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Invasive/Exotic Plant Protocol

Invasive/Exotic Plant Protocol. Donovan Craig R.A., UNLV Scott Abella , P.I. UNLV; Sara McPherson G.A., UNLV;

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Invasive/Exotic Plant Protocol

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  1. Invasive/Exotic Plant Protocol Donovan Craig R.A., UNLV Scott Abella, P.I. UNLV; Sara McPherson G.A., UNLV; Jean Pan, MOJN Ecologist; Bob Truitt, MOJN Data Manager; Jennifer Burke, MOJN Protocol Data Manager; Dana Robinson, MOJN GIS; Laura Steadman, MOJN GIS; Wendy Trowbridge, Springs Vegetation PD; Burt Pendleton, Integrated Upland PD; Geoff Moret, Water-related PD; Penny Latham, PWR Coordinator; and Nita Tallent-Halsell, MOJN Coordinator

  2. Rationale • >40 million hectares infested (~4% of US); annual increases of 8-20% (FICMNEW- Federal Interagency Committee on Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds) • ~ 3-4% of NPS lands • Next to habitat loss, invasive species are a primary threat to global biodiversity (Scott and Wilcove 1988). • Parks have mission to maintain natural resources “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

  3. Species-Area relationships

  4. Monitoring Questions/Objectives (1) • Where are incipient populations of targeted (high-priority species of greatest management concern) invasive plants located in MOJN parks? • Detect incipient populations and new occurrences of targeted invasive plants before they become established in prioritized search areas (vector corridors and areas of high management significance) in MOJN parks. • ED vs. S&T (distinct components)

  5. Roadsides, Trails, (VECTOR CORRIDORS) Moist areas with disturbance

  6. Site priorities

  7. Monitoring Questions/Objectives (2) • What is the trend in abundance and frequency of established target invasive plants in MOJN parks? • Estimate the status and trend of established target invasive plants frequency and abundance in shrub and riparian communities and other priority management sites identified by the prioritization process. • S&T

  8. Trends of established species? High bars mostly Bromus spp.

  9. Monitoring Questions/Objectives (3) • What is the relationship between exotic plant management practices and target IEPs, secondary invasive plant species and non-target native species? • Estimate the trend of established target invasive plants abundance, secondary invasive plant abundance and native plant abundance following pest management practices in MOJN parks. • Simply a before and after measurable trend- not a controlled study.

  10. Which Parks and why? • S&T for those parks/sites covered by Springs and IU protocols. • All parks need early detection efforts. • Threats of certain exotic species similar for many parks, but many differing degrees of threats (Early Detection vs. Status and Trends) • For example: Brassica tournefortii at LAKE vs. DEVA • So question is: Which species and why? • Plus: Which areas within parks and why?

  11. Species list development

  12. Sampling Design • Status and Trends monitoring integrated with other vegetation protocols. • Focusing on established species of high ecological concerns (some beyond management feasibility). • Early Detection methods following the “Weed Sentry” program model (with adjustments). • Focusing most on incipient invasions. • Should not exclude certain exotics based on management feasibility. • Some level of measure for all (P/A).

  13. Sampling Design: Weed Sentry Model

  14. Sampling Design: Weed Sentry Model

  15. Sampling Design: Weed Sentry Model • Roads, trails, shorelines/riparian corridors, and other high disturbance areas (e.g. developments) • Due to slower rate of travel (when driving), generally exclude major heavily travelled roads (safety issue). • These get plenty of observation as is. • Depending on park resources and length/type of routes, prioritize routes.

  16. Sampling Design: Weed Sentry Model • Lessons learned from WS program: • Do not exclude exotic plants from data • (at minimum P/A) • If time, include targeted “off-road” searches • Perpendicular transects • Better repeatability of measurement data • %cover vs. coarse abundance categories

  17. PARAMETERS & MEASUREMENTS • Presence/Absence for all exotics at a minimum along ED routes. • Measures of abundance for target incipient invasive exotics. • Depends on species for type of measure (% cover, density, census) • Patches of herbaceous weeds (% infested area of gross area). • Measure standard plot for repeatability (10x10m)

  18. MEASUREMENT SCHEDULE • Based on climate and elevation gradients • Based on plant life forms and phenology • Exotic winter annuals in lower MOJN: can start in late winter/early spring (varies with annual moisture, more time constraint). • Perennials most often associated with higher moisture regimes (springs, riparian; less time constraint). • GRBA shorter growing season (summer park)

  19. PERSONNEL NEEDS • Parks will be responsible for Early Detection staff (volunteers??). • LAKE has “Resource Steward” program • Great citizen-science opportunities • NCC, ACE work crews • I&M crews for Integrated Upland and Springs/Riparian Vegetation will cover Status and Trends monitoring.

  20. TIME LINE Early Detection Protocol Narrative and SOPs

  21. DATA MANAGEMENT • Ideas still in development. • Ideally, we would want to have a centralized database (easily accessible to all, web interface). • Some crossover of ED with S&T • I&M (S&T) crews (Springs Veg, IU) would report incidental observations for Early Detection (“trip report”).

  22. DATA MANAGEMENT

  23. COMPLIANCE • For Status & Trends, this will fall under other vegetation protocols. • For Early Detection, parks are responsible.

  24. QA/QC • Adequate training of observers and field guides should improve quality of data. • Photos and/or voucher specimens taken for “unknown” plants. • Centralized Database??- would need strict QA/QC measures.

  25. STATUS OF PROTOCOL AND REPORTS • Major network-wide inventory of known exotic species and threats. • Much information about each species (biology, distributions, habits) • Broken down to individual park inventories • Wrapping up prioritization of species (first draft). • ED narrative (early sections) coming along. • Field guide for crews and training purposes

  26. STATUS OF PROTOCOL AND REPORTS

  27. STATUS OF PROTOCOL AND REPORTS

  28. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION Donovan Craig: donovan.craig@unlv.edu Scott Abella: scott.abella@unlv.edu (702) 895-5163

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