Invasive Exotic Plants Monitoring

Invasive exotic plants (IEPs) are often of concern given their abilities to reproduce prolifically, to rapidly colonize new areas, to displace native species, to alter ecosystem processes across multiple scales, and to detract from the interpretive value of park resources. An overview of park species lists and planning documents highlights three points: 1) network parks support vegetation resources of tremendous cultural and natural resource significance, 2) these parks contain some of the most recalcitrant IEPs found in forests (garlic mustard, kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, privet), grasslands (sericea lespedeza, smooth brome, leafy spurge, sweet clover), and wetlands (reed canary grass, common reed, purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed), and 3) the vegetation in these parks is susceptible to numerous plant invasions. The ability of IEPs to spread rapidly, displace native plants, and in some cases, interrupt ecological processes is amply documented. The need to detect new invasions and track existing invasions necessitated the development of the IEP monitoring protocol for the Heartland I&M Network. IEP monitoring on network parks will involve two approaches: 1) identification of existing plant invasions and 2) early detection of invasive plant establishment.

Reports

Arkansas Post National Memorial
Young, C.C, J.L. Haack, J.T. Cribbs, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Arkansas Post National Memorial: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/016. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Djuren, C.M. and C.C. Young. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Year 1 (2007). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/063. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Young, C.C, J.T. Cribbs, and J.L. Haack. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Effigy Mounds National Monument: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/022. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
George Washington Carver National Monument
Cribbs, J.T., C.C. Young, J.L. Haack, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at George Washington Carver National Monument: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/017. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Young, C.C, J.T. Cribbs, J.L. Haack, K.E. Mlekush, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/018. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Homestead National Monument of America
Young C.C., J.T. Cribbs, J.L. Haack, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Homestead National Monument of America: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/020. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Young, C.C, J.L. Haack, and M.S. Weber. 2008. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park: Year 1 (2008). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2008/148. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Cribbs, J.T., C.C. Young, J.L. Haack, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/021. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Pea Ridge National Military Park
Young, C.C, J.T. Cribbs, J.L. Haack, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/019. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Pipestone National Monument
Young, C.C, J.L. Haack, J.T. Cribbs, K.E. Mlekush, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Pipestone National Monument: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/002. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Young, C.C, J.L. Haack, J.T. Cribbs, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/014. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Young, C.C., J.L. Haack, and H.J. Etheridge. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: Year 1 (2006). Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2007/013 National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

Monitoring Questions and Approach

1. Which invasive, non-native plant species require monitoring given their establishment on network parks or the probability that they will become established on network parks?
   • Several tools will be used to prioritize invasive exotic plant monitoring including: 1) the USDA Plants database, 2) state, regional, and national invasive plant lists, and 3) input from park managers.  The prioritization must take in to account the potential impact of an invasive exotic plant on park resources.
2. Are invasive non-native plant species that have not become well established on the park colonizing available habitat?
   • Because of their generally small extent, new invasions of invasive exotic plants are difficult to detect.  Early detection allows park managers to rapidly respond to control invasive exotic plants.
3. How are the distribution and abundance of invasive, non-native plants changing on network parks?
   • For plants that are established on network parks, managers need this information to determine when a threshold has been reached that: 1) requires the initiation of management, 2) confirms management success, or 3) indicates the need for a change in management strategy.  Monitoring is intended to detect a change in the cover or frequency at the park-scale over a five-year period.

Protocol

• Young, C.C., J.L. Haack, L.W. Morrison, and M.D. DeBacker. 2007. Invasive exotic plant monitoring protocol for Heartland Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR-2007-018. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado (PDF). 

References

• Hiebert, R.D. and J. Stubbendieck. 1993. Handbook for ranking exotic plants for management and control. NPS, Midwest Regional Office, Omaha, NE. Natural Resources Report NPS/NRMWRO/NRR-93/08 (Report).
• National Park Service. 2006. 2006 National Park Service Management Policies, Chapter 4 Natural Resource Management (PDF).

Links

• Heartland I &M Network and Prairie Cluster Prototype Monitoring Program exotic plant inventory data and reports.
• Federal and State clearinghouse for invasive species information
• Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: Identification and Control
• Midwest Invasive Plant Network
• Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council
• Missouri Department of Conservation Vegetation Management Manual
• National Park Service inventory and monitoring invasive species and exotic managment teams
• Non-native Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control
• The Nature Conservancy Invasive Species Initiative
• The Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group
• Alien Plant Ranking System
• USGS-Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center control of invasive exotic plants and information pertaining to highly disruptive plants
• WASO NR GIS Data Store 

Contact Information

• Craig Young
  Botanist (417-732-6438 ext. 281)