Welcome to the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR), established in 1999 and managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The Grand Bay NERR is comprised of approximately 18,000 acres and contains pine savannas, salt marshes, salt pannes, bays and bayous as well as terrestrial habitats that are unique to the coastal zone.
Forest ecosystems in coastal Mississippi (like those contained within GBNERR) and the rest of the U.S.A. are under increasing pressure from invasive species. In fact, several tree species native to the area surrounding this cache are under extreme threat from the redbay ambrosia beetle and a fungus it carries. Together, they cause laurel wilt disease. Laurel wilt disease can kill all species of trees and shrubs in the family Lauraceae that have been tested thus far. This list includes redbay, swampbay, sassafras, spicebush, and avocado. Avocado groves in south Florida have already been decimated, and growers will have an uphill battle to control this problem. Other avocado producing regions (like California, and the world's largest producer...Mexico) don't have this problem yet, but could be decimated if the disease is spread there as well.
Many other plants and animals could also be impacted, as many mammals and songbirds rely on redbay/swampbay fruits (drupes) as a food source. Other species, such as the Palamedes swallowtail butterfly rely on the dying host trees as a food source. Likewise, the native yellow fringed orchid relies on the Palamedes swallowtail to pollinate its flowers. As you can see, the impacts are severe and wide-ranging!
Laurel wilt disease has killed more than a half-billion trees since arriving in the USA in around 2002. A small number of beetles were introduced, likely via cargo ship. The females can clone themselves (as can the fungus), essentially meaning an entire plant family is threatened because of the introduction of as few as one tiny beetle (1/4 of an uncooked grain of rice)! In 2009, it was discovered near Saucier, MS after apparently having made a 300-mile jump, likely aided by human transport of firewood or other infested materials. Much of what we know about the impacts of this invasive species was discovered through research carried out right here at the GBNERR. When enjoying the outdoors, people can help minimize the impacts of invasive pests like the redbay ambrosia beetle by not moving firewood. Buying firewood close to where you burn it (and not bringing leftover firewood home) helps to minimize problems such as these.
For more Info:
Grand Bay NERR
Laurel Wilt
Don't Move Firewood