Invasive Species National Assessment USDA Forest Service Research & Development State of the Science for Non-Native Invasive Species –A National Assessment– The USDA Forest Service works with a wide assortment of partners to detect, respond to, and manage non-native invasive species that threaten the Nation’s wildland and urban forests and rangelands, but a current comprehensive, and integrated assessment of the state of invasive species science and research is lacking. Increased science focus on quantifying invasive species biology, interactions, and impacts, along with managing invasive species and altered ecosystems were identified as major priorities in a Forest Service Technical Report, A Dynamic Invasive Species Research Vision: Opportunities and Priorities 2009-2029. In December 2015, a national stakeholder workshop was held in Phoenix, Arizona with leading experts on invasive pests, climate change, social sciences, and forest and rangeland management to highlight the science and identify knowledge gaps in a diverse array of topics related to invasive species. A major outcome of the workshop will be a USDA FS General Technical Report that synthesizes the available information on invasive species science in one place. The Technical Report will be linked to the climate change assessment, and will provide the basis for elevating the impact of future research programs. Dying ash trees, Photo provided by L. Bauer, NRS Yellow star thistle, Photo provided by D. Pearson, RMRS Challenges and Opportunities (Research Priorities and Gaps) Examples of research priorities and gaps identified by USDA FS R&D scientists and Forest Health Protection professionals and allied resource professionals during the workshop were: Ecological Issues: Understand host and ecosystem vulnerability to non-native invasive species (IS) Determine if we can predict invasiveness from IS biology and IS responses to stressors Understand mechanisms of how IS kill trees, disperse, and cause impacts Quantify cascading and cumulative impacts of IS to ecosystems and across ecosystems Evaluate extent to which IS irreversibly change ecosystem processes and affect efficacy of restoration Determine non-target effects of management and secondary invasions Determine linkages of environmental gradients/climate change to ecosystem responses to IS Evaluate interactions and impacts of IS on below-ground processes Develop dynamic spatial and spread models and integrate multiple models Management Issues: Improve monitoring for presence, distribution, and impact of IS Apply transgenic approaches as management tools vs solutions for IS Conduct large-scale, long-term studies to track changes for management use Develop post-treatment monitoring to evaluate management efficacy Improve capacity to address uncertainty in management decisions Social Issues: Integrate human and health dimensions with IS issues Determine social values, costs and benefits, demographics, and land-use changes related to IS Enhance communication between social scientists, economists, and biologists working on IS Use benefit cost analyses to identify economic injury levels of IS Improve the assessment of non-market values of ecosystem and IS impacts Develop a centralized web-based storehouse for IS data coordination Restore infrastructure for species restoration following treatments for IS Invasive Species Discussion Topics and Issues At the workshop, leading experts from many federal and state agencies and universities shared highlights of research progress and participated in discussions to prioritize topics and issues related to invasive species. Discussion topics included: Impacts of Invasive Species on Ecosystem Processes and Structures Climate Change and Invasive Species Influence of Natural Disturbances on Invasive Species Management and Prevention Risk Assessment Tools and Technologies Changing the Culture of Invasive Species Science and Management International Perspectives Economic Consequences of Invasive Species Challenges and Opportunities Oak wilt ,Photo provided by J. Juzwik, NRS Feral hogs, Photo provided by M. Schwartz RMRS Invasive Species National Assessment Planning Committee Members Toral Patel-Weynand, Washington Office Deborah Hayes, Washington Office Deborah Finch, Rocky Mountain Research Station Jennifer Juzwik, Northern Research Station Chelcy Miniat , Southern Research Station Therese Poland, Northern Research Station Steven Seybold, Pacific Southwest Research Station Photo provided by J. Pineda For Additional Information on the Invasive Species National Assessment, Contact: Washington Office, Toral Patel-Weynand, Director Sustainable Forest Management Research, Phone: (202) 205-0878. E-mail: tpatelweynand@fs.fed.us. Washington Office, Deborah Hayes, National Program Leader, Phone: (229) 386-3298. E-mail: deborahhayes@fs.fed.us. Acknowledgements: We greatly appreciate the efforts of Tara Haan Karel, Jasmine Pineda, and Richard Zabel, who facilitated the workshop.