IPANE - A regional approach to rapid assessment of new incursions of potentially invasive plant species Les Mehrhoff University of Connecticut AIBS Meeting Washington, DC 17 MARCH 2004

Dedication To Field Botanists past and present -

The Front Line of Defense

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England IPANE

IPANE Project Participants Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library Homer Babbidge Library Center for Cartographic Analysis Center for Cartographic Analysis New England Wild Flower Society New England Wild Flower Society Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, US F&WS Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, US F&WS

Primary Start-up Funding: United Stated Department of Agriculture – Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service United Stated Department of Agriculture – Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems

Some Project Partners FWS FWS USDA USDA USGS-BRD USGS-BRD NIISS NIISS NBII NBII NPS NPS FS FS FICMNEW FICMNEW NEWFS NIPGro TNC FNA NATURESERVE NEBIS CIPWG MNLA MASS DF&W

IPANE Goals New England Early Detection Network New England Early Detection Network Gather current & historic distributional data Gather current & historic distributional data Make information available Make information available Conduct & encourage scientific research Conduct & encourage scientific research Increase public awareness Increase public awareness Train volunteer spotters Train volunteer spotters “Interoperability” “Interoperability”

IPANE Project Components Atlas of invasive or potentially invasive plants and noxious weeds in New England Atlas of invasive or potentially invasive plants and noxious weeds in New England Interactive website Interactive website Volunteer training - NEWFS Volunteer training - NEWFS Research – UCONN Research – UCONN Outreach - NIPGro Outreach - NIPGro Regional Early Detection Network Regional Early Detection Network

User Community Academia Academia Conservationists Conservationists Land Managers Land Managers Government Agencies Government Agencies Regulators & Legislators Regulators & Legislators Green Industries Green Industries Public Public

Data Warehouse IN Herbarium records Herbarium records Current field data Current field data Current research Current research Invasive species information Invasive species informationOUT Species Catalog Species Catalog Collections databases Collections databases Maps Maps Invasive species information Invasive species information

Participating Herbaria NEBC, GH, A NEBC, GH, A MAINE MAINE NHA NHA VT VT MASS MASS KIRI KIRI CONN CONN YU YU HCOA NHNE LSC NASC SSHN WSCH BRU NCBS CCNL BLK NY others

Volunteer Network 450 in 3 years – 25 per state per year 450 in 3 years – 25 per state per year Volunteer coordinator Volunteer coordinator Staff-run training sessions Staff-run training sessions Advanced training workshops Advanced training workshops Terrestrial and Aquatic species Terrestrial and Aquatic species On-line reporting forms On-line reporting forms Verification and Quality Control Verification and Quality Control Early detection species training Early detection species training

The Invasive Plant Atlas for New England Website invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane Maps & database Maps & database Catalog of species Catalog of species Project information Project information Announcement and unmoderated lists Announcement and unmoderated lists Noxious weed information Noxious weed information Volunteer support Volunteer support Quizzes and “Weed Wisdom!” Quizzes and “Weed Wisdom!”

Spontaneous & Unsolicited Reports “Report sighting” button on website “Report sighting” button on website Verification Verification IPANE staff Regional herbaria FNA authors Initiate Rapid Assessment process Initiate Rapid Assessment process

IPANE Catalog of Species Scientific and common names Scientific and common names Diagnostic & incursion photographs Diagnostic & incursion photographs Descriptive text Descriptive text Historical information Historical information Similar species Similar species Hard copy references and hot links Hard copy references and hot links Management links Management links

IPANE Databases Herbarium specimen database Herbarium specimen database  +/- 20 regional herbaria  Capture all label data  Georeferenced: 35 K georeference points Current field data Current field data  Field data from trained volunteers  Georeferenced from GPS or maps  Verified by IPANE staff Other existing databases ?? Other existing databases ??

IPANE Maps Occurrences Occurrences Herbarium records, current reports, or both Herbarium records, current reports, or both State, county, town, & site occurrence State, county, town, & site occurrence Different scales; different kinds of maps Different scales; different kinds of maps ?? Automated ?? Automated

IPANE The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England Project An Early Detection and Rapid Assessment Network for New England

In theory, it’s simple Detect new, potentially invasive incursions early Detect new, potentially invasive incursions early Assess the situation rapidly Assess the situation rapidly Respond quickly and effectively Respond quickly and effectively Establish long-term monitoring Establish long-term monitoring

IPANE Early Detection Aids List of “Early Detection Species” List of “Early Detection Species” Database of status in all 6 New England states Database of status in all 6 New England states Easy online reporting mechanism Easy online reporting mechanism Early detection protocols Early detection protocols IPANE volunteer network IPANE volunteer network Predictive modeling Predictive modeling Invasive Species Alerts Invasive Species Alerts Public awareness information Public awareness information

Rapid Assessment Scenario Early detection of potential incursion Early detection of potential incursion Confirmation of species identification Confirmation of species identification Site visit; assessment of situation Site visit; assessment of situation Preparation of action plan Preparation of action plan Management, control, or eradication? Management, control, or eradication? Monitor the site Monitor the site

Rapid Assessment Tools Guidelines for rapid assessment developed with USGS Guidelines for rapid assessment developed with USGS Botanists on call for verification Botanists on call for verification Knowledgeable Rapid Assessment Team Knowledgeable Rapid Assessment Team Person responsible for preparing an Action Plan Person responsible for preparing an Action Plan Management and control expertise Management and control expertise Committed long-term monitors Committed long-term monitors

G. Safford Torrey Herbarium The importance of herbarium specimens…

Identification & Verification Identification tools – XID Program Identification tools – XID Program IPANE staff IPANE staff Participating state & regional herbaria Participating state & regional herbaria Flora of North America Project authors Flora of North America Project authors

IPANE Website - Rapid Assessment Page List of “Early Detection Species” List of “Early Detection Species” Database of status in all 6 states Database of status in all 6 states Early detection protocols Early detection protocols “Report sightings” buttons - How to easily report a possible new incursion “Report sightings” buttons - How to easily report a possible new incursion

Predictive Modeling Using known distribution and existing ecological data Using known distribution and existing ecological data Predict distribution or habitats in order to focus further field work Predict distribution or habitats in order to focus further field work Field checked by trained volunteers Field checked by trained volunteers

Stinking Willie Senecio jacobaea L. A TEST CASE

Tansy Ragwort

Native to Europe New England (ME, MA) New England (ME, MA) NY, NJ, PA, IL, MI, MT, ID NY, NJ, PA, IL, MI, MT, ID Canadian Maritime Provinces Canadian Maritime Provinces Pacific States & adjacent Canada Pacific States & adjacent Canada Australia, New Zealand, Japan Australia, New Zealand, Japan

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2002 Barre, Massachusetts 2002 Barre, Massachusetts

July, 2003

“Early” Detection; report

Specimen Collected Verification

Rapid Assessment Team Landowner Landowner Botanist Botanist Weed scientist Weed scientist Control expert Control expert State (or federal) regulatory official State (or federal) regulatory official Other stakeholders - NRCS Other stakeholders - NRCS

Rapid Assessment Team site visit

Some questions for the Rapid Assessment Team Is the plant identified correctly? Is the plant identified correctly? What is its historic, current, and predicted distribution at different scales? What is its historic, current, and predicted distribution at different scales? What are the biological attributes that make it invasive? What are the biological attributes that make it invasive? History and vectors; where did it come from and how did it get here? History and vectors; where did it come from and how did it get here? What is its expected potential for dispersion to other sites? What is its expected potential for dispersion to other sites?

More Questions What elements of biodiversity might be affected by its spread and establishment? What elements of biodiversity might be affected by its spread and establishment? Can it be controlled effectively? Can it be controlled effectively? What will it cost to control? What will it cost to control? Who will be responsible for its control at this site? at new incursions? Who will be responsible for its control at this site? at new incursions? Are there problems created by control? Are there problems created by control? What happens if we don’t take action now? What happens if we don’t take action now?

Assessment Recommendations Site and incursion specific Site and incursion specific Attempt to determine the history of the incursion Attempt to determine the history of the incursion Check surrounding land for additional incursions Check surrounding land for additional incursions Check status of other New England occurrences Check status of other New England occurrences Control, aimed at removal Control, aimed at removal Neighboring landowner education; outreach Neighboring landowner education; outreach

Control Recommendations Mowing Mowing Pre-determined time Pre-determined time Pay landowner for labor Pay landowner for labor Avoids herbicides Avoids herbicides Relatively inexpensive Relatively inexpensive Likely to quickly lower numbers Likely to quickly lower numbers Prevents spread of wind-dispersed fruits Prevents spread of wind-dispersed fruits

Recent Reports 1 misidentification – Sonchus arvernsis 1 misidentification – Sonchus arvernsis 1 correct report – Boston Harbor Islands 1 correct report – Boston Harbor Islands

Senecio jacobaea in New England 1903Portland, Maine 1903Portland, Maine 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1910 Danvers, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1938 Brookfield, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 1968 Newbury, Massachusetts 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2000 Bar Harbor, Maine 2002 Barre, Massachusetts 2002 Barre, Massachusetts 2003 Boston, Massachusetts 2003 Boston, Massachusetts

Still To Do… Additional field work Additional field work Gather ecological data Gather ecological data Implement action plan Implement action plan Predictive modeling Predictive modeling Continue to support landowner’s goals Continue to support landowner’s goals Distribute more “Wanted” posters Distribute more “Wanted” posters Eradicate Stinking Willie Eradicate Stinking Willie

In Conclusion Early Detection and Rapid Assessment can be very effective tools Early Detection and Rapid Assessment can be very effective tools Lots of trained observers out in the field are needed Lots of trained observers out in the field are needed Have an quick and easy reporting mechanism for new or unknown plants Have an quick and easy reporting mechanism for new or unknown plants Rapid Assessment must involve a wide range of knowledgeable people and local stakeholders Rapid Assessment must involve a wide range of knowledgeable people and local stakeholders The public must be engaged in the process The public must be engaged in the process Follow-up monitoring is mandatory Follow-up monitoring is mandatory

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