Melissa Smith
@melissacatsmith.bsky.social
Ecologist, Biological control of Invasive plants, Professional leisure athlete, Instigator, Nature Lover. All views and opinions are my own
Still out here getting in really needed water hyacinth research on Lake Okeechobee
December 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Still out here getting in really needed water hyacinth research on Lake Okeechobee
Biological control researchers from three continents gathering to celebrate #waterhyacinth and the perennial efforts to control it. #biologicalcontrol #biocontrol #aquaticweeds
April 24, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Biological control researchers from three continents gathering to celebrate #waterhyacinth and the perennial efforts to control it. #biologicalcontrol #biocontrol #aquaticweeds
Excellent meta analysis by Stiling and LaJeunesse detailing how #biologicalcontrol insects have a relatively larger impact on their targets than comparable native insect/plant pairs. Beetles and plant hoppers are particularly impactful. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Biocontrol insects have stronger effects than non-biocontrol insects on plants - BioControl
We used meta-analyses to compare the effects of 44 single insect species used as biocontrol agents against invasive weeds with the effects of 51 species of non-biocontrol insects on native plants. The...
link.springer.com
March 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Excellent meta analysis by Stiling and LaJeunesse detailing how #biologicalcontrol insects have a relatively larger impact on their targets than comparable native insect/plant pairs. Beetles and plant hoppers are particularly impactful. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
In honor of #nationalinvasivespeciesawarenessweek #nisaw, I'm excited to present our latest article outlining arguments for deploying and studying #biocontrol options earlier in, or even before, a plant invades. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Preemptive and proactive application of biological control for weeds: An argument for swifter action to aid conservation efforts
Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a frequent consequence of global connectivity and present significant threats to biodiversity, amplifying impacts fro…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 26, 2025 at 2:59 AM
In honor of #nationalinvasivespeciesawarenessweek #nisaw, I'm excited to present our latest article outlining arguments for deploying and studying #biocontrol options earlier in, or even before, a plant invades. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Melissa Smith
"Among accomplished researchers, the fear is that this coming generation of scientists will look overseas or leave their fields entirely, endangering America’s multigenerational standard as the leader in scientific research." ICYMI @samsteindc.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/the-doge-b...
The DOGE Brain Drain Has Begun
It’s not just jobs cut and agencies gutted. It’s the talent that will be lost for generations to come.
www.thebulwark.com
February 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
"Among accomplished researchers, the fear is that this coming generation of scientists will look overseas or leave their fields entirely, endangering America’s multigenerational standard as the leader in scientific research." ICYMI @samsteindc.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/the-doge-b...
Fla's Everglades comprise the entire southern part of the state. Everglades National Park, established in 1947, is heralded as a biodiversity marvel. During the 1990's much of it was covered in invasive melaleuca. Now, melaleuca is reduced by 95% due in large part to biological control. #biocontrol
February 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Fla's Everglades comprise the entire southern part of the state. Everglades National Park, established in 1947, is heralded as a biodiversity marvel. During the 1990's much of it was covered in invasive melaleuca. Now, melaleuca is reduced by 95% due in large part to biological control. #biocontrol
Seeing water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) in its natural habitat was a lightbulb moment for me. So grateful to FuEDEI for thier help. #invasiveplants #biologicalcontrol #classicalbiologicalcontrol #biocontrolofweeds
February 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Seeing water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) in its natural habitat was a lightbulb moment for me. So grateful to FuEDEI for thier help. #invasiveplants #biologicalcontrol #classicalbiologicalcontrol #biocontrolofweeds