E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Early Detection of Invasive Early Detection of Invasive Species in the Eastern Rivers and Species in the Eastern Rivers and

Mountains Network (ERMN)Mountains Network (ERMN)

Jennifer Stingelin KeeferJennifer Stingelin KeeferMatthew R. MarshallMatthew R. MarshallMargot W. KayeMargot W. Kaye

The George Wright SocietyThe George Wright SocietyMarch 14-18, 2011March 14-18, 2011

National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior

Inventory and Monitoring ProgramInventory and Monitoring ProgramNortheast RegionNortheast Region

Photo by: Jeff Shreiner

““Early Detection of Invasive Species: Early Detection of Invasive Species: Surveillance Monitoring and Rapid Surveillance Monitoring and Rapid

Response Protocol”Response Protocol”

Goals Assist park managers with identifying high

priority invasive species Quickly disseminate new occurrence information

to all interested parties (NPS, public, private, etc.)

Assess the risk presented by incipient populations

Assist with management of newly detected species

Opportunistic SamplingOpportunistic Sampling

Primary Objective: Detect incipient populations (i.e., small or

localized) and new introductions of target invasive species through opportunistic observations before the species become established.

“EVERY PERSON WORKING OR RECREATING IN A NATIONAL PARK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE

AS AN EARLY DETECTOR”(Williams et al. 2007)

Protocol ComponentsProtocol Components

Target species lists Occur in localized areas of parks, are extremely

rare, or are not currently present within a park, but have the potential to cause major ecological, cultural, or economic problems if they were to become established;

Target species identification information Distributed to all ERMN field crews and other

interested cooperators, resource managers, and volunteers;

Early detection reporting and tracking system Disseminates information on potential

infestations in a timely and efficient manner.

Reports, Publications & On-line Reports, Publications & On-line ResourcesResources

http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ermn/

Reporting & TrackingReporting & Tracking

Convenient solution for storage, display, and sharing of occurrence and distribution data.

Documents species distribution over time. Interactive County-level mapping Alert System Data sharing

http://www.eddmaps.org/

EDDMapS RecordEDDMapS Record

Ex. Berberis thunbergii DC. (Japanese barberry)

New River Gorge National River, West Virginia

EDDMapS Map ExampleEDDMapS Map Example

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Matthew R. Marshall, Program Manager, NPS ERMN Dr. Brian R. Mitchell, Program Manager, NPS NETN Dr. Margot W. Kaye, Asst. Professor Forest Ecology, The

Pennsylvania State University Dr. Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Director, Invasive Plant Atlas of

New England (IPANE) Wayne Millington, Integrative Pest Management

Coordinator, NPS Northeast Region Dr. Cynthia D. Huebner, Research Botanist, USFS

Questions?Questions?

Jennifer Stingelin KeeferJennifer Stingelin Keefer

Invasive Species Early Detection CoordinatorInvasive Species Early Detection Coordinator

Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN)Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN)

Jennifer_Stingelin_Keefer@partner.nps.govJennifer_Stingelin_Keefer@partner.nps.gov

http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ermn/http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ermn/