BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS - STEMMING THE TIDE IN FLORIDA

Invasive, adventive species present a significant challenge to environ mental resource managers. Unless this problem is addressed, natural ar eas face loss of biodiversity and habitat integrity. Traditional contr ol methods are often inappropriate or impractical for use in natural a reas. Strategies using biological control, a discipline of applied eco logy, offer the best hope for reducing deleterious impacts of invaders . Arguments by some ecologists that classical biological controls cont ribute to the problem appear unwarranted. These criticisms should not be dismissed out of hand, however. Instead, they should foster in bioc ontrol scientists a renewed dedication to the safe practice of their d iscipline and an increased concern for collateral impacts of released organisms on native species.