scholarly journals A review of the non-indigenous Chinese Mystery Snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis (Viviparidae), in North America, with emphasis on occurrence in Canada and the potential impact on indigenous aquatic species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Elizabeth Kingsbury ◽  
Donald F. McAlpine ◽  
Youji Cheng ◽  
Edward Parker ◽  
Linda M. Campbell

Evidence suggests that the Chinese mystery snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis, a freshwater, dioecious, snail of Asian origin has become invasive in North America, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Invasive species threaten indigenous biodiversity and have socioeconomic consequences where invasive. The aim of this review is to synthesize the relevant literature pertaining to C. chinensis in Canada. In doing so, we (1) describe C. chinensis ecosystem interactions in both indigenous (Asian) and non-indigenous habitats (North America and Europe), (2) identify gaps in the literature, and (3) determine where the species potential distribution in North America requires further exploration. We also briefly discuss potential management strategies for this species, as an aquatic invasive species (AIS), in Canada. Due to the much larger relative size of adult C. chinensis, multiple feeding mechanisms, and resistance to predation, C. chinensis can out-compete and displace indigenous freshwater gastropods and other molluscs. Furthermore, C. chinensis can affect food webs through bottom-up interactions with the bacterial and zooplankton communities by changing nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations. Also, the Chinese literature indicates the potential for C. chinensis to act as a biotransfer of contaminants between polluted ecosystems and consumers. In its indigenous range, C. chinensis was identified as a host for numerous parasites harmful to human and animal consumers alike. A comparison of the Canadian geographical distribution of reported occurrences with that for the United States indicates several potential gaps in Canadian reporting which merits further investigation and consideration, especially in regard to federal and provincial non-indigenous monitoring and regulations. Southern Ontario had the highest number of reports which were mostly from web-based photo-supported sources. This suggests that interactive citizen science through popular apps backed by well-supported educational campaigns may be a highly effective means of tracking C. chinensis spread, which can be complementary to traditional methods using specimen-vouchered taxonomically-verified natural-history collections overseen by professional curators.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Clements ◽  
Todd Larsen ◽  
Jennifer Grenz

AbstractInvasive species with distributions that encompass much of the North American environment often demand a range of management approaches, for several key reasons. Firstly, the North American environment includes a large number of highly variable habitats in terms of climatic, edaphic, and landscape features. Secondly, these regional habitat differences are accentuated by jurisdictions within Canada and the United States, whereby approaches and available resources differ at local, regional, and national scales. Another important consideration is whether an invasive species or complex also possesses genetic variation. All three of these factors render the knotweed complex in North America a highly variable target for management. In this paper we review existing knowledge of the variable nature of knotweed species (Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr., Fallopia sachalinensis (F. Schmidt ex Maxim) Ronse Decr., and Fallopia × bohemica, (Chrtek and Chrtková) J. P. Bailey in North America, and evaluate how herbicidal, mechanical and biological control measures must account for this genetic variation, as well as accounting for regional differences and the potential northward expansion of knotweed under climate change. The imminent release of the psyllid, Aphalara itadori Shinji as a biological control agent in North America must also navigate regional and genetic differences. Prior European experience dealing with the three knotweed species should prove useful, but additional research is needed to meet the emerging challenge posed by F. × bohemica in North America, including the possibility of glyphosate resistance. Managers also face challenges associated with posttreatment restoration measures. Furthermore, disparities in resources available to address knotweed management across the continent need to be addressed to contain the rapid spread of this highly persistent and adaptable species. Linking practitioners dealing with knotweed “on the ground” with academic research is a crucial step in the process of marshalling all available resources to reduce the rapidly spreading populations of knotweed.


NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 485-510
Author(s):  
Robert Crystal-Ornelas ◽  
Emma J. Hudgins ◽  
Ross N. Cuthbert ◽  
Phillip J. Haubrock ◽  
Jean Fantle-Lepczyk ◽  
...  

Invasive species can have severe impacts on ecosystems, economies, and human health. Though the economic impacts of invasions provide important foundations for management and policy, up-to-date syntheses of these impacts are lacking. To produce the most comprehensive estimate of invasive species costs within North America (including the Greater Antilles) to date, we synthesized economic impact data from the recently published InvaCost database. Here, we report that invasions have cost the North American economy at least US$ 1.26 trillion between 1960 and 2017. Economic costs have climbed over recent decades, averaging US$ 2 billion per year in the early 1960s to over US$ 26 billion per year in the 2010s. Of the countries within North America, the United States (US) had the highest recorded costs, even after controlling for research effort within each country ($5.81 billion per cost source in the US). Of the taxa and habitats that could be classified in our database, invasive vertebrates were associated with the greatest costs, with terrestrial habitats incurring the highest monetary impacts. In particular, invasive species cumulatively (from 1960–2017) cost the agriculture and forestry sectors US$ 527.07 billion and US$ 34.93 billion, respectively. Reporting issues (e.g., data quality or taxonomic granularity) prevented us from synthesizing data from all available studies. Furthermore, very few of the known invasive species in North America had reported economic costs. Therefore, while the costs to the North American economy are massive, our US$ 1.26 trillion estimate is likely very conservative. Accordingly, expanded and more rigorous economic cost reports are necessary to provide more comprehensive invasion impact estimates, and then support data-based management decisions and actions towards species invasions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J Justus ◽  
Elizabeth Y Long

