Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species Monitoring Plan Standard Operating Procedure #5: Creating Target Species Lists
Ainsworth A, Gross J, Simon MJ, Jacobi JD, Loh RK, Harrison S, Berkowitz P, Yoshioka JM, Starr F, Starr K, Loope LL. 2017. Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species Monitoring Plan Standard Operating Procedure #5: Creating Target Species Lists. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This SOP describes how to locate and generate species lists necessary to conduct early detection surveys within Pacific Island Network (PACN) parks as part of the Early Detection of Invasive Species Monitoring Plan (Ainsworth et al. 2017). In addition to recording unknown or undocumented species not described on park checklists (e.g. NPSpecies, more specific ecoregion checklists, etc.), early detection surveys will also record occurrences of known threats compiled on a target species list. Ideally, the park’s resource management staff will already have an up-to-date list of non-native target species that require early detection and rapid response. If this is not the case, then the following SOP can be used as a guide to collaborate with resource management to create or update target lists, and additionally, to create outreach products (identification cards, calendars). A target species list will help the field crew to identify species that are known or perceived threats to the study area and promote integration of early detection surveys with the ongoing management activities conducted within the park. For example, in some parts of HAVO the invasive tree Morella faya has been nearly eradicated and any new occurrences are quickly controlled. The field crew might incorrectly assume M. faya should not be recorded because it is common throughout other areas of the park and because it is documented on the species checklist. By collaborating with resource SOP5.2 management on a target species list, the field crew would understand that the incipient population of M. faya would be a serious concern to resource management and needs to be recorded in specific locations of the park.
- Type
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Authors
- Ainsworth, Alison; Gross, Jacob; Simon, Melissa; Jacobi, James; Loh, Rhonda; Harrison, Sky; Berkowitz, Paul; Yoshioka, Joan; Starr, Forrest; Starr, Kim; Loope, Lloyd
- Date of Issue
- 2017-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ALKA , AMME , HALE , HAVO , KAHO , KALA , NPSA , NRSS , PACN , PUHE , PUHO , VALR , WAPA
- Keywords
- early detection, invasive species, non-native species, weeds
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants