Wildland Weed Inventory

Transcription

1 Wildland Weed Inventory and Mapping Kimberly Edvarchuk Corey Ransom Utah State University

2 What is Weed Inventory? A visual representation of the weed situation as seen by the surveyor that is used to guide decisions in the management of weed species.

3 What is Weed Inventory? Putting onto paper the weed situation you see in person, For later use in decision-making by others who have not seen it themselves

4 Why Inventory and Mapping?

5 Diagnosis Treatment

6 Weed Diagnosis Initial Detection & Mapping Weed Treatment PLAN MANAGE EVALUATE MEASURE (Monitor) Adaptive Management

7 Why Refuges and Parks? Lightning Rods for New Invasions Attract Millions of Visitors Annually World-Wide Origins Roads and Backcountry Visits Vectors: Cars, Boats, Bikes, Shoes, Clothing, Backpacks, Tents, Horses, Hay/Feed, Pets, Migrating Wildlife

8 Why Inventory and Mapping? Know where the weeds are!

9 Better Prioritization of areas and species for management

10 Identify Sources of Invasion and Predict Potential Spread (Modeling)

11 Monitor Project Success Over

12 Increase Funding to Support Management

13 Support Early Detection & Rapid Response Click to edit Master subtitle style

14 Generate Awareness/Participation/Partnerships

15 Document/Protect Weed Free Areas Click to edit Master subtitle style

16 Is This the Only One?.. 1 Scotch Thistle Click to edit Master subtitle style Document Areas Searched but No Weeds Found

17 Between-Feature Position Tracking Click to edit Master subtitle style

18 Identify and Protect Clean Lands

19 USU Invasive Weed Mapping Results Mapped : 323,233 acres Acres Infested: 25,481 acres Percent Infested: 7.9 percent Species Found: 70

20 What have we learned? 1. Mapping is essential. 2. It costs money There will never be universal agreement on a best method. AllClick methods share certain to edit Master subtitle style basic requirements for success. Mapping data standards exist, but field method standards are lacking.

21 Cost = $$

22 Cost = $$$$$

23 So Why Aren t We Doing it?

24 Reasons for Not Mapping Money spent on control efforts. Don t know where to start. Unsure of data to collect and field methods. Terrain. Cost? Don t have the personnel/time. Lack GPS / equipment.

25 Existing Mapping Data Standards

26 Standardize & describe methods Not just WHAT data to collect, but HOW

27 Existing Field Methods USU Wildland Weed Mapping Methods Training Supplement Prepared by Kimberly A. Andersen Steven Dewey Utah State University Logan, UT 84322

28 Equipment

29 Map invasive weeds? There s an app for that!

30 Resources Available Personnel Volunteers Biologists / Staff FWS Strike Teams University students Private Contractors

31 Getting Started Land Mgmt Goals Invasive Species Mgmt Goals Prioritize Areas (Where) Identify Mapping Goals (How will data be used?) (Survey / Inventory / Monitor?) Species (What) Resources Available Select Methods (Tools) (How) Timing (When) Conduct Survey / Inventory

32 Define Mapping Objectives

33 What is purpose of project? What resources are impacted? How will data be used? Pre-Mapping Questions

34 What species should I look for? How large is the area? How long will it take? How much will it cost? More Key Questions

35 UWCNF Goals Identify weed-free prevention priority areas. Detect new invaders in a timely fashion in support of EDRR efforts. Guide decision-makers in the prioritization and management of more widespread weed species.

36 Define The Search Area

37 Define The Search Area Area Selection Criteria: Land Value - Critical Wildlife Habitat - Tourism - Agriculture - Asthetics Disturbance / Mgmt - Frequency - Type

38 Define The Search Area Area Selection Criteria: Vegetation Attributes Habitat Resilience to invasion Pristine, Managed, or Degraded Endangered Species Riparian zones Traffic Accessibility to roads, trails, campgrounds

39 Focus on Priority Areas Management Goals Use Patterns Disturbance Roads / Trails Campgrounds/Visitor Use Areas Riparian Areas Backcountry sites Forest boundary Riparian Areas Grazing Areas Wildlife Habitat Resources Impacted Prescribed burns T & E Habitat Erosion Potential Wildlife Habitat

40 Define Target Species Single or Multiple Species? Control Priority Based? Eradicate Control / Contain Ignore

41 Define Target Species Legal mandate for control Ecological Impact Ecosystem Processes Community Structure Community composition T & E Species Conservation Significant of Natives

42 Define Target Species Current Distribution and Abundance Size and range Diversity of habitats or ecological systems invaded Neighbor invasives Trends in Distribution and Abundance Proportion of potential range occupied Long-distance dispersal potential within region Invasive ability to invade new habitats Similar habitat invaded elsewhere

43 Define Target Growth Stage Mature Plants? Include Seedlings?

44 Define Search Pattern Set search pattern according to target size, terrain, cover, and species

45 Trails / Roads 25 yards on either side of the trail

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47 Estimating Patch Size Accuracy Consistency Efficiency

48 Points vs. Polygons (Same infestation mapped both ways) POINTS 5 Point Sizes 2 Density Categories Acres Infested POLYGONS Patch Perimeters 2 Density Categories Acres Infested

49 What Constitutes a Single Patch?

50 Should I Map them as 1 Patch or 3?

51 Question: How far apart must 2 weed plants or patches be before they are considered separate infestations?

52 Patch Separation Resolution (PSR) Maximum Distance Between Individual Plants or Patches of Weeds Considered Part of the Same Mapping Feature Infestation

53 Is it Practical to Search for Every Plant?

54 Define Minimum Target Size Single Plants? Patches?

55 Avoid gathering more data than needed to meet your objectives

56 Compulsive Data Shopper? Like strolling down the aisles of a grocery store, filling your cart with every item that catches your attention, but without any menus or recipes in mind.

57 The Bread, Milk, & Eggs of Invasive Weed Mapping (The Data-Shopping Staples ) Species Location Extent / Abundance

58 Take Home Message There s no best method YET! Base mapping on your individual management objectives Document not only what but how Be Consistent Throughout Project

59 Conduct Weed Inventories Often Enough So That New Infestations Are Found When Still Small Enough to Eradicate

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