Invasive species expert to speak at ecology symposium

A leading authority on biological invasions, one of the hottest issues today in ecological science and management, will be the keynote speaker Thursday-Friday, Oct. 23-24, at UW–Madison’s annual fall ecology research symposium.

Dan Simberloff, the Nancy Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Studies and director of the Institute for Biological Invasions at the University of Tennessee, will give two free public lectures:

* “We Can Win the War Against Introduced Species,” 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, 145 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Dr.

* “Invasion Biology: Is It All Just Disguised Racism and Xenophobia?” 3:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, in 1610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Dr. From 1-1:30 p.m. in the same location, UW–Madison faculty members from a variety of academic departments will describe their current ecological research. That session is also free and open to the public.

Simberloff has served on several national and international advisory groups concerned with biological invasions – the introduction and rapid population growth of plant, animal or other species into areas they had not previously inhabited. Such invasions are considered second only to habitat destruction in their negative effects on native plants and animals, and even on entire landscapes.

Invasive species in Wisconsin range from garlic mustard, an aggressive woodland plant that crowds out native wildflowers and tree seedlings, to zebra mussels, barnacle-like shellfish that can quickly infest lakes and rivers, causing severe ecological and economic damage.

The symposium is organized by the UW–Madison Ecology Group, which includes faculty and academic staff members from throughout the campus, and is cosponsored by the University Lectures Committee and a number of university departments.

For more information, contact the symposium coordinator, Amy Martin, (608) 265-6712 or meg@mail.ies.wisc.edu.