April 2005    

Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States Editors: Eric M. Coombs, Janet K. Clark, Gary L. Piper, Alfred F. Cofrancesco Jr. Publisher: Oregon State University Press $45.00 Paper (467 p.) ISBN: 087071029X B&T         YBP Reviewed by Lionel R. Chute, Administrator, NH Natural Heritage Bureau A thorough introduction to the growing practice of carefully selecting living organisms to combat invasive plants, this book could serve nicely as an introductory textbook for aspiring entomologists, land managers, weed scientists and weed control technicians. Representing a collaboration of sixty-three authors, the book consists of three sections. Section I, The Theory and Practice of Biological Control, contains sixteen short chapters on the topic, including: host specificity testing; plant pathology; release, handling, establishment and monitoring of agents; nontarget impacts; administrative procedures; and the International Code of Best Practices for Classical Biological Control of Weeds. Section II, Target Plants and the Biological Control Agents, profiles thirty-nine plant species that have become invasive in the United States and that are now being controlled to varying degrees with biological control agents. Stylistically different from Section I, each profile in Section II features color photographs along with descriptive information on the plant's biology and known U.S. infestations, as well as the biology and effects of biological control agents. Section III, New and Ongoing Biological Control Projects in the United States, discusses projects for fifteen target weeds that are in progress, but for which releases of biological control agents have not yet been made. Sponsored in part by the Western Society of Weed Science, this book is unabashedly biased in favor of biological control, promoting the practice as both ecologically sound and economically beneficial. The controversy that continues to surround the issue is neither discussed nor explored, other than to advocate rigorous procedures for the selection and introduction of biological control agents to infested areas. Nonetheless, Section I of the book represents a very thorough treatment of the theory and practice of releasing non-native organisms (such as insects and diseases) to control non-native and invasive plants, including numerous concepts and recommendations aimed at minimizing negative impacts to the extent possible. Within just a few years, as new methods of biological control are developed, tested and deployed, the information in this book will become seriously dated. But for the present, Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States provides an informative and comprehensive snapshot of the evolving discipline of biological control. Published by YBP Library Services 999 Maple St., Contoocook, NH 03229 USA v: 800.258.3774   f: 603.746.5628 w: www.ybp.com   e: academia@ybp.com All rights reserved.