Abstract The carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a devastating pest of high value Apiaceous crops like carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativusHoffm.), parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss), and celery (Apium graveolens L.). Although native to North America, it is a serious pest across the Eastern United States and Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Females deposit eggs in the petiole of cultivated hosts, and upon hatching, larvae tunnel down through the petiole and into plant roots causing wilting, yellowing, and plant death. Scouting procedures focus mainly on adult activity and require detection of small egg scars on the foliage and crown of the root, or reliance on traps that are only effective at the beginning of the season before the crop emerges. Several avenues of cultural, biological, and chemical control have been explored for this pest, but with limited success. Furthermore, investigation of these management strategies have primarily focused on carrot systems, neglecting other cultivated Apiaceae. Here we present a review of carrot weevil research and highlight key knowledge gaps in the carrot weevil system, which impede our understanding of this insect’s biology and behavioral ecology. Future research addressing these key knowledge gaps will expand our understanding of this pest and contribute to the development and implementation of more effective management strategies.


2001 ◽  
Vol 09 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-94
Author(s):  
LIANG Xiao-Dong ◽  
YE Wan-Hui ◽  

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanny Tran ◽  
Jonathan E. Holland ◽  
Nora Quesada ◽  
Mark Young ◽  
Damian Bienkowski ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Agriculture is facing an unprecedented challenge in having to reduce its environmental footprint whilst ensuring food security to an ever-growing global population. Towards this end, several strategies have been investigated and implemented to help maintain or improve crop yield under reduced water and/or nutrient provision for key commercial commodities such as tomatoes. Despite the high commercial, nutritional, and food-cultural value, there is no synthesis of evidence regarding yield maintenance of tomato (as a model crop) under resource-deficit. This systematic map therefore provides an overview of the evidence that exists on the effectiveness of techniques and management approaches aimed at improving the productivity of field-grown tomatoes under conditions of water-, nitrogen- (N) and/or phosphorus (P)-deficit. Methods Following the published map protocol, systematic searches of peer reviewed- and grey-literature were conducted using research publication databases, and specialist websites. A total of 14,377 unique articles were identified as potentially relevant to our research question, of which 927 were screened at the full-text level. Of that subset, 291 articles met all the pre-defined eligibility criteria. Basic information and meta-data on the interventions reported were recorded for these articles and a systematic map was compiled with the extracted data. Results The articles included in the systematic map database were used to identify several significant points including: (1) from the year 2000, the number of articles investigating strategies to improve field-grown tomato yield under conditions of water and/or nutrient deficit follows an upward trend; (2) large evidence bases (> 50%) originated from the United States, India, and Italy; (3) most studies addressed water alone as a resource (49%), with only 18% of studies focussing on N and 4% on P alone. Only 4% of records assessed all three resources simultaneously; (4) most evidence (77%) aims to improve resource use-efficiency via either irrigation, fertilisation, or crop and soil management strategies; and (5) different geographical regions appear to focus on different groups of interventions. Conclusions This systematic map identifies a range of interventions that have been successfully implemented in fields to improve the yield of commercial tomatoes under conditions of water, N and/or P deficit. However, only half of the relevant literature reported evidence on more than one intervention, which highlights the need for more integrated approaches to assess multiple interventions to adapt to deficits of key-resources simultaneously. In addition, the use of ‘techno-chemical’, ‘breeding and genetic’ and ‘computational’ interventions are only reported in a small number of records (< 8% of the gathered evidence). Hence, these interventions may also be considered as subjects to prioritise in future funding strategies.


1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2534-2563 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Frey

