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Keeping it Clean on Sandy Ridge Video
/This video from Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area highlights a new bike, boot, and tool cleaning and education kiosk that is installed near the main parking lot at Sandy Ridge. This kiosk has all the tools you need to make sure your wheels, shoes and tools aren't weedy! Similar kiosks have been installed at Powell Butte and Rocky Point trails, too!
OISC Threats and Opportunities Webinar: Invasive Species in Oregon
/To commemorate Oregon Invasive Species Awareness Week and National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) presented a 90-minute webinar that introduced and highlighted invasive species threats and opportunities across the state, the critical network partners who manage them, and the key policies that facilitate these efforts. The webinar also provided an opportunity to showcase the OISC’s Threats & Opportunities: A Primer for Oregon Policymakers. Presentations were followed by a panel discussion with Q&A and a call for nominations for OISC awards and announcement of a new “Outstanding Local Leadership & Collaboration Award”.
A recording of the webinar can be found here: www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/threats-opportunities-webinar
Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly is an Invasive Insect That May Impact Oregon
/Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly is an Invasive Insect That May Impact Oregon
Spotted Lanternfly has a broad range of plant hosts, including grape, stone fruits, apple, ornamental species, maple, black walnut, willow and rose. Nymphs and adults are phloem feeders. They suck sap from young stems and leaves, which can cause wilting and plant stress. High numbers of Spotted Lanternfly can reduce photosynthesis, weaken the plant and eventually contribute to the host plant’s death.
S. Mermer, G. Tait, J. Vlach, J. Lee, M.-Y. Choi, H. Leach, L. Brewer and V. Walton (Published March 2021)
Invasive species costing over 1. 3 trillion over 4 decades
/Scientists have just released the most comprehensive estimate to date of the financial toll of invasive species: nearly $1.3 trillion over four decades.
Read full article here: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210331143039.htm
The Importance of Marine Bivalves in Invasive Host–Parasite Introductions
/Although research into the ecology and impacts of invasive species is prevalent, there are knowledge gaps relating to the role of invasive species in parasite transmission. This work synthesises invasive host–parasite interactions and impacts, using marine bivalves as a model group, to consider how global movement of shellfish consignments for aquaculture purposes facilitates the unintentional transfer of invasives. We discuss how invasive species can act as both hosts or parasitic organisms themselves, and introductions may lead to diseases within the bivalve aquaculture sector. This review highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research, with particular regard to the fields of parasitology and invasion ecology. We suggest that further integrating these fields will enhance critical knowledge of marine diseases, parasite-invasive-bivalve interplay dynamics, and potential mitigation strategies, including temperature-based disease surveillance models. We also address how climate change might impact invasive species, again with a focus on marine bivalves, and the potential outcomes for parasite transmission, including changes in host/parasite distribution, life-history and virulence. We acknowledge the importance of horizon scanning for future invasive host–parasite introductions and note that increased screening of invasive species, both in their native and invaded ranges, will provide clarity on invasion dynamics and potential impacts.
REVIEW ARTICLE
Front. Mar. Sci., 26 February 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.609248
Worst Invasive Species Areas Ranked in Western States
/Non-indigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) threaten our lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. Often introduced by unknowing recreational users, these harmful invasives can drastically alter aquatic ecosystems, foul equipment, and negatively impact native species. Invasive species are slowing spreading throughout the United States, Wildlife Forever and partners with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) decided to take a look at the current and potential future impact of NAS in the West.
Invasive Species Infestations by Congressional District. Congressional Districts west of the 100th meridian ranked by Infestation Score. The higher the score, represented by a dark red color, the more infested the area is by Nonindigenous Aquatic Species.
iMapInvasives Live Q&A Panel (Feb 2021)
/In this live Q&A panel, administrators from each of the current iMapInvasives jurisdictions (AZ, ME, NY, OR, PA, and SK) as well as iMapInvasives representatives from NatureServe serve as panelists and answer questions about iMapInvasives in an effort to provide a better understanding of the history of iMapInvasives, its many capabilities, and how others are utilizing the iMapInvasives platform to abate the threat of invasive species. Visit https://www.imapinvasives.org/ to learn more and contact us with your questions.
