Transcript AIBS2 - UConn - University of Connecticut

IPANE - A regional
approach to rapid
assessment of new
incursions of potentially
invasive plant species
Les Mehrhoff University of Connecticut
AIBS Meeting
Washington, DC
17 MARCH 2004
Dedication
To Field Botanists
past and present -
The Front Line of Defense
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
IPANE
IPANE Project Participants
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology, University of Connecticut
Homer Babbidge Library
Center for Cartographic Analysis
 New England Wild Flower Society
 Silvio O. Conte National Fish and
Wildlife Refuge, US F&WS
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Primary Start-up Funding:
United Stated Department of Agriculture –
Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service
Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food
Systems
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Some Project Partners
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FWS
USDA
USGS-BRD
NIISS
NBII
NPS
FS
FICMNEW
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NEWFS
NIPGro
TNC
FNA
NATURESERVE
NEBIS
CIPWG
MNLA
MASS DF&W
IPANE Goals
New England Early Detection Network
 Gather current & historic distributional data
 Make information available
 Conduct & encourage scientific research
 Increase public awareness
 Train volunteer spotters
 “Interoperability”
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IPANE Project Components
Atlas of invasive or potentially invasive
plants and noxious weeds in New England
 Interactive website
 Volunteer training - NEWFS
 Research – UCONN
 Outreach - NIPGro
 Regional Early Detection Network
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User Community
Academia
 Conservationists
 Land Managers
 Government Agencies
 Regulators & Legislators
 Green Industries
 Public
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Data Warehouse
IN
 Herbarium records
 Current field data
 Current research
 Invasive species information
OUT
 Species Catalog
 Collections databases
 Maps
 Invasive species information
Participating Herbaria
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NEBC, GH, A
MAINE
NHA
VT
MASS
KIRI
CONN
YU
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HCOA
NHNE
LSC
NASC
SSHN
WSCH
BRU
NCBS
CCNL
BLK
NY
others
Volunteer Network
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450 in 3 years – 25 per state per year
Volunteer coordinator
Staff-run training sessions
Advanced training workshops
Terrestrial and Aquatic species
On-line reporting forms
Verification and Quality Control
Early detection species training
The Invasive Plant Atlas for
New England Website
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http:// invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane
Maps & database
Catalog of species
Project information
Announcement and unmoderated lists
Noxious weed information
Volunteer support
Quizzes and “Weed Wisdom!”
Spontaneous & Unsolicited
Reports
“Report sighting” button on website
 Verification
IPANE staff
Regional herbaria
FNA authors
 Initiate Rapid Assessment process
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IPANE Catalog of Species
Scientific and common names
 Diagnostic & incursion photographs
 Descriptive text
 Historical information
 Similar species
 Hard copy references and hot links
 Management links
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IPANE Databases
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Herbarium specimen database
 +/- 20 regional herbaria
 Capture all label data
 Georeferenced: 35 K georeference points
Current field data
 Field data from trained volunteers
 Georeferenced from GPS or maps
 Verified by IPANE staff
Other existing databases ??
IPANE Maps
Occurrences
 Herbarium records, current reports, or both
 State, county, town, & site occurrence
 Different scales; different kinds of maps
 ?? Automated
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IPANE
The Invasive Plant Atlas of
New England Project
An Early Detection
and
Rapid Assessment Network
for
New England
In theory, it’s simple
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Detect new, potentially invasive incursions
early
 Assess
the situation rapidly
Respond quickly and effectively
 Establish long-term monitoring
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IPANE Early Detection Aids
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List of “Early Detection Species”
Database of status in all 6 New England states
Easy online reporting mechanism
Early detection protocols
IPANE volunteer network
Predictive modeling
Invasive Species Alerts
Public awareness information
Rapid Assessment Scenario
Early detection of potential incursion
 Confirmation of species identification
 Site visit; assessment of situation
 Preparation of action plan
 Management, control, or eradication?
