Terrestrial Terror Round 2: European Starling vs. Gypsy Moth

By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason

Editors note: Great Lakes SmackDown! Terrestrial Terror is an ongoing Great Lakes Echo series. It was a crapshoot, but Shakespeare’s Darling whipped The Egg-beater with its skills of damaging crops and contaminating areas with diseased droppings.  The Extreme Defoliator overpowered The Stale Wind, which was just a not-so-stinky nuisance in comparison. The European Starling causes millions of dollars of agricultural damage a year and is extremely adaptable. But millions have also been spent on Gypsy Moth research the last 10 years and in larvae form can defoliate and kill trees.

Terrestrial Terror Round 2: Mute Swan vs. Emerald Ash Borer

 

By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason

Editors note: Great Lakes SmackDown! Terrestrial Terror is an on going Great Lakes Echo series. With an aggressive demeanor, The Silent Foul breezed by The Warbler’s Woe in Round 1. And the Emerald Ash Borer hit a home run against the little leaguer Miley Cyrex. But which formidable foe is feisty enough to fight its way into Round 3?

Great Lakes SmackDown! on WDET

Looks like the Great Lakes SmackDown! Terrestrial Terror is getting some regional attention. Don’t miss this interview with Echo’s Alice Rossignol on WDET based out of Wayne State University.

Last chance to fill out a SmackDown! Terrestrial Terror bracket

Which terrestrial terror is the most destructive Great Lakes invasive species? You have a few more days to figure it out. Please turn in your brackets, found here, by Monday. We’ll declare the Round 1 winners and have readers and scientists discuss the “land brawls” on Tuesday. Will the emerald ash borer defeat the sirex woodwasp?

Terrestrial Terror Round 1: Miscellaneous mayhem

Editor’s note: Great Lakes SmackDown Terrestrial Terror is an ongoing Great Lakes Echo series. Brackets can be filled out until Friday, March 18. Find more information here. By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason

The heavyweights and wildcards take to the ring in the final land brawls of round one of the Great Lakes SmackDown Terrestrial Terror. FERAL SWINE vs.

Terrestrial Terror Round 1: Plant peril

Editor’s note: Great Lakes SmackDown Terrestrial Terror is an ongoing Great Lakes Echo series. Brackets can be filled out until Friday, March 18. Find more information here. By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason

It’s time for the plants and plant-killing exotics to take root in the SmackDown. PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE vs.

Michigan’s oil spill: a scientist gets sucked in

Steve Hamilton is a Michigan State University professor of zoology based at Kellogg Biological Station, and president of the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council.

He became deeply involved in cleaning up oil that spilled last July in wetlands near Marshall, MI, and he described the experience at a recent seminar.