Early Detection of Invasive Species: A US National Park Service Approach
Keefer JS, Marshall M, Mitchell B, Kaye M. 2010. Early Detection of Invasive Species: A US National Park Service Approach. Pages 156-163. In Proceedings of the 2010 Weeds Across Borders Conference. National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. 1–4 June 2010. Center for Invasive Plant Management. Bozeman, MT
In 2008, the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) and Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) of the US National Park Service (NPS) began early detection of invasive species surveillance monitoring throughout 20 parks in the Northeast Region. This monitoring effort is a component of the nationwide NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program. Early detection monitoring of incipient invasive plants, animals, and diseases was ranked among the top priorities in the ERMN and the NETN due to the known ecological impacts of invasive species on ecosystems, including loss of threatened and endangered species, altered community structure and composition of terrestrial and aquatic communities, and reduction in overall species diversity. Only when invasions are caught early will the chance of eradication remain high. Early detection monitoring in the ERMN and NETN includes three main components: (1) creation of individual park early detection species lists; (2) opportunistic surveillance monitoring of invasive plant and forest pest species that focus on educating monitoring field crews, cooperators, volunteers, and resource managers on invasive species identification; and (3) development and maintenance of a coherent framework for reporting and disseminating information on potential infestations. These components allow park resource managers to assess each invasive species’ early detection on an individual basis and target limited management resources and coordination toward the highest priority risks. During invasive species early detection surveillance monitoring in 2008 and 2009, a total of 20 new invasive plant and pest occurrences were documented at five parks in which data were collected. Of the 15 new plant occurrences, 10 consisted of single specimens and/or small populations that were successfully hand-pulled or chemically treated.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Keefer, Jennifer; Marshall, Matthew; Mitchell, Brian; Kaye, Margot
- Date of Issue
- 2010
- Units
- ERMN , NETN
- Keywords
- Conference proceedings, Early Detection, ERMN, Forest, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NETN, weeds across borders, x#invasiveSpecies, X#journalArticle, x#NETN, x#outreach
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants