Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Fossil Butte National Monument: 2016 field season
Perkins D. 2017. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Fossil Butte National Monument: 2016 field season. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1555. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are one of the biggest threats 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. This report represents work completed during the 2016 field season at Fossil Butte National Monument (NM). From June 30 to July 4, 2016, twelve priority IEP species in 809 patches were detected on monitoring routes that covered all major roads, trails, and riparian areas at Fossil Butte NM. The highest densities of plant patches were recorded in the drainages; specifically, East Red Hill (22.3/km), Fossil Butte East Drainage (19.2/km), North Dam Fork of Chicken Creek (17.2/km), Chicken Creek (15.0/km), and West Fork of Chicken Creek (13.9/km). The Main Park Road had the highest density (12.3/km) of patches of any road or trail. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), and creeping foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus) were by far the most widespread species. Data from 2016 were compared to previous surveys done in 2008–2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Generally, invasive plants increased from 2014 to 2016, with very few areas or species that declined. Notably, patch density increased along trails, northern drainages, and the Main Park Road, driven primarily by increase in creeping foxtail and quackgrass (Elymus repens). Cheatgrass also had large increases along trails, roads other than the Main Park Road, southern drainages, and the Main Park Road. We found invasive plants on two formerly weedless routes (Fossil Butte Northwest and Wasatch Saddle drainages). The number of weedless areas has declined since monitoring began in 2008. The network will return to Fossil Butte NM for a sixth round of monitoring in 2018.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Perkins, Dustin
- Date of Issue
- 2017-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- FOBU , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Exotic Species, Exotic/Invasive Species - Plants, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NCPN Invasive Plants Monitoring, Plant Studies