Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Cub Creek (2002–2003 to 2014), and brief surveys on the Green River (2014), Dinosaur National Monument
Perkins DW. 2015. Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Cub Creek (2002–2003 to 2014), and brief surveys on the Green River (2014), Dinosaur National Monument. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCPN/NRR—2015/980. 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 11 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. During surveys conducted from July 2 to 9, 2014, NCPN staff detected 14 priority IEP species and two additional IEP species in a 132-hectare (326-acre) area in the Cub Creek vicinity. Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), and yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) were widespread in Cub Creek. The number of hectares of invasive plants in 2014 (14.0 ha) was similar to that in 2010 (14.5 ha) (Edvarchuk et al. 2012), but substantially less than in 2002–2003 (46.8 ha) (Dewey et al. 2004). Russian knapweed, yellow sweetclover, Russian olive (Eleaegnus angustifolia), and tamarisk all declined from 2010 to 2014, while Canada thistle, bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), common houndstoungue (Cynoglossum officinale), and perennial sowthistle all increased from 2010 to 2014. A brief survey was conducted along the northern portion of the Green River monitoring route on September 25, 2014. Thirty-six invasions of five species were detected along 856 m of river.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Perkins, Dustin
- Date of Issue
- 2015-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- DINO , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Exotic Species, Exotic/Invasive Species - Plants, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NCPN Invasive Plants Monitoring, Plant Studies