Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Zion National Park: 2012 field season
Perkins D. 2013. Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Zion National Park: 2012 field season. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NCPN/NRTR—2013/749. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are a significant threat to natural ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and controlling them is a high priority for the National Park Service. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) selected the early detection of IEPs as one of 10 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. During surveys conducted on June 8–13, 2012, NCPN staff detected 11 IEP species (five of which were priority species) on monitoring routes and transects along 113.7 kilometers of roads and trails at Zion National Park. Bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), and Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) were the most commonly detected priority invasive plants. Many monitoring routes had few (<1 infestation/ha) infestations and several had none. However, the road by the Watchman Campground and visitor center (9.76 infestations/ha), Weeping Rock Trail (4.49/ha) and the Zion Scenic Drive (2.21/ha) all had high numbers of infestations. While infestations were widespread, actual IEP percent cover was low (≤0.10%) along roads and trails.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Perkins, Dustin
- Date of Issue
- 2013-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NCPN , NRSS , ZION
- Keywords
- Exotic Species, Exotic/Invasive Species - Plants, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NCPN Invasive Plants Monitoring, Plant Studies