Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Invasive ...

INTRODUCTION“Maritime Spartina species define and maintain <strong>the</strong> shoreline along broad expanses <strong>of</strong> temperatecoasts where <strong>the</strong>y are native. The large Spartina species grow lower on <strong>the</strong> tidal plane than o<strong>the</strong>rvascular plants; tall, stiff stems reduce waves and currents to precipitate sediments from turbidestuarine waters. With <strong>the</strong> right conditions, roots grow upward through harvested sediments toelevate <strong>the</strong> marsh. This engineering can alter <strong>the</strong> physical, hydrological, and ecologicalenvironments <strong>of</strong> salt marshes and estuaries. Where native, Spartinas are uniformly valued, mostlyfor defining and solidifying <strong>the</strong> shore. The potential to terrestrialize <strong>the</strong> shore was <strong>the</strong> rationale <strong>of</strong>many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> scores <strong>of</strong> Spartina introductions. In a time <strong>of</strong> rising sea levels, <strong>the</strong>se plants are valued asa barrier to <strong>the</strong> sea in native areas and in China and Europe where <strong>the</strong>y have been cultivated. Incontrast, in North America, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and in some parts <strong>of</strong> China,nonnative Spartinas are seen as a bane both to ecology and to human uses <strong>of</strong> salt marshes andestuaries” (Strong and Ayres 2009).Three conferences on Spartina were held spread should be developed to understandduring <strong>the</strong> last two decades to detail current population dynamics that could inform controlunderstanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biological, ecological, and strategies. Attendees recommended <strong>the</strong>se basicpolitical repercussions <strong>of</strong> invasive Spartina and its steps to address invasive Spartina control: identifycontrol. The first international conference on a lead agency, appoint a single person to be ainvasive Spartina was held in Seattle, Washington, “Spartina Czar,” inventory <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> invasion,USA in 1990 (Mumford et al. 1991). In addition to identify routes <strong>of</strong> spread, enlist public support,organizers, <strong>the</strong>re were 31 attendees, 17 evaluate various control methods, and continuepresentations, and discussion on outcomes <strong>of</strong> four workgroup discussions.regional strategy workgroups (all on <strong>the</strong> Pacific The second conference was held in Olympia,coast <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States). While most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Washington in 1997 (Patten 1997). There werepresenters were local to Washington State, 130 attendees from five countries (United States,Spartina researchers also came from <strong>the</strong> U.S. East Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and UnitedCoast, <strong>the</strong> United Kingdom and New Zealand. Kingdom) at <strong>the</strong> 29 presentations. Like <strong>the</strong> firstMany questions were posed at <strong>the</strong> conference. conference, it included presentations on invasiveAttendees deliberated on potential changes to <strong>the</strong> Spartina biology, distribution, impacts, andhabitat (sedimentation rates and detrital control. However, <strong>the</strong> 1997 conference also hadbreakdown) and fauna (invertebrates, fish, and presentations addressing <strong>the</strong> “political ecology <strong>of</strong>birds) as a result <strong>of</strong> invasion, and during and Spartina control” (Perkins 1997). Topics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sefollowing control. As well, questions arose on <strong>the</strong> papers included public activities, and riskefficacies <strong>of</strong> biological, chemical and mechanical assessment associated with control measures; “<strong>the</strong>control methods, and potential constraints on hysteria over <strong>the</strong> cordgrass” (Cohen 1997) andmethod — environmental, political and/or “<strong>the</strong> crisis <strong>of</strong> civil dialogue” (Markham 1997)economic. It was agreed that models <strong>of</strong> Spartina were noted. New topics at <strong>the</strong> 1997 conferencevii