 Monitor the site
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Rapid Assessment Tools
Guidelines for rapid assessment developed
with USGS
 Botanists on call for verification
 Knowledgeable Rapid Assessment Team
 Person responsible for preparing an Action
Plan
 Management and control expertise
 Committed long-term monitors
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The importance
of herbarium
specimens…
G. Safford Torrey Herbarium
Identification & Verification
Identification tools – XID Program
 IPANE staff
 Participating state & regional herbaria
 Flora of North America Project authors
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IPANE Website - Rapid
Assessment Page
List of “Early Detection Species”
 Database of status in all 6 states
 Early detection protocols
 “Report sightings” buttons - How to easily
report a possible new incursion
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Predictive Modeling
Using known distribution and existing
ecological data
 Predict distribution or habitats in order to
focus further field work
 Field checked by trained volunteers
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Stinking Willie
Senecio jacobaea L.
A TEST CASE
Tansy Ragwort
Native to Europe
New England (ME, MA)
 NY, NJ, PA, IL, MI, MT, ID
 Canadian Maritime Provinces
 Pacific States & adjacent Canada
 Australia, New Zealand, Japan
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Senecio jacobaea in New England
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1903
Portland, Maine
Senecio jacobaea in New England
1903
 1910
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Portland, Maine
Danvers, Massachusetts
Senecio jacobaea in New England
1903
 1910
 1938
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Portland, Maine
Danvers, Massachusetts
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Senecio jacobaea in New England
1903
 1910
 1938
 1968
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Portland, Maine
Danvers, Massachusetts
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Senecio jacobaea in New England
1903
 1910
 1938
 1968
 2000
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Portland, Maine
Danvers, Massachusetts
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Bar Harbor, Maine
Senecio jacobaea in New England
1903
 1910
 1938
 1968
 2000
 2002
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Portland, Maine
Danvers, Massachusetts
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Bar Harbor, Maine
Barre, Massachusetts
July, 2003
“Early” Detection; report
Specimen Collected
Verification
Rapid Assessment Team
Landowner
 Botanist
 Weed scientist
 Control expert
 State (or federal) regulatory official
 Other stakeholders - NRCS
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Rapid Assessment Team
site visit
Some questions for the Rapid
Assessment Team
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Is the plant identified correctly?
What is its historic, current, and predicted
distribution at different scales?
What are the biological attributes that make it
invasive?
History and vectors; where did it come from and
how did it get here?
What is its expected potential for dispersion to
other sites?
More Questions
What elements of biodiversity might be
affected by its spread and establishment?
 Can it be controlled effectively?
 What will it cost to control?
 Who will be responsible for its control at
this site?
at new incursions?
 Are there problems created by control?
 What happens if we don’t take action now?
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Assessment Recommendations
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Site and incursion specific
Attempt to determine the history of the incursion
Check surrounding land for additional incursions
Check status of other New England occurrences
Control, aimed at removal
Neighboring landowner education; outreach
Control Recommendations
Mowing
 Pre-determined time
 Pay landowner for labor
 Avoids herbicides
 Relatively inexpensive
 Likely to quickly lower numbers
 Prevents spread of wind-dispersed fruits
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Recent Reports
1 misidentification – Sonchus arvernsis
 1 correct report – Boston Harbor Islands
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Senecio jacobaea in New England
1903
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 1938
 1968
 2000
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Portland, Maine
Danvers, Massachusetts
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Bar Harbor, Maine
Barre, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
Still To Do…
Additional field work
 Gather ecological data
 Implement action plan
 Predictive modeling
 Continue to support landowner’s goals
 Distribute more “Wanted” posters
 Eradicate Stinking Willie
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In Conclusion
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Early Detection and Rapid Assessment can be
very effective tools
Lots of trained observers out in the field are
needed
Have an quick and easy reporting mechanism for
new or unknown plants
Rapid Assessment must involve a wide range of
knowledgeable people and local stakeholders
The public must be engaged in the process
Follow-up monitoring is mandatory
Contact IPANE http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/
 E-mail: [email protected]
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