he = stressed that in the opinion of Smithsonian scientists working on = extinction invasive exotics are number two on the list of causes of = extinction - behind habitat destruction (suburban sprawl and, mostly in = the tropics, conversion of forest to agricultural uses). I'm not sure = that global climate change shouldn't be number two, but there is no = doubt that invasive exotice species are a serious threat to our native = species and ecosystems. Bob Mowbray -- Tropical Forest Ecologist Natural Resource Managment Specialist Reston, VA
