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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
John Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 8 Nov 2000 11:42:49 EST
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From time to time, one hears postulations that honey bees make a major
contribution to the problem of invasive weeds in this country. This theory
may be a factor for some communities and government organizations in how they
regulate beekeeping activities. Here's some good science to further debunk
such theories.
From an environmental media listserv:

NEW LEAD ON HOW INVASIVE KNAPWEED SPREADS

A study in the Oct. 20 2000 issue of Science says that
diffuse knapweed (a notoriously invasive weed spreading in
at least 23 states in the West, Midwest, and Northeast) is
thriving partly because its roots secrete chemicals that
stifle competing plants -- a process called "allelopathy."
However, this form of chemical warfare doesn't work on
nearly identical plants from the weed's native Eurasian
habitat. ("Invasive Plants Versus Their New and Old
Neighbors: A Mechanism for Exotic Invasion," pgs. 421 and
521. Available online by subscription:
http://www.sciencemag.org.)

A new application of an old research technique helped
scientists discover the tricks of diffuse knapweed.
Scientists are investigating the chemicals that this weed
secretes. The study's authors are researching other
knapweeds and leafy spurge for similar actions. They have
not proposed any weed control strategies that might take
advantage of their discovery.

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