Transcript Invaders of Texas

Using citizen science data to update the
distribution of key invasive plants in Texas
H. Travis Gallo
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
at the University of Texas at Austin
What is an Invasive Species?
An "invasive species" is defined as a species that is non-native (or alien) to the
ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to
cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. (Executive
Order 13112).
Ailanthus altissima
Arundo donax
Carduus nutans
Lonicera japonica
"On a global basis...the two great destroyers of biodiversity are, first habitat
destruction and, second, invasion by exotic species”
- E.O. Wilson
Texas Issues (circa 2005)
1. There is not a definitive source
for IS information in Texas.
2. There is a need for more
communication among the
state’s IS stakeholders
3. A coordinated response to
address IS on a statewide level
has yet to materialize.
4. There is a gap in our
knowledge about the
distribution and biology of IS.
Citizen Science
• Citizen scientistvolunteers who
participate as field
assistants in scientific
studies
• Why not experts?
– Time
– Space
– $$$$$
Invaders of Texas:
Satellites
Invaders of Texas: Recruitment and Equipment
• Recruitment
–
–
–
–
Texas Master Naturalist
NPSOT
Nature Centers
Conservation Volunteer
Based Groups
– Online “Voyager”
Satellite
• Equipment
– GPS (optional)
– Digital camera
– Datasheet
Invaders of Texas: Data Collection
Invaders of Texas: Detection Database
Tracks species observations
submitted by volunteers.
Provides the public with full
access to citizen science
data.
Links to species
observation detail page
plant detail page and
validation information.
Procedure based on Nature
Conservancy Weed
Information Management
System.
Invaders of Texas: Species Observation
Fields:
Species
Patch Type
Abundance
Disturbance
Collector
Satellite
Date & Time
GPS Coordinates
Location Notes
Validation
Map
Image
Invaders of Texas: Mapping
Google Maps
Interactive and
searchable by
Species or Satellite
and linked to
individual records.
Invaders of Texas: Species Observation
Fields:
Species
Patch Type
Abundance
Disturbance
Collector
Satellite
Date & Time
GPS Coordinates
Location Notes
Validation
Map
Image
Methods: Mapping distributions
• Picked 5 species
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)
Melia azedarach (Chinaberry tree)
Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow)
Ligustrum lucidum (Glossy Privet)
Arundo donax (Giant Reed)
• Combined 2 distribution references
– USDA PLANTS Database
– Atlas of Vascular Plants of Texas (Turner et al., 2003)
Comparing Turner et al. and USDA
Invaders data
• Export species data
www.texasinvasives.org
• Import to ArcGIS 9.3
• Create county maps
• Compare
Results: Triadica sebifera
•Invaders – 44
•Unique Invaders26 (40%)
•USDA/Turner – 40
(60%)
65% increase in
recorded
distribution from
USDA &Turner
Results: Ligustrum lucidum
•Invaders – 16
•Unique Invaders12 (48%)
•USDA/Turner – 13
(52%)
75% increase in
recorded
distribution from
USDA &Turner
Results: Arundo donax
•Invaders – 80
•Unique Invaders58 (60%)
•USDA/Turner – 39
(40%)
149% increase in
recorded
distribution from
USDA &Turner
Moral of the Story?
• Citizen scientist are
contributing valuable
information
• National Contribution
(EDDMapS)
Limitations
LILU2 observations
n = 322
• Distribution of
citizen scientist
• $$$
Future needs
• Expansion of citizen
scientists
• Target counties
• Keeping current citizen
scientist more engaged
– Currently working with
Cornell Lab of
Ornithology
Future goals
• Expand reporting to not
just plants
• Create a sentinel
network for early
detection of pest
• Create a better network
between citizen
scientist and land
managers
Partners
The Invaders of Texas Program is currently
funded by the Texas Forest Service and Forest
Health Protection
The 2009 Invaders of Texas Program was funded by the
Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Wildlife Diversity Conservation
Grants – Horned Lizard License Plate Fund