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3 Species-Area relationships
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Donovan Craig R.A., UNLV Scott Abella, P.I. UNLV; Sara McPherson G.A., UNLV; Jean Pan, MOJN Ecologist; Bob Truitt, MOJN Data Manager; Jennifer Burke, MOJN Protocol Data Manager; Dana Robinson, MOJN GIS; Laura Steadman, MOJN GIS; Wendy Trowbridge, Springs Vegetation PD; Burt Pendleton, Integrated Upland PD; Geoff Moret, Water-related PD; Penny Latham, PWR Coordinator; and Nita Tallent-Halsell, MOJN Coordinator
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>40 million hectares infested (~4% of US); annual increases of 8-20% (FICMNEW- Federal Interagency Committee on Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds)◦ ~ 3-4% of NPS lands
Next to habitat loss, invasive species are a primary threat to global biodiversity (Scott and Wilcove 1988).
Parks have mission to maintain natural resources “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
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Species-Area relationshipsSpecies-Area relationships
Where are incipient populations of targeted (high-priority species of greatest management concern) invasive plants located in MOJN parks?
◦ Detect incipient populations and new occurrences of targeted invasive plants before they become established in prioritized search areas (vector corridors and areas of high management significance) in MOJN parks.
ED vs. S&T (distinct components)
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Roadsides, Trails, (VECTOR CORRIDORS)
Moist areas with disturbance
Park Areas of early detection management priorityDEVA Springs, dunes, (rare plant areas) vector corridorsGRBA Riparian meadows and trailheads (vector corridors)JOTR Palm oases, vector corridors
LAKE Habitats that currently or historically support rare/sensitive plant species (sandy and gypsum soils); desert springs; vector corridors (e.g. roads, trails, riparian/washes)
MANZ Cultural resources (most of park can be inventoried)MOJA Kelso Dunes, Piute wash, desert springs, and vector
corridors (road, rail, trail)PARA Springs, vector corridors
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What is the trend in abundance and frequency of established target invasive plants in MOJN parks?◦ Estimate the status and trend of established target
invasive plants frequency and abundance in shrub and riparian communities and other priority management sites identified by the prioritization process.
S&T
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Species Common name What it does Location/Trends
Brassica tournefortii
Sahara mustard Displaces native annuals, increase fuel loads
Occurs in lower desert, washes, stable sands, (but many soil types)
Bromus spp. (rubens and tectorum)
Red brome and cheatgrass
Fuel large and frequent fires (alteration of ecosystem processes).
Occurs in mid elevation desert shrublands (e.g. Red Rock, Great Basin Desert)
Erodium cicutarium
Redstem filaree Displaces native annuals
Very widespread, may dominate after fires.
Schismus spp. (arabicus and barbatus)
Mediterranean grass
Displaces native annuals, increase fuel loads
Occurs in lower desert with few limitations
Tamarix spp. Tamarisk, saltcedar
Riparian vegetation displacement
Will occur in any consistently moist area.
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High bars mostly Bromus spp.
What is the relationship between exotic plant management practices and target IEPs, secondary invasive plant species and non-target native species? Estimate the trend of established target invasive
plants abundance, secondary invasive plant abundance and native plant abundance following pest management practices in MOJN parks. Simply a before and after measurable trend- not a
controlled study.
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S&T for those parks/sites covered by Springs and IU protocols.
All parks need early detection efforts.Threats of certain exotic species similar for
many parks, but many differing degrees of threats (Early Detection vs. Status and Trends)◦ For example: Brassica tournefortii at LAKE vs. DEVA
So question is: Which species and why?Plus: Which areas within parks and why?
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Status and Trends monitoring integrated with other vegetation protocols.◦ Focusing on established species of high ecological
concerns (some beyond management feasibility).Early Detection methods following the “Weed
Sentry” program model (with adjustments).◦ Focusing most on incipient invasions.◦ Should not exclude certain exotics based on
management feasibility.◦ Some level of measure for all (P/A).
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Roads, trails, shorelines/riparian corridors, and other high disturbance areas (e.g. developments)
Due to slower rate of travel (when driving), generally exclude major heavily travelled roads (safety issue).◦ These get plenty of observation as is.
Depending on park resources and length/type of routes, prioritize routes.
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Lessons learned from WS program:◦ Do not exclude exotic plants from data
(at minimum P/A)◦ If time, include targeted “off-road” searches
Perpendicular transects◦ Better repeatability of measurement data
%cover vs. coarse abundance categories
Presence/Absence for all exotics at a minimum along ED routes.
Measures of abundance for target incipient invasive exotics.◦ Depends on species for type of measure (% cover,
density, census)◦ Patches of herbaceous weeds (% infested area of
gross area).◦ Measure standard plot for repeatability (10x10m)
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Based on climate and elevation gradientsBased on plant life forms and phenologyExotic winter annuals in lower MOJN: can
start in late winter/early spring (varies with annual moisture, more time constraint).
Perennials most often associated with higher moisture regimes (springs, riparian; less time constraint).
GRBA shorter growing season (summer park)
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Parks will be responsible for Early Detection staff (volunteers??).◦ LAKE has “Resource Steward” program◦ Great citizen-science opportunities◦ NCC, ACE work crews
I&M crews for Integrated Upland and Springs/Riparian Vegetation will cover Status and Trends monitoring.
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10/15/10 11/15/10 1/15/11 2/15/11 4/1/11 5/30/11 6/1/11
Background and Objectives
Sampling Design
Field Methods
Data Management
Have ED field testing complete
Operational requirements
Submit for park review
SOPs SOPs Analysis and reporting
Personnel and Training
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Early Detection Protocol Narrative and SOPs
7/1/11 10/1/11 12/1/11 1/30/12
Sent to PWR (External Review)
Comments back
Revisions done
End of 60-day wrap up. Protocol finished
Ideas still in development. Ideally, we would want to have a centralized
database (easily accessible to all, web interface).
Some crossover of ED with S&T◦ I&M (S&T) crews (Springs Veg, IU) would report
incidental observations for Early Detection (“trip report”).
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For Status & Trends, this will fall under other vegetation protocols.
For Early Detection, parks are responsible.
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Adequate training of observers and field guides should improve quality of data.
Photos and/or voucher specimens taken for “unknown” plants.
Centralized Database??- would need strict QA/QC measures.
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Major network-wide inventory of known exotic species and threats.◦ Much information about each species (biology,
distributions, habits)◦ Broken down to individual park inventories
Wrapping up prioritization of species (first draft).
ED narrative (early sections) coming along.Field guide for crews and training purposes
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