1. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Early Detection of Invasive Species in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) Jennifer Stingelin Keefer Matthew R. Marshall Margot W. Kaye The George Wright Society March 14-18, 2011 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Inventory and Monitoring Program Northeast Region Photo by: Jeff Shreiner

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

3. Opportunistic 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)

4. Protocol 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.

5. Reports, Publications & On-line Resources http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ermn/

6. Reporting & 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/

7. EDDMapS Record

8. Ex. Berberis thunbergii DC. (Japanese barberry) New River Gorge National River, West Virginia EDDMapS Map Example

9. Acknowledgements 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

10. Questions? Jennifer Stingelin Keefer Invasive Species Early Detection Coordinator Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) Jennifer_Stingelin_Keefer@partner.nps.govhttp://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ermn/