WHAT: "Alien Species in Coastal Waters: What Are the
Real Ecological and Social Costs?"A symposium panel presentation at American Association for Advancement of Science Annual Meeting
WHEN: February 18, 2000 , 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Marriott Wardman Park, Washington D.C., American
Association for the Advancement of Science Meeting
DETAILS: The premise of the panel is that invasion biology is
a young science, and that there are many conceptual as well as more properly
scientific questions to be answered as the discipline matures. The panel:
Greg Ruiz,
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center -- a noted invasion biologist who
has just completed a study of invasive species in The Chesapeake Bay. David
Pimentel, Cornell University -- an ecologist who has looked at both the
economic and the ecological costs of nonindigenous species. Jodi
Cassell, California Sea Grant Extension -- someone who works "on
the ground" with stakeholders who are directly affected by exotic species
and associated regulations, etc. MarK
Sagoff, University of Maryland -- a philosopher who probes the
underlying conceptual framework of many economic, environmental and ecological
issues. He asks very provocative questions about whether or not
"exotics" are really any different from "natives" -- and if
they are, now exactly do we make that determination? He points to many
examples of plants and animals we have been intentionally introduced to the U.S.
-- like blue grass in the "Blue Grass State". A copy of
Sagoff's thought-provoking paper is on the web at: <http://www.puaf.umd.edu/IPPP/fall1999/exotic_species.htm>
Questions or Additional Information: Contact:Sea Grant National Media Relations Ben Sherman 202-662-7095 or
Maryland Sea Grant Communications Jack Greer 301-405-6377.
Contact Information:Ben Sherman, Media Relations Coordinator
National Sea Grant College Program
841 National Press Building
529 14th Street NW
Washington D.C. 20045-2277
Phone: 202-662-7095 Fax: 202-662-7093
E-Mail: Sherman@nasw.org
WWW News Media Center Site: <http://www.seagrantnews.org>
