Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site: Year 2 (2009)
Young CC, Short MF, Morrison LW, Gross CS, Haack JL. 2010. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site: Year 2 (2009). Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2010/289. National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
During surveys in 2009, we documented 23 invasive exotic plant taxa in the restored prairie at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The most widespread and abundant of the exotic plant species observed included sweetclover, reed canarygrass, and smooth brome. Prevalent mainly in the western half of the prairie, sweetclover was established on at least 0.8 acres. Reed canarygrass and smooth brome each covered a minimum of 1 acre. Out of the 23 invasive exotic plants, 17 species each occurred on less than one acre. Similar surveys were conducted and documented in 2006, providing an opportunity to compare two separate years of data collection, as well as an analysis of changes in invasive exotic plant composition, abundance and distribution at the park. Seven of 27 species increased in frequency, while 20 decreased. Given that three of the five species showing high relative increases in frequency are weedy perennials with low ecological impacts, extraordinary control efforts are not warranted. Nine of 19 species with decreasing frequencies received some sort of mechanical or chemical treatment during 2006 to 2009. While sweetclover continued to be widespread at the park., mowing dramatically reduced its overall abundance in the prairie. Five additional species increased in abundance, although these increases were slight in terms of the area occupied. The information presented in the report may be used to plan management activities leading to control of exotic plants and the accomplishment of GPRA goal IA1b.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Young, Craig; Short, Mary; Morrison, Lloyd; Gross, Chad; Haack, Jennifer
- Date of Issue
- 2010
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- HEHO , HTLN , NRSS
- Keywords
- HTLN Exotic Plant Brief, HTLN Exotic Plant Monitoring, Vegetation Invasive Exotic Plants Monitoring Reports