Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Fossil Butte National Monument, annual report 2009
Perkins DW. 2010. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Fossil Butte National Monument, annual report 2009. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NCPN/NRTR—2010/322. Natural Resource Program Center. 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 10 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. This report represents work completed during 2009 at Fossil Butte National Monument (FOBU). Some portions of work completed in 2008 are combined with 2009 data for a complete survey of all roads, trails, and riparian areas at FOBU. We detected 26 IEP species on monitoring routes and plots in 2008 and 2009 at FOBU. Of these, 11 were Priority 1 species for the park that were consistently recorded in each year. IEPs were widespread along the Main Park Road at FOBU in 2008, but were reduced significantly in 2009, after weed control efforts took place. IEPs were less prevalent elsewhere. Generally, the further a route was from areas of high visitation, the fewer IEPs detected. Many IEPs were present in small, localized invasions that have a promising chance of successful management control and eradication. In 2010, the NCPN will return to FOBU to re-sample all of monitoring routes.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Perkins, Dustin
- Date of Issue
- 2010-05
- Publisher
- Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- FOBU , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Exotic Species, Exotic/Invasive Species - Plants, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NCPN Invasive Plants Monitoring, Plant Studies