E. A. Birge, in his Ph.D. dissertation (1878. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA) and in his first published paper (E. A. Birge. 1879. Trans. Wis. Acad. Sci. Arts. Lett. 4: 77–109), described a species of Pleuroxus from North America and named it P. straminius, then later (E. A. Birge. 1893. Trans. Wis. Acad. Sci. Arts. Lett. 9: 275–317) decided the organism was the same as P. laevis of Scandinavia and hence gave it that name, or rather the invalid, newer name P. hastatus. Detailed study of these two taxa has shown that they are completely different from each other in size, shape, surface ornamentation, nature and color of the carapace, structure of the posterior-ventral corner of the shell, shape and denticulation of the postabdomen, and especially armament of the male postabdomen, that of P. straminius having essentially the same denticulation as the female, whereas in P. laevis all of the marginal denticles are replaced by oblique short rows of spines. Perhaps more significant is the occurrence of a second species in North America, Pleuroxus chiangi n.sp., which is much more closely related to P. laevis than is P. straminius. It differs somewhat vaguely in the relative size of various parts, but it also differs in a number of specific characters, all of which demonstrate that it is a valid separate species. Thus, the posterior-ventral angle of the shell is rounded, with the shell tooth some distance anterior and with several setae immediately posterior being long and projecting well beyond the margin; the postanal portion of the postabdomen is shorter and has about two fewer denticles; and, most important, the male postabdomen retains the two large distalmost denticles and has the oblique rows of setae substituting for the others. Pleuroxus straminius is widely distributed in glaciated North America from Newfoundland to northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, then south along the Atlantic Coast into northern Florida. One suspects that because of species differences already demonstrated between northern and southern populations of Eurycercus and of Pleuroxus denticulatus, P. straminius might also be so differentiated. However, no decision can be made without having males and ephippial females from the southern populations. Pleuroxus chiangi presently seems much less frequent and less abundant than P. straminius. It occurs from Nova Scotia westward to British Columbia, including northern Wisconsin and possibly northern Minnesota, and northward into the Northwest Territories. It seems similar to a number of species, such as Alonopsis americana and Chydorus canadensis, whose distributions barely reach the United States at all but which are well distributed northward in eastern Canada. We need many more data on the occurrence of various taxa in the north. Thus, here is still another example of noncosmopolitanism in the chydorids. The presence of closely related species in North America and Europe might have derived vicariously from the splitting of North America from Europe as the Atlantic Ocean developed. The other species, P. straminius, does not seem to have any counterpart in Europe, although possibly P. sinkiangensis of China is related to it. This and other taxa presently called P. laevis must be studied to work out the degrees of relationship and to develop ideas as to when and how the species evolved. Neotypes have been selected for P. laevis and for P. straminius. These and diverse samples of all three taxa have been deposited in major museums in North America and Europe.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Alomran ◽  
George Newcombe ◽  
Timothy Prather

AbstractVentenata [Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.] is a nonindigenous, invasive grass in the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States. It appears to be present in the PNW without any evidence of disease expression. Surveys of V. dubia in the PNW (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) were entirely negative for fungi, including types of pathogens that might be expected in grasses (e.g., rust, powdery mildew, choke). In Europe, where V. dubia is native, fungi were documented (i.e., Septoria ventenatae Sandu, Tilletia fusca Ellis & Everh., and Tilletia elisabethae T. Denchev & Denchev) on V. dubia. In its native range there likely are natural enemies that may limit V. dubia abundance, and these may include fungal pathogens. Pathogens of V. dubia from its native range may hold potential for use as classical biological control agents in North America, and if deemed safe, could be introduced. To ascertain V. dubia’s native range, we compiled data from herbarium specimens, consulted with herbarium curators in the region, and searched relevant literature. We found that V. dubia primarily is reported in southern Europe and western Asia. Ventenata dubia has been reported only occasionally from North Africa in Algeria and Morocco. The common name “North Africa grass” likely originated from references to V. dubia in the 19th-century botanical explorations in Algeria of the French botanist, Ernest Cosson, who published the current scientific name based on a preexisting name in 1854. Another finding of interest is that the latitudinal range of collections from Europe and North Africa of V. dubia spans Tunisia to Finland. The plant may thus be adapted to a range of environments, indicating it could become more widely distributed in North America. Efforts to search its native range for pathogens should also consider the range of environmental conditions found within its native and introduced ranges.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Sabina Magliocco

This essay introduces a special issue of Nova Religio on magic and politics in the United States in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. The articles in this issue address a gap in the literature examining intersections of religion, magic, and politics in contemporary North America. They approach political magic as an essentially religious phenomenon, in that it deals with the spirit world and attempts to motivate human behavior through the use of symbols. Covering a range of practices from the far right to the far left, the articles argue against prevailing scholarly treatments of the use of esoteric technologies as a predominantly right-wing phenomenon, showing how they have also been operationalized by the left in recent history. They showcase the creativity of magic as a form of human cultural expression, and demonstrate how magic coexists with rationality in contemporary western settings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-92
Author(s):  
Rotimi Williams Omotoye

Pentecostalism as a new wave of Christianity became more pronounced in 1970's and beyond in Nigeria. Since then scholars of Religion, History, Sociology and Political Science have shown keen interest in the study of the Churches known as Pentecostals because of the impact they have made on the society. The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was established by Pastor Josiah Akindayomi in Lagos,Nigeria in 1952. After his demise, he was succeeded by Pastor Adeboye Adejare Enock. The problem of study of this research was an examination of the expansion of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to North America, Caribbean and Canada. The missionary activities of the church could be regarded as a reversed mission in the propagation of Christianity by Africans in the Diaspora. The methodology adopted was historical. The primary and secondary sources of information were also germane in the research. The findings of the research indicated that the Redeemed Christian Church of God was founded in North America by Immigrants from Nigeria. Pastor Adeboye Enock Adejare had much influence on the Church within and outside the country because of his charisma. The Church has become a place of refuge for many immigrants. They are also contributing to the economy of the United States of America. However, the members of the Church were faced with some challenges, such as security scrutiny by the security agencies. In conclusion, the RCCGNA was a denomination that had been accepted and embraced by Nigerians and African immigrants in the United States of America.


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