Barry Rice

Barry Rice is an astronomer. How he came to work as an invasive species specialist with The Nature Conservancy is a long story. He is former Director of Conservation Programs for the International Carnivorous Plant Society, and was the managing editor of its peer-reviewed botanical journal Carnivorous Plant Newsletter. An accomplished botanical photographer, his work can be seen at his on-line gallery and carnivorous plant FAQ. His first book on carnivorous plants was published by Timber Press in 2006.

Barry's Posts

As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap

February 9th, 2009

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Is there a statute of limitations for poaching? You see, one of my interests is carnivorous plants, and I’m particularly fond of pitcher plants in the genus Sarracenia. (Proof: I own Sarracenia.com!) These plants are easy to grow, and there’s a large horticultural community that loves them. They’re great plants — dramatic, showy, and just plain [...] More

Here, Fishy Fishy Fishy

January 26th, 2009

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Maybe it’s because I actually bought the Billy Idol Christmas Album. Or maybe it’s because my street skates have wheels about 7” in diameter. But I’ve got a reputation for being fascinated by the absurd. That may explain why, within the last week, three (count ‘em, three) associates have notified me about PETA’s sea kitten campaign. If [...] More

When Invasives Go Bad. Really Bad.

January 16th, 2009

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This week, scientists at the Australian Antarctic Division published a paper in the Journal of Applied Ecology about invasive species, relating a story that boggles the mind. Start with Macquarie Island, located between New Zealand and Antarctica, and the property of Tasmania. Its surface area is only about 128 square kilometers, so you really have to be [...] More

Forgive Me Mother Nature, For I Have Sinned

January 10th, 2009

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I’m pretty good at Being Green. I rollerblade to/from work; I recycle and compost; I buy organic; I try to reuse, instead of buying new. (Although that last bit may reflect my income more than natural proclivity.) But I think I may have undone all my good karma with a single, terrible transgression… My lovely wife and I [...] More

Enough With the ‘War on Weeds,’ Already!

December 31st, 2008

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Just about every popular article talking about invasive species management uses the same tiresome clichés of wars and battles. It was cute once, but it has gotten old. Worse still, these clichés are now threatening to bite us in the bum. OK, I admit that I used the lame War on Weeds terminology myself; it was early [...] More

Invasive Species: Keeping It Real

December 17th, 2008

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Cowardly euphemisms annoy me. You know what I’m talking about — the politically correct but emotionally insincere phrases we use when discussing uncomfortable topics such as physical disabilities or losing a job. Cloying and irritating euphemisms often insinuate themselves into the language of conservation workers who are working on invasive species issues. And if the work involves [...] More