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Nova Scotian Institute of Science will be hosting a public panel discussion entitled "Introduction of Exotic Species and Biological Methods in Pest Management" on Monday, February 3rd, 7:30 p.m. at the Guptill Theater, Room 117, Sir James Dunn Building, Dalhousie University. All are welcome. Panelists include: Andrea Locke, Research Scientist, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Moncton; Bill Freedman, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology, Dalhousie University; and Glen Sampson, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College. The panel will be moderated by Gretchen Fitzgerald of the Ecology Action Centre. Biological invasions have been ranked as the second greatest threat to biodiversity on this planet. Bioinvaders can disrupt ecosystems by preying on native species, out-competing native species for food and space, or altering habitat. Some bioinvaders cause diseases which native species have not evolved the ability to withstand. Bioinvaders like the West Nile virus can even represent a threat to human health. In addition to ecological damage, biological invaders have significant economic impacts; it is estimated that bioinvaders cost the Canadian economy billions of dollars per year. Once a bioinvader has become established, it is often difficult - if not impossible - to eradicate. Some bioinvaders present in Atlantic Canada include purple loosestrife, Asian longhorn beetle, green crab, and the oyster-killing parasite MSX. What are the effects of the presence of these species on ecosystems? How do we prevent more bioinvaders from arriving? And, once here, how do we mitigate damage to the environment and the economy? Is biocontrol, or the release of organisms that will limit the spread of bioinvaders, the answer? The Nova Scotian Institute of Science, in collaboration with the Ecology Action Centre, has asked local experts to discuss the ecological impacts of bioinvasions and provide possible solutions. For further information, please contact Calum Ewing at 424-7370 / ewing@gov.ns.ca or Gretchen Fitzgerald at 453-9228 / fitzgerg@dal.ca To find out more about NSIS, see the website: www.chebucto.ns.ca/Science/NSIS/Home.html -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- SUST-MAR TIP: messages to sust-mar must be plain text format (no HTML) -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
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