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Re: [RC] weed free - Eric RueterSteph - I never said that human's were not a factor, nor did I deny that there is a situation where "outside" forces (which includes animals, wind, rain and much of nature itself) act upon an area's environment. What I did, however, was question the validity of Rusty's comments which stated "Wind may blow the seeds around but seeds from other states or even areas within a state would simply never be present if we had not brought it." Wind, currents, rivers, birds, land animals (including humans) all transports seeds, that is at the very core of nature. Survival of the fittest, seeds develop all sorts of mechanisms so that they can be transported by moving objects. I used the most extreme example I could think of. The lowly coconut, carried thousands of miles to a remote island. For a much smaller scale, let's take Ed's hay field. He must constantly be on the lookout for "weeds" and banish them from his field. Where do they come from? Does some sneaky little Endurance rider purposely sling "poison poop" into his field? Or, do birds, deer, coyote and wind bring seed from his neighbors unkempt fields? How long does it take a weed to "march" across a vast area in one of those "Alberta clippers" that come out of Canada? To deny that there are natural forces at work, and only blame humans and their activities is a very big error. thanx eric Eric Rueter Rueter Consulting, Inc. Eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 865.988.4134(W) 865.599.3594(C) 865.986.5966(H) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steph Teeter" <stephteeter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 12:10 PM Subject: RE: [RC] weed free Eric - the ecology in the arid and semi-arid western states is extremely delicate, there is real validity to Rusty's comments. Exotic (non-native) species have completely changed much of the ecology in many western states, much of it is irreversible - e.g. perennial and bunchgrass steppes have transformed into annual grasslands (exotic annuals from grasslands in other parts of the world, often brought in on ships with animals and feed). Some of these grasses have a self-sustaining, self-perpetuating wildfire cycle. Native grasses can't compete. It really is a big deal in the west, and is one of the major issues the Forest Service (and to a lesser extent the BLM) has regarding camping, permits, trail use, etc. It is a big deal, and while there are many other western lands ecology issues (e.g. grazing) weed invasion is one that the agencies can sink their teeth into and they can easily create rules and regs and new legistlation (no major lobby interests at stake). Steph -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Eric Rueter Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 9:39 AM To: Rusty Toth; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] weed free Rusty Toth wrote: "Wind may blow the seeds around but seeds from other states or even areas within a state would simply never be present if we had not brought it." Poppy-cock.... If that's true then how do you explain coconut trees, and other flora growing on emerging islands in the South Pacific? Let me guess, an endurance dolphin rider brought them? Eric Rueter Rueter Consulting, Inc. Eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 865.988.4134(W) 865.599.3594(C) 865.986.5966(H) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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