Multi-network exotic plant monitoring protocol: A collaboration among the Southern Plains, Sonoran Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert Networks - Narrative version 1.00

Folts-Zettner, Tomye; Bennetts, Robert; Gallo, Kirsten; McIntyre, Cheyrl; Powell, Missy; Studd, Sarah; Bonebrake, Kristen; Sosinski, Heidi

The 29 parks within the Southern Plains Network, Sonoroan Desert Network, and Chihuahaun Desert Network have recognized the need for better early detection and eradication of exotic plants. While there are many approaches to monitoring exotic plants, not all networks had need of an expanded detection protocol. This protocol has been designed to provide a uniform approach for all networks that addresses the most critical areas within our parks. Each network is free to add additional detection methods as needed. The Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (SOPN) is composed of 11 NPS units. Park units within the SOPN are located in shortgrass and mixed grass ecosystems, and they range in size from 326 acres (WABA) to 46,349 acres (LAMR). CHIC, FOLS, LYJO, and WABA are in mixed grass prairie or savanna. ALFL, BEOL, CAVO, FOUN, LAMR, and SAND are located in shortgrass prairie, and PECO is in the ecotone between shortgrass prairie and piñon-juniper forest. The Sonoran Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network (SODN) is located in central and southern Arizona and western New Mexico. The eleven parks occur across a broad range of elevations, vegetation types and climactic zones. Each park has unique vegetative characteristics and disturbance histories, making each park a novel system for invasion susceptibility. Situated in the sky island region, Saguaro National Park (SAGU), Organ Pipe Cactus National Park (ORPI), and Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR) have zones that range from low desert and thornscrub, up through open oak woodlands to coniferous forest. Coronado National Monument (CORO) and Fort Bowie National Historic Site (FOBO) are dominated by mid elevation semi-desert grasslands, with lower elevation grass-dominated sites grading into evergreen oak and pinyon pine woodlands. Tumacácori National Historic Park (TUMA), Tonto National Monument (TONT), Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (CAGR), Montezuma Castle National Monument (MOCA), and Tuzigoot National Monument(TUZI) are all within the lower Colorado Sonoran Desertscrub or Arizona Upland Sonoran Subdivision biomes, ranging from arid creosote bush-white bursage communities to paloverde-cacti-mixed scrub vegetation types. TUMA and MOCA both have perennial streams within their boundaries. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (GICL) is the only network unit located in New Mexico. Vegetation here exhibits traits of the Madrean, Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert floras. The Gila River runs through a large portion of this unit, supporting vegetation typical of southwestern riparian areas. The Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network (CHDN) is composed of seven NPS units in New Mexico and Texas. The parks vary in size from almost 200 ha (500 acres) at FODA to over 300,000 ha (800,000 acres) at BIBE. Six of the seven CHDN park units are located in the Northern Chihuahuan Subregion of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion. AMIS is situated primarily within the Tamaulipan Thornscrub (Mezquital) Ecoregion of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Multi-network exotic plant monitoring protocol: A collaboration among the Southern Plains, Sonoran Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert Networks - Narrative version 1.00

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