A geometrical approach explains Lake Ball (Marimo) formations in the green alga, Aegagropila linnaei
/An extremely rare alga, Aegagropila linnaei, is known for its beautiful spherical filamentous aggregations called Lake Ball (Marimo). It has long been a mystery in biology as to why this species forms 3D ball-like aggregations. This alga also forms two-dimensional mat-like aggregations. Here we show that forming ball-like aggregations is an adaptive strategy to increase biomass in the extremely limited environments suitable for growth of this alga. We estimate the maximum biomass attained by ball colonies and compare it to that attained by mat colonies. As a result, a ball colony can become larger in areal biomass than the mat colony. In the two large ball colonies studied so far, they actually have larger biomasses than the mat colonies. The uniqueness of Lake Balls in nature seems to be due to the rarity of such environmental conditions. This implies that the conservation of this alga is difficult, but important.
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep03761
*In March 2021, zebra mussels were found attached and inside Marimo algae balls sold in pet stores. Learn more on this OISC Pest Alert
Invasive Species in Forests and Rangelands of the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the United States Forest Sector
/This open access book describes the serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems. Invasive species have caused and will continue to cause enormous ecological and economic damage with ever increasing world trade. This multi-disciplinary book, written by over 100 national experts, presents the latest research on a wide range of natural science and social science fields that explore the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species. It covers species of all taxonomic groups from insects and pathogens, to plants, vertebrates, and aquatic organisms that impact a diversity of habitats in forests, rangelands and grasslands of the United States. It is well-illustrated, provides summaries of the most important invasive species and issues impacting all regions of the country, and includes a comprehensive primary reference list for each topic. This scientific synthesis provides the cultural, economic, scientific and social context for addressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species and will be a valuable resource for scholars, policy makers, natural resource managers and practitioners.
OISC Post-Fire Resources Webpage
/Check out the OISC post-fire resources webpage that was recently created: www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/postfire
U.S. Department of the Interior: Invasive Species Strategic Plan 2021-2025
/“The Department of the Interior’s (Interior) Invasive Species Strategic Plan (Plan), developed pursuant to the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9), provides an overarching framework for the broad spectrum of activities that are performed by ten of Interior’s Bureaus and multiple offices. The Plan includes goals, objectives, strategies, and performance measures, as well as crosscutting principles that guide its implementation. The strategies reflect both work that is ongoing and opportunities to focus on emerging priorities. While Bureaus often have their own invasive species management plans, this Plan, for the first time, outlines a comprehensive approach across Interior that both builds upon existing plans and serves as an overarching strategy.”
U.S. Department of the Interior: Invasive Species Strategic Plan 2021-2025
Invasive Annual Grass Workshop
/Harney County Wildfire Collaborative and SageCon Partnership hosted a two day workshop last month, during which the barriers and opportunities for addressing invasive annual grasses in Oregon and beyond the state were explored. If you missed the workshop or want to revisit the information that was covered, please click here. On this page provided by High Desert Partnership, you can find recordings of the December 14 & 15th sessions, graphic notes, and more!
How Non-Native Plants Are Contributing to a Global Insect Decline
/How Non-Native Plants Are Contributing to a Global Insect Decline
By JANET MARINELLI published December 8, 2020 in Yale Environment 360
The impact of introduced plants on native biodiversity has emerged as a hot-button issue in ecology. But recent research provides new evidence that the displacement of native plant communities is a key cause of a collapse in insect populations and is affecting birds as well.
Flowering Rush Webinar: Phenology, Genetic Variability, and Management
/Flowering Rush: Phenology, Genetic Variability, and Management
Dr. John Madsen, USDA-ARS; Dr. Bradley T. Sartain, ERDC-EL; Dr. Nate Harms, ERDC-EL 4 November 2020
First Dr. Madsen presents the phenology of Flowering Rush in two case studies that informs long-term management. Then Dr. Sartain looks at field trials that evaluate water exchange processes and herbicide efficacy on the effective management of flowering rush. Lastly, Dr. Harms looks at genotype differences between introduced populations that may lead to variation in economic or ecological impacts between invaded areas and finishes with genotype-specific management.
2020 Integrated Weed Maintenance Calendar
/This calendar is intended to provide land managers and weed practitioners with the best treatment and timing options when controlling invasive plants in the Portland metropolitan region. The calendar was originally