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market-farming - Re: flea beetles & introduced species

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  • From: Marcie Rosenzweig <fullcircle AT jps.net>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: flea beetles & introduced species
  • Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 05:55:20 -0700


Hi Jennie,

As an ecologist, you hubby probably also recognizes that it is possible for an ecosystem to be so out of balance and disrupted that some species become endangered and even die out. Some things for him to think about:

1. Farming is a human-introduced, artificial system. Those of us who strive for sustainability try to learn from natural systems to minimize the impact of what we are doing but we are still disrupting what was there and replacing it with what we want.

2. The absence of predatory nematodes (or any other "good bug") doesn't mean they were never there. Until a few years back, grey wolves were absent from Yellowstone; bison are still absent from most of their historic plains range.

3. Introduction of a species that may have once been there or a introduced species-specific predator to control an out-of-control introduced species within a relatively closed system, ie the soil of one farm/ranch, may very well be the most environmentally benign way of dealing with the problem.

He's right to question before acting. All possible solutions must be considered to find the one that addresses the weak link within the life cycle of the pest then the weak link withing the cultural system that allowed the pest to become out-of-control. We must always be aware we are creating an artificial system and there will always to consequences to that.

Marcie

Marcie A. Rosenzweig
Full Circle
3377 Early Times Ln
Auburn, CA 95603-7900
(530) 885-9201




  • Re: flea beetles & introduced species, Marcie Rosenzweig, 04/19/2002

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