Problematic plant monitoring in Wilson's Creek National Battlefield: 2006–2020
Young CC. 2022. Problematic plant monitoring in Wilson's Creek National Battlefield: 2006–2020. Natural Resource Report. NPS/HTLN/NRR—2022/2398. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2293658
Managers are challenged with the impact of problematic plants, including exotic, invasive, and pest plant species. Information on the cover and frequency of these plant species is essential for developing risk-based approaches to managing them. Based on surveys conducted in 2006, 2013, 2016, and 2020, Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network staff and contractors identified a cumulative total of 53 potentially problematic plant species in Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Of the 40 species found in 2020, we characterized 9 as very low frequency, 13 as low frequency, 9 as medium frequency, and 9 as high frequency. Of these 40, midpoint cover estimates of 1 low-frequency, 4 medium-frequency, and 8 high-frequency species exceeded the 10-acre threshold. The 10-acre threshold represents a limit beyond which eradication of a problematic plant species is likely not possible. Because of the number, extent, and cover of problematic plants in the park and the small park size, control efforts should focus on treating high priority species across the entire park. High priority species may include plant species capable of rapid spread, species at low population levels, and species that can be effectively controlled.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Young, Craig
- Date of Issue
- 2022-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/nrr-2293658
- Units
- HTLN , NRSS , WICR
- Keywords
- invasive plants; exotic plants; non-native plants; pest plants; problematic plants
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants