Reports

Sarr, D., Shufelberger, A., Commons, M., and W. Bunn. 2004. Annual Report for the Klamath Network      Inventory Program: FY2003 Non-Native Plant Inventory. Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network,      National Park Service.

Final Deliverables

A zipped file of all the final deliverables from this inventory (final reports, GIS data, and raw data) is accessible from the NPS Data Store at: http://science.nature.nps.gov/nrdata/metadata.cfm?ID=48319

Results

Crater Lake National Park

A total of eight non-native plant species were found in CRLA including three CalEPPC (1999) species of ecological concern.  The most frequent and most abundant species encountered was common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).  Seven non-native species were found on the section of the park entrance road from Highway 62 to lodgepole picnic area (the Hwy 62 plot).  For the other sites, species richness ranged from 0-4 species per site.  During the highway surveys, non-native plants were only encountered within three meters of the roadside.  In the three visitor use areas, the non-native plants only occurred in the most disturbed areas—against buildings, along walkways, or in the cracks of concrete parking areas.  The trail surveys and the driving survey of Grayback Drive yielded no exotic species.  The three riparian areas surveyed contained a total of two non-native plant species, common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare).  The dandelion was found in the Lost Creek Campground along the stream and at Thousand Springs.  The bull thistle was found along Annie Creek within 100 meters of the park boundary in an area of light human disturbance and also at Thousand Springs. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Within the five quantitative belt plots installed in LAVO, only one non-native plant species was found - common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).  The dandelions were found in two plots on Juniper Lake Road and had a mean abundance of 0.25 (occasional, <1% cover) in each plot.  In these plots, dandelions were only located in wet sunny areas or within three meters of a road.  The quantitative plots in LAVO had low species richness overall—both highly shaded and exposed, sunny areas.    Dandelion was also the only non-native species encountered during the boundary surveys.  It was found only in areas near small springs and streams, located miles from any trail or road.  The LAVO survey crew did not find any non-native plants during their boundary survey.  Most of the survey fell within red fir forest or rocky outcrops covered with manzanita, neither of which are good habitat for non-natives.  However, they found several wet meadows along the western park boundary that would constitute sufficient habitat for bull thistle.

Lava Beds National Monument

Seven quantitative belt plots were installed in LABE and a total of 13 different non-native species were found, including three CalEPPC (1999) species of ecological concern.  Species richness ranged from 1-11 species per plot.  The most frequent and most abundant species encountered was cheat grass (Bromus tectorum). Cheat grass was found in all four belts of every quantitative plot installed in the park and had a mean abundance ranging from 3 (uncommon, 5-25% cover) to 4 (common, 25-50% cover) in each plot.  Overall, we found little difference in the total non-native species richness from disturbed roadsides into the native vegetation. (i.e., between the four belts) within a plot.  This may be due to the high amount of sunlight exposure throughout the park.

Oregon Caves National Monument

The forest in Oregon Caves National Monument is primarily old growth and the trail system in the park receives moderately low impact from visitors.  The only non-native species found in the two quantitative belt plots was common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).  Dandelion was found only in the first belt (0-25 m from the trail) and had a mean abundance of 0.25 (occasional, <1% cover) in both plots surveyed.  The populations were already known and were expected to fall within the plots.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Site Profile Surveys: We found 68 different non-native plant species during the site profile surveys at WHIS.  Seventeen of these species were identified by CalEPPC (1999) as species of ecological concern. The number of non-native species per site ranged from 25-44 species.  Twelve species were found at every site surveyed (frequency = 100%), while 19 species were found at only one site (frequency = 12.5%).  Twenty-three species had a recorded abundance of 3 (uncommon, 5-25% cover) in at least one site and no species comprised greater than 25% cover at any site.

Targeted Species Mapping:  Targeted mapping of Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) revealed linear infestations extending the length of all stream corridors mapped, except Brandy Creek.  The populations tended to be most extensive and contiguous near Whiskeytown Lake and diminished with distance upstream from the lake.

Quantitative Belt Plots:  In the ten quantitative belt plots installed at WHIS, we encountered 41 non-native plant species including eight CalEPPC (1999) species of ecological concern.  All of these species were also encountered in the site profile surveys.  Two plots had no non-native species, four plots had less than 10 species, and the other four plots ranged in species richness from 15-38 species.  As we noted in the multipark survey, there was a negative correlation between plot elevation and non-native species richness.  The lower elevation plots contained five to thirty-eight non-native plant species, mid elevation plots contained four to eight species, and high elevation plots contained zero to one species. Klamath weed (Hypericum perforatum) and hairy cat’s ear (Hypochaeris radicata) were the most frequently encountered species (frequency = 70% and 60%, respectively), while red brome (Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens) had the highest mean abundance value recorded in a plot (abundance = 3, uncommon, 5-25% cover).