1. Overview of Invasive Species in Oklahoma
Karen R. Hickman, Professor
Natural Resource Ecology & Management
Oklahoma State University
President, Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council 1

2. Overview Terminology Background on Invasive Species
Oklahoma’s battle with invasives
Sources of Invasives
Why Invasives are Problematic
Effects of Invasives
Noxious Weed Lists (OK + neighbors)
Major Challenges
Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council
Hydrilla Control Project 2

3. Terminology for Invasive Species
Non-native
Exotic
Non-indigenous species
Alien
Introduced
Prohibited
Nuisance
Noxious
Invasive
Weeds
Naturalized
Encroaching
Native, Invaders
Poison Hemlock
E. Redcedar

4. Background
Since 1800, > 50,000 foreign plant and animal species established in the US
Some are of benefit (i.e. food)
Wheat, corn, rice, cattle, soybeans
Others are problematic (i.e. noxious, invasive)
USDA-APHIS (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) estimates annual cost: Greater than $138 billion/year
In US: Focus on Agricultural Weeds & Aquatic Nuisance Species
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990:
Defined an aquatic nuisance species as a nonindigenous species that “threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on such waters.”
Nepalese
Browntop 4

5. Noxious vs Invasive Noxious weed = Legal Term
A noxious weed is any plant or plant product that can directly or indirectly injure or cause damage to crops (including nursery stock or plant products), livestock, poultry, or other interests of agriculture, irrigation, navigation, the natural resources of the United States, the public health, or the environment.
Invasive Species = Descriptive Term
Executive Order written by Clinton in 1999 was first official definition of an invasive species:
“an alien species who does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to animal or human health.”
Musk Thistle 5

6. Oklahoma’s battle with invasives
: Thistle Law
Prior to 2000: Concerns about out-of-control exotics, native
pests, aquatic nuisance species
2000: Oklahoma’s Noxious Weed Law
2002: Eastern Redcedar Task Force
2008: Oklahoma’s Aquatic Nuisance Species
Management Plan approved
2008: Oklahoma State Wildlife Action Plan
2008: Creation of Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council (OkIPC)
2010: Weed Free Hay Certification Act
Feral Hogs
Zebra Mussel 6

7. Sources of non-native species
- Ballast Water and ship cargo
- Agriculture Use (e.g. forage species)
- Horticulture and Landscaping
- “Accidental” (e.g. seed contaminants)
- Animal transport
- Altered Land Management
- Intentional release
- Expansion of Range
- Military exercises
- Moving and depositing soil fill
- Vehicular Transport
Zebra mosquito
Nutria 7

8. Why are we concerned with species that become invasive?
#1 Human health problems
#2 Economic Effects: $$’s spent on control; eradication; loss of production and habitat
#3 Displace the native community (reduce biodiversity)
Alter fire frequency & intensity
Hybridize with natives
Create monocultures
Decrease livestock production
Disrupt natural nutrient & water cycles
Compete with native pollinators
Impact on Threatened & Endangered Species
Replace complex communities with monocultures
Salt Cedar 8

9. Harm to Human Health Kudzu Red Imported Fire Ants
Africanized Honey Bees 9

10. Economic Costs High cost of doing something about it!
US Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge System
High cost of doing something about it!
Add Michael Lusk’s slide here
Source: Michael Lusk, USFWS, Washington DC
Higher cost of doing nothing about it!
Costs for control by project start year at 20 % annual expansion rate of weeds in Douglas County, NV.

11. Noxious Weed Lists: Oklahoma: 3 Canada Thistle Musk Thistle
Scotch Thistle
Missouri : 11
Kansas: 12
Texas: 27
New Mexico: 32
Arkansas:
Colorado: 71
Musk Thistle
For more information: ODAFF; TPWD; TDA;
OCES PSS-2776 & EPP-7318
& Roadside Weed Management (USDOT)
Hydrilla 11

12. What are the MAJOR Challenges?
Within the state of Oklahoma (and elsewhere):
- Adding species to the Noxious Weed/Nuisance Species Lists
- Inconsistency in “ranking” among states, agencies, and organizations:
Noxious; Nuisance; Prohibited; Problem species; Invasives
- Incomplete mapping of occurrences
Example: Kudzu
- Millions of acres in the US invaded
Costs US estimated $336 million/yr in lost production
(not including control $$’s)
Introduced to SE US in 1876 for ornamental,
forage, and soil stability purposes
- One of the Top 100 World’s Worst Invaders
Listed as an noxious weed by 19 US states
Legal in Oklahoma
Kudzu

13. What are the MAJOR Challenges?
OK Biological Survey

14. OK Biological Survey; OkIPC Citizen Science
Bryan County (Durant) and Rogers County (Claremore)

15. What are the MAJOR Challenges?
Political:
Prevention of introduction
Legislative “issues”
Internet Trade
Conflicting Goals
Lack of regulatory oversight (e.g. bait)
Dept. of Transportation rules & regulations
Jurisdiction (e.g. Purple Loosestrife)
Didymo; “Rock Snot”

16. Purple Loosestrife Introduced as ornamental, crop seed
contaminant, and through ballast water
from Eurasia
Capable of invading any moist area
From estuaries and wetlands to roadside ditches
Can form extensive monocultures
US spends $45 Million dollars in control
~ Rate of spread >250,000 acres/year
Considered one of the Top
100 World’s Worst Invaders
Pimentel et al. 2005
Thompson at el. 1987
Swearingen 2005

17. Purple Loosestrife

18. What are the MAJOR Challenges?
Political:
Prevention of introduction
Legislative “issues”
Internet Trade
Conflicting Goals
Lack of regulatory oversight (e.g. bait)
Dept. of Transportation rules & regulations
Jurisdiction (e.g. Purple Loosestrife)
Social :
Valuation
Neighbors
# of Skilled and trained Inspectors
Lack of Commitment; Agreement; Education
Conflicting Goals: horticulture, landscaping, aquaculture
Saltcedar; Tamarix

19. What are the MAJOR Challenges?
Ecological issues:
Lack of control methods
Lack of native seed
Restoration efforts
Fire resistances
Seed sources
Lack of Integrated Pest Management approaches
Exotic grasses invading native rangelands
Collateral damage from broad range treatment
The “Unknown belowground”
Biggest: Inconsistency
Example: Exotic grasses (ODWC and OERB)
Sericea lespedeza
Giant Salvinia
Bindweed

20. Sericea Lespedeza Native of eastern Asia
Brought to US in 1896 as potential forage
Used for land reclamation, soil conservation, & forage production in eastern & central US
Listed as a crop plant in some states (OK)
Listed as a noxious weed in others (KS & CO)
One person’s treasure…..

21. Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council
To facilitate efficient and effective management of invasive plants for the protection of the economic and natural resources of Oklahoma’s private and public land and water.
Yellow Iris

22. Interested Parties Old World Bluestems State Agencies & Organizations:
OK Dept. of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry
OK Dept of Wildlife Conservation
OK Dept. of Transportation
OK Farm Bureau
OK Biological Survey
Oklahoma-TNC
OK Wheat Growers Association
OK Association of Conservation Districts
Osage Nation
OK Native Plant Society
OK Natural Areas Registry
Kaw Nation
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University
University of Central Oklahoma
Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Unit
OK Conservation Commission
OK Natural Heritage Inventory
OK Recreation and Tourism
OSU Extension Service
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
OK Vegetation Management Association
OK Grazing Lands Association
OK Association of County Commissioners
OK Nursery and Landscape Association
Blue Thumb Program
OK Tourism
OK Prescribed Fire Associations
OK National Guard Troops
Federal Agencies & Organizations :
USDA-NRCS
Bureau of Indian Affairs
US Fish and Wildlife Services
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
US Army Corps of Engineers
US Geological Service
Dept. of Defense (Tinker)
USDA-APHIS
Dept. of Transportation
National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils
American Fisheries Society
Society for Range Management
The Nature Conservancy
Others:
Numerous Private Landowners & Managers
Johnston Seed
DOW Agrosciences
DuPONT
CLARKE
Sunshine Nursery
Holman Seed
Old World Bluestems