Invasive Animals

Importance / Issues

The presence and extent of invasive exotic species is a critical management concern at all network parks. Parks would greatly benefit from timely identification and removal of new invasive species. Catastrophic consequences to native species (loss of biodiversity and replacement of native flora and fauna) can result if this vital sign is not addressed. Invasive exotic species are a significant and growing stressor with clear ecological relevance to terrestrial systems within the NETN. This vital sign has relatively strong management implications via exotic species control programs. Numerous groups of invasive exotic species are of concern within NETN, including insect pests and pathogens, earthworms, and intertidal and aquatic fauna. Routine surveys for the presence/absence of particular invasive species should be mandatory at all parks. Lists of non-native species with the potential to invade individual parks already exist in most states and will be integrated into NETN protocols. These lists will identify the types of habitats to examine for invasion.

Protocol Development & Status

Two protocols deal with the issue of early detection of invasive/exotic animals.  The Long-term Forest Monitoring Protocol was implemented in 2006 and 2007 at the following parks: Acadia NP, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Minute Man NHP, Morristown NHP, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS, Saint-Gaudens NHS, Saratoga NHP, and Weir Farm NHS. The protocol addresses early detection of invasive/exotic animals in the SOP’s. In addition, the Northeast Temperate Network is working with the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network to establish measures for identification of potential invasive animals within forest monitoring plots. The Early Detection of Invasive Species Protocol Development Summary is available at this time.

The NETN Forest Protocol is designed to monitor forest ecosystem integrity in a standardized and cost-efficient manner across NETN parks. This protocol must allow statistical inference of status and trends within and across parks with sufficient statistical power. The use of permanent plots will increase power to detect trends over time by eliminating spatial variation. The protocol will also facilitate comparison of NETN data with other NPS networks and regional data such as that from the USFS FIA program.

The Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Protocol also attends to the early detection of invasive/exotic species.  The overall goal of this program is to monitor the status and trends of selected indicator species and correlate changes in species abundance with changes in environmental stress.  The following parks will have a pilot project for this protocol implemented in 2008: Acadia NP and Boston Harbor Islands.

Potential Measures

Forest:

Monitor for emerald ash borer, Asian long-horned beetle; current spatial distribution and spread of hemlock wooly adelgid, exotic earthworms, European gypsy moth as well as eruptions of the native spruce budworm.

Rocky Intertidal:

Delineate inter-tidal zones, identify invaders and monitor relative abundance trends, exotic species extent and community composition.

Preliminary Monitoring Objective

Forest

Ensure the early detection of invasive animals in established forest monitoring plots and alert Park and state managers of any new incidences of invasive species in order to facilitate a rapid response.

Rocky Intertidal

Ensure the early detection of invasive species in the intertidal resources of NETN parks and alert Park and state managers of any new incidences of invasive species in order to facilitate a rapid response. 

Contact Information

Forest

NPS Lead: Kate Miller

Email: Kate Miller

207-288-8736

Rocky Intertidal

Principle Investigator: Jeremy D. Long

Email: Jeremy D. Long

References

None Presently Available