Biological Pollution

Environmentalists often voice concern about threats like acid rain, carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere, water contamination, and declining biodiversity. Recently, many have come to recognize another equally serious threat called biological pollution.

Biological pollution is the movement of living organisms, either accidentally or intentionally, from the places where they evolved to new environments where a lack of natural enemies permits their population to explode. These organisms, sometimes called invasive exotic pests, threaten our crops, our forests, and perhaps even our very existence. Biological pollutants, like chemical pollutants, are here because of human activities. But unlike chemical pollutants, biological pollutants cannot be reduced or prevented by legislation. Once biological pollutants are imported, they grow, adapt, multiply and spread on their own unless direct, vigorous, and often costly actions are taken to stop them.

This important book presents a broad spectrum of concerns in nontechnical language to conservation-minded people. The first three chapters provide general background on biological pollution, including insight into the enormity of the problem and the direct and indirect costs to date. The next section provides specific examples of exotic weeds, diseases, nematodes, and insects and the damage they cause. The last section examines the defenses in place and proposed improvements to resisting biotic invasion.

Biological Pollution: An Emerging Global Menace is required reading for environmentalists, plant pathologists, horticulturists, weed scientists, nematologists, entomologists, foresters, agronomists and all others dedicated to protecting the environment. Anyone interested in natural resources and agriculture will gain valuable knowledge from this eye-opening publication.

Preface

What Is the Problem?
Controlling Biological Pollution
Kerry O. Britton
An Ecological Explosion in Slow Motion
Randy G. Westbrooks and Peter White
Exotic Pests: Past, Present and Future
Phyllis N. Windle

Weeds, Diseases, and Other Pests
Exotic Weeds: Expensive and Out of Control
Randy G. Westbrooks and Robert E. Eplee
Plant Disease On The Move!
Kerry O. Britton, Frank Tainter, and Judith Brown
Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Which Are Exotic Pests in Agriculture and Forestry
L. David Dwinell and Paul S. Lehman

What Is to be Done?
Meeting the Threat: Risk Assessment and Quarantine
Matthew H. Royer and Ed Podleckis
Assessing Exotic Threats to Forest Resources
William E. Wallner
Political and Economic Barriers to Scientifically Based Decisions
Faith Thompson Campbell
Fighting Back!
Kerry O. Britton