Algae assault hits redwoods, firs

Sacramento Bee ^ | September 5, 2002 | Edie Lau

[farmfriend]

The pathogen that's killed oak trees by the tens of thousands on the Northern California coast also is infecting redwoods and Douglas firs -- two of the state's most valued trees -- researchers confirmed Wednesday.

Scientists from the University of California, Davis, and UC Berkeley said there's no evidence, however, that the fungus-like algae that causes Sudden Oak Death is killing the evergreen trees. The best-case scenario is that it will prove to cause only cosmetic damage.

[farmfriend]

The solution:

Natural Process

[farmfriend]

ping

[Post Toasties]

Supposedly, SODS is likely to be fatal to most species of oaks - hope it never appears east of the Rockies.

[Jeff Chandler]

The change could be as complex as global warming... or... fire suppression, logging and urbanization.

I intended to post a sarcastic reply that the algae problem was caused by global warming, but the writer beat me to it.

[Jeff Chandler]

Maybe scientists could genetically engineer an air-breathing Plecostomus?

[Carry_Okie]

For now, the state's strategy for controlling the spread of the organism is regulating the shipment of wood products from infested areas.

We have a pathogen that is almost certainly spread by birds and this is all they can think of.

Crooks.

[B4Ranch]

Are you positive that this pathogen isn't caused by rust from the sawmill blades or the buildup of algae in the sawmill ponds?