Meteors, space aliens, and other exotic encounters

Abstract

Exotics have had a big impact on our environment. If you do not think so, just look at how many people believe that humans would not exist on this planet were it not for exotics. This belief centers on two main theories: (1) that humans could not have evolved were it not for a huge meteor from outer space striking the earth resulting in extinction of the dinasours, the rise of mammals, and the eventual appearance of humans; and (2) that the development of humans or human ancestors was the result of intervention by aliens from outer space; certainly, this would have been the ultimate exotic introduction! In any case, this is the last you will hear of meteors or space aliens. That is not the kind of exotic encounter you will hear about during the rest of this conference. The exotics we are talking about are just alien plants and animals from other continents. Sometimes though, when I think about what has happened in the past and what we are faced with in the future, these exotics seem almost as scary (and a lot more real) than dinasour killing meteors or space aliens.

Parent Publication

• Exotic pests of eastern forests conference proceedings

Citation

Hofacker, Tom. 1998. Meteors, space aliens, and other exotic encounters. In: Britton, Kerry O., ed. Exotic pests of eastern forests conference proceedings; 1997 April 8-10; Nashville, TN. U.S. Forest Service and Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council: 43-44.