Hi All -

This is in regard to the recent discussion about Australian Pine removal in
the Dry Tortugas. I went to a seminar yesterday that discussed the status of
non-indigenous species in south Florida. Australian Pine and *Melaleuca
quinquenervia* (and several other plants) have invaded many parts of the
Everglades and coastal south Florida. They are a serious threat to native
plant communities in these areas (see links below).

Also just wanted to mention that I know some National Park biologists - they
are excellent scientists and do not generally do things on whim. They do not
have the budget to do things on a whim. In fact they do not have the budget
to do very much at all these days.

Threats of non-native plants to Florida's native plant communities
http://www.pepps.fsu.edu/FACT/sec_D/upland.html

Florida Department of Environmental Protection: "Non-native plants invade
1.5 Million Acres in Florida"
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2001/01-214.htm

Anectodal evidence that native vegetation is doing well on Loggerhead Key
since the removal of Australian Pine:
http://www.nbbd.com/OutThere/scbwftortugas/index.html

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura at gmail.com
http://www.uidaho.edu/~charless