Determining the Status and Trends of Key Invasive Plant Species in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE)
Eichelberger BA and Perles SJ. 2009. Determining the Status and Trends of Key Invasive Plant Species in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE). Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2009/135. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Northeast Region. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Invasive exotic plants pose a serious threat to natural resources of many national parks. Data regarding invasive species were collected for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE) during vegetation mapping efforts from 2003 through 2006. Eleven species and one vegetation community type were selected for parkwide predictive modeling based on the species' current distribution and abundance, the severity of the species' potential ecological impact, the species' life history traits and its ability to spread, and difficulty in managing or eradicating the species. Overall, the accuracy assessment and modeling data suggests invasive exotic species are not completely ubiquitous but, certainly present within UPDE. None of the individual models predicted greater than 20% of the park as potential suitable habitat for each given species. Collectively, the distribution models predicted 38% of the park as potential habitat. Results suggest invasive species management may be needed at UPDE.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Eichelberger, Bradley; Perles, Stephanie
- Date of Issue
- 2009-02
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Northeast Region
- Units
- ERMN , UPDE
- Keywords
- Invasive Species, Inventory, Plants, Status, Trends, UPDE, Vegetation
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants