IPANE - A regional approach to rapid assessment of new

incursions of potentially invasive plant species

Les Mehrhoff University of ConnecticutLes Mehrhoff University of Connecticut

AIBS Meeting Washington, DCAIBS Meeting Washington, DC

17 MARCH 2004 17 MARCH 2004

DedicationTo Field Botanists past and present -

The Front Line of Defense

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England

IPANE

IPANE Project Participants

Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of ConnecticutBiology, University of Connecticut

Homer Babbidge LibraryHomer Babbidge Library

Center for Cartographic AnalysisCenter for Cartographic Analysis New England Wild Flower SocietyNew England Wild Flower Society Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Silvio O. Conte National Fish and

Wildlife Refuge, US F&WSWildlife Refuge, US F&WS

Primary Start-up Funding:

United Stated Department of Agriculture –United Stated Department of Agriculture –Cooperative State Research, Education, and Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Extension Service

Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems Systems

Some Project Partners

FWSFWS USDAUSDA USGS-BRDUSGS-BRD NIISSNIISS NBIINBII NPSNPS FSFS FICMNEWFICMNEW

NEWFSNEWFS NIPGroNIPGro TNCTNC FNAFNA NATURESERVENATURESERVE NEBISNEBIS CIPWGCIPWG MNLAMNLA MASS DF&WMASS DF&W

IPANE Goals

New England Early Detection NetworkNew England Early Detection Network Gather current & historic distributional dataGather current & historic distributional data Make information availableMake information available Conduct & encourage scientific researchConduct & encourage scientific research Increase public awarenessIncrease public awareness Train volunteer spottersTrain volunteer spotters ““Interoperability”Interoperability”

IPANE Project Components

Atlas of invasive or potentially invasive Atlas of invasive or potentially invasive plants and noxious weeds in New Englandplants and noxious weeds in New England

Interactive websiteInteractive website Volunteer training - NEWFSVolunteer training - NEWFS Research – UCONNResearch – UCONN Outreach - NIPGroOutreach - NIPGro Regional Early Detection NetworkRegional Early Detection Network

User Community

AcademiaAcademia ConservationistsConservationists Land ManagersLand Managers Government AgenciesGovernment Agencies Regulators & LegislatorsRegulators & Legislators Green IndustriesGreen Industries PublicPublic

Data Warehouse

ININ Herbarium recordsHerbarium records Current field dataCurrent field data Current researchCurrent research Invasive species informationInvasive species informationOUTOUT Species CatalogSpecies Catalog Collections databasesCollections databases MapsMaps Invasive species informationInvasive species information

Participating Herbaria

NEBC, GH, ANEBC, GH, A MAINEMAINE NHANHA VTVT MASSMASS KIRIKIRI CONNCONN YUYU

HCOAHCOA NHNENHNE LSCLSC NASCNASC SSHNSSHN WSCHWSCH BRUBRU NCBSNCBS CCNLCCNL BLKBLK NYNY

othersothers

Volunteer Network

450 in 3 years – 25 per state per year450 in 3 years – 25 per state per year Volunteer coordinatorVolunteer coordinator Staff-run training sessionsStaff-run training sessions Advanced training workshopsAdvanced training workshops Terrestrial and Aquatic speciesTerrestrial and Aquatic species On-line reporting formsOn-line reporting forms Verification and Quality ControlVerification and Quality Control Early detection species trainingEarly detection species training

The Invasive Plant Atlas for New England Website http:// invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipanehttp:// invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane Maps & databaseMaps & database Catalog of speciesCatalog of species Project informationProject information Announcement and unmoderated listsAnnouncement and unmoderated lists Noxious weed informationNoxious weed information Volunteer supportVolunteer support Quizzes and “Weed Wisdom!”Quizzes and “Weed Wisdom!”

Spontaneous & Unsolicited Reports ““Report sighting” button on websiteReport sighting” button on website Verification Verification

IPANE staffIPANE staff

Regional herbariaRegional herbaria

FNA authorsFNA authors Initiate Initiate Rapid AssessmentRapid Assessment process process

IPANE Catalog of Species

Scientific and common namesScientific and common names Diagnostic & incursion photographsDiagnostic & incursion photographs Descriptive textDescriptive text Historical informationHistorical information Similar speciesSimilar species Hard copy references and hot linksHard copy references and hot links Management linksManagement links

IPANE Databases

Herbarium specimen databaseHerbarium specimen database +/- 20 regional herbaria+/- 20 regional herbaria Capture all label dataCapture all label data Georeferenced: 35 K georeference pointsGeoreferenced: 35 K georeference points

Current field dataCurrent field data Field data from trained volunteersField data from trained volunteers Georeferenced from GPS or mapsGeoreferenced from GPS or maps Verified by IPANE staffVerified by IPANE staff

Other existing databases ??Other existing databases ??

IPANE Maps

OccurrencesOccurrences Herbarium records, current reports, or bothHerbarium records, current reports, or both State, county, town, & site occurrenceState, county, town, & site occurrence Different scales; different kinds of mapsDifferent scales; different kinds of maps ?? Automated?? Automated

IPANEThe Invasive Plant Atlas of

New England ProjectAn Early Detection

and Rapid Assessment Network

for New England

In theory, it’s simple

Detect new, potentially invasive incursions Detect new, potentially invasive incursions earlyearly

Assess the situation rapidlyAssess the situation rapidly Respond quickly and effectivelyRespond quickly and effectively Establish long-term monitoring Establish long-term monitoring

IPANE Early Detection Aids

List of “Early Detection Species”List of “Early Detection Species” Database of status in all 6 New England statesDatabase of status in all 6 New England states Easy online reporting mechanismEasy online reporting mechanism Early detection protocols Early detection protocols IPANE volunteer networkIPANE volunteer network Predictive modelingPredictive modeling Invasive Species AlertsInvasive Species Alerts Public awareness informationPublic awareness information

Rapid Assessment Scenario

Early detection of potential incursionEarly detection of potential incursion Confirmation of species identificationConfirmation of species identification Site visit; assessment of situationSite visit; assessment of situation Preparation of action planPreparation of action plan Management, control, or eradication?Management, control, or eradication? Monitor the siteMonitor the site

Rapid Assessment Tools

Guidelines for rapid assessment developed Guidelines for rapid assessment developed with USGSwith USGS

Botanists on call for verificationBotanists on call for verification Knowledgeable Knowledgeable Rapid Assessment TeamRapid Assessment Team Person responsible for preparing an Action Person responsible for preparing an Action

PlanPlan Management and control expertiseManagement and control expertise Committed long-term monitorsCommitted long-term monitors

G. Safford Torrey Herbarium

The importanceof herbarium specimens…

Identification & Verification

Identification tools – XID ProgramIdentification tools – XID Program IPANE staffIPANE staff Participating state & regional herbariaParticipating state & regional herbaria Flora of North America Project authorsFlora of North America Project authors

IPANE Website - Rapid Assessment Page List of “Early Detection Species”List of “Early Detection Species” Database of status in all 6 statesDatabase of status in all 6 states Early detection protocolsEarly detection protocols ““Report sightings” buttons - How to easily Report sightings” buttons - How to easily

report a possible new incursionreport a possible new incursion

Predictive Modeling

Using known distribution and existing Using known distribution and existing ecological data ecological data

Predict distribution or habitats in order to Predict distribution or habitats in order to focus further field workfocus further field work

Field checked by trained volunteersField checked by trained volunteers

Stinking Willie

Senecio jacobaea L.

A TEST CASE

Tansy Ragwort

Native to Europe

New England (ME, MA)New England (ME, MA) NY, NJ, PA, IL, MI, MT, IDNY, NJ, PA, IL, MI, MT, ID Canadian Maritime ProvincesCanadian Maritime Provinces Pacific States & adjacent CanadaPacific States & adjacent Canada Australia, New Zealand, JapanAustralia, New Zealand, Japan

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts1910 Danvers, Massachusetts

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts1968 Newbury, Massachusetts

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine2000 Bar Harbor, Maine

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2002 Barre, Massachusetts2002 Barre, Massachusetts

July, 2003

“Early” Detection; report

Specimen Collected

Verification

Rapid Assessment Team

LandownerLandowner BotanistBotanist Weed scientistWeed scientist Control expertControl expert State (or federal) regulatory officialState (or federal) regulatory official Other stakeholders - NRCSOther stakeholders - NRCS

Rapid Assessment Teamsite visit

Some questions for the Rapid Assessment Team Is the plant identified correctly?Is the plant identified correctly? What is its historic, current, and predicted What is its historic, current, and predicted

distribution at different scales?distribution at different scales? What are the biological attributes that make it What are the biological attributes that make it

invasive?invasive? History and vectors; where did it come from and History and vectors; where did it come from and

how did it get here?how did it get here? What is its expected potential for dispersion to What is its expected potential for dispersion to

other sites?other sites?

More Questions

What elements of biodiversity might be What elements of biodiversity might be affected by its spread and establishment?affected by its spread and establishment?

Can it be controlled effectively?Can it be controlled effectively? What will it cost to control?What will it cost to control? Who will be responsible for its control at Who will be responsible for its control at

this site? at new incursions?this site? at new incursions? Are there problems created by control?Are there problems created by control? What happens if we don’t take action now?What happens if we don’t take action now?

Assessment Recommendations

Site and incursion specificSite and incursion specific Attempt to determine the history of the incursionAttempt to determine the history of the incursion Check surrounding land for additional incursionsCheck surrounding land for additional incursions Check status of other New England occurrencesCheck status of other New England occurrences Control, aimed at removalControl, aimed at removal Neighboring landowner education; outreachNeighboring landowner education; outreach

Control Recommendations

MowingMowing Pre-determined time Pre-determined time Pay landowner for laborPay landowner for labor Avoids herbicidesAvoids herbicides Relatively inexpensiveRelatively inexpensive Likely to quickly lower numbersLikely to quickly lower numbers Prevents spread of wind-dispersed fruitsPrevents spread of wind-dispersed fruits

Recent Reports

1 misidentification – 1 misidentification – Sonchus arvernsisSonchus arvernsis 1 correct report – Boston Harbor Islands1 correct report – Boston Harbor Islands

Senecio jacobaea in New England

19031903 Portland, MainePortland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2002 Barre, Massachusetts2002 Barre, Massachusetts 2003 Boston, Massachusetts2003 Boston, Massachusetts

Still To Do…

Additional field work Additional field work Gather ecological dataGather ecological data Implement action planImplement action plan Predictive modelingPredictive modeling Continue to support landowner’s goalsContinue to support landowner’s goals Distribute more “Wanted” postersDistribute more “Wanted” posters Eradicate Stinking WillieEradicate Stinking Willie

In Conclusion

Early Detection and Rapid Assessment can be very Early Detection and Rapid Assessment can be very effective toolseffective tools

Lots of trained observers out in the field are neededLots of trained observers out in the field are needed Have an quick and easy reporting mechanism for Have an quick and easy reporting mechanism for

new or unknown plantsnew or unknown plants Rapid AssessmentRapid Assessment must involve a wide range of must involve a wide range of

knowledgeable people and local stakeholdersknowledgeable people and local stakeholders The public must be engaged in the processThe public must be engaged in the process Follow-up monitoring is mandatoryFollow-up monitoring is mandatory

Contact IPANE -

http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/ E-mail: ipane@uconn.eduE-mail: ipane@uconn.edu