Invasive Plants

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 terrestrial and wetland plants. 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 invasive/exotic plants.  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 plants 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 plants 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 Water Quality Monitoring Protocol also attends to the early detection of invasive/exotic plants.  The overall goal of this program is to monitor the status and trends of NETN aquatic resources, to assess changes in ecological integrity and the impacts of key stressors, and to guide management decisions affecting those resources.  The following parks had the protocol implemented in 2006: Acadia NP, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Minute Man NHP, Morristown NHP, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS, Saint-Gaudens NHS, Saratoga NHP, Saugus Iron Works, and Weir Farm NHS.

Potential Measures

Establish status and monitor for expansion from known limits; exotic species extent and distribution in inter-tidal and wetland communities, time constrained search for indicator species in forest communities, including exotic species; percent cover in forest communities; estimate relative abundance; monitor wetland nutrient level and trend; current spatial distribution, abundance, and/or rate of spread of key invasive exotic shade-tolerant plants including Norway maple, European buckthorn, exotic honeysuckles, Japanese barberry, garlic mustard and Oriental bittersweet

Preliminary Monitoring Objective

Forest

Ensure the early detection of invasive plants 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.

Water

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

Contact Information

Forest:

NPS Lead: Kate Miller

Email: Kate Miller

207-288-8736

Water:

NPS Lead: Brian Mitchell

Email: Brian R. Mitchell

802-457-3368 ext. 37

Intertidal:

Principle Investigator: Jeremy D. Long

Email: Jeremy D. Long

References

None Presently Available