Odum Poster Theme C

Odum Conference Poster Abstracts

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Theme C: Invasive species monitoring and database initiatives

* indicates presenting author.

del Puerto, Marcelo*; Van Vranken, Sandra*; Crocoll, Scott – Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

Invasive species hunting in NYSDEC Wildlife Management Areas

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are state owned lands which are set aside for the production and appreciation of fish and wildlife. The abundance of invasive species in WMAs can diminish the wildlife and recreational values of these lands. The first step towards developing an invasive species control and management strategy is to carefully assess the presence, abundance, distribution and location of invasive species. In the summer of 2008 two undergraduate interns searched for and mapped the locations of several terrestrial and aquatic invasive species at 17 WMAs located throughout Albany, Clinton, Essex, Saratoga, Schoharie and Washington counties of New York State. The interns were trained to identify over 30 common invasives and their similar look-alikes and to input this information onto hand-held GPS units. Location, habitat type, plant identication and other pertinent data were recorded for each occurrence. Unable to survey every square foot, interns concentrated efforts on common invasion and dispersal corridors within the WMAs. These data sets were then used to create maps in ArcGIS, which show the location of every invasive species occurrence recorded. Future goals are to continue monitoring these WMAs for changes in distribution and expand monitoring efforts to more WMAs across the state. With this information decisions can be made as to where eradication efforts are needed most.

Losey, John*; Allee, Leslie; Smyth, Rebecca – Cornell University

Lost Ladybug Project

Over the past twenty years several native ladybeetle species including Coccinella novemnotata (the nine-spotted ladybeetle) that were once very common in the Northeast have become extremely rare. During this same timeseveral species of exotic ladybeetles especially Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis have greatly increased both their numbers and range. In many areas exotic ladybeetle species are now dominant. This shift has happened so quickly that concerns have been raised regarding the ability of exotic species to regulate herbivore populations in managed and natural systems as effectively as our familiar native species always have. Here we present data on the decline of native ladybeetles in the Northeast and outline our ladybeetle citizen science program which is being developed to educate nonspecialists on the importance of biodiversity and conservation and to recruit them to join us in our ladybeetle survey (http://www.lostladybug.org).

Meissner, Heike¹; Fritz, Jennifer²; Floyd, Leah*²; Emerine, Sherrie*² – (1) USDA, APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine; (2) NC State University Center for Integrated Pest Management

Exotic Pest Information Collection and Analysis (EPICA): Safeguarding through biosurveillance and early warning

The mission of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is to safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of exotic pests. For a proactive and effective safeguarding approach, PPQ needs early warning regarding potential pest threats. To address this need, Exotic Pest Information Collection and Analysis (EPICA) conducts biosurveillance by continuously monitoring, collecting, analyzing, distributing, and archiving relevant open-source information for PPQ programs. EPICA news articles are archived in the Global Pest and Disease Database (GPDD), which contains information on over 2,000 pests of U.S. quarantine concern.

O’Brien, RT*, Plemons, M* – NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

Invasive species monitoring and database initiatives within the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)

The New York State OPRHP Environmental Management Bureau has been active in invasive species initiatives for the past decade, including most recently the Invasive Species Council. As awareness of the serious negative impacts of invasive species grew and the agency focused on invasives management in the field, data collection, early detection, and monitoring began. At Minnewaska State Park Preserve, a database was developed in 2007 as a part of an overall Invasive Species Management Plan for the preserve. This plan serves as a template for other parks and provides a statewide framework and database, paramount to a successful agency-wide program.

OPRHP has a dedicated focus on early detection and monitoring for two invasive insects, the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) and the emerald ash borer beetle (EAB). Both species are at risk of becoming established in NY State and are capable of imposing significant environmental and economic costs. We are involved in a multi-agency collaborative effort with NYSDEC, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the USDA in monitoring for the early detection of these insects. Trapping and monitoring for EAB began in 2008 and is expanding in 2009. Statewide ALB surveys and ongoing monitoring are being implemented focusing on critical early detection. OPRHP is educating park staff and visitors on invasive insect identification and the need to stop their movement via firewood. Our monitoring efforts include engaging the public in early detection and monitoring.

Treanor, Sarah A*; Silander Jr, John A; Mehrhoff, Leslie J – University of Connecticut

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England

The establishment and spread of invasive alien species (IAS) has been well-documented as a global threat to biodiversity and ecosystems services. The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE), created in 2001, began in an effort to support the study of IAS in the six New England states. Building on the success of volunteer atlas projects of other taxa, the web-based network utilizes trained volunteers in conjunction with experts to collect presence/absence and abundance data as well as detailed local habitat information across New England. These data provide the elements necessary to develop predictive models of the potential distribution and spread of IAS, IAS hotspots, potential responses to climate change, and the influence of historical land use patterns across the region. These projects, using volunteer-collected data points, help to highlight areas in need of targeted survey and management. Early detection of new occurrences by IPANE collaborators has led to the immediate response and management of some populations regionally new or new to a state. The IPANE database allows for the dissemination of this information back to the volunteers and the public additionally providing individual species information, images, management links, removal events, as well as distributional data and maps. This comprehensive web-based tool provides an information hub for the public and volunteers facilitating the collection, analysis and communication of information related to IAS in New England. IPANE and its volunteers have contributed significantly to the invasion literature at large advancing our understanding of invasive alien species in the region.

Wootton, Louise¹*; Burkitt, Jim² – (1) Georgian Court University; (2) Brookdale Community College

Assessing patterns in spread rate and direction of Carex kobomugi relative to known populations of endangered dune species in order to prioritize management actions for this species in New Jersey

The invasive Asiatic sand sedge, Carex kobomugi, is spreading rapidly in New Jersey’s coastal dunes, where it is having a strong, negative effect on the abundance and diversity of native flora. Currently there is no active management plan for the species, nor is one planned. Starting in 2002, we have been working to create a species inventory using GPS mapping and GIS-based data processing. Comparison of polygons denoting population sizes at each sampling interval will be used to look for patterns in the rates and direction of spread of this species. For example, are certain populations in New Jersey spreading faster than others? If so, can those patterns be related to physical characteristics of sand dune habitats such as prevailing winds or longshore ocean currents? We also plan to combine our data with existing databases of the locations of threatened and endangered species. This information will, in turn, be used to help direct future management efforts to areas where they will have maximum benefit. For example, areas predicted to be at high risk of future invasion should be subjected to intensive monitoring to allow for early detection. Similarly, new populations should be targeted for rapid response (manual removal, herbicide application, etc.). In addition, removal of populations presenting particularly strong threats to threatened and endangered species should be prioritized. Finally, the population inventory that we generate for C. kobomugi will provide a benchmark against which future expansion of the species, or the effectiveness of future management efforts, can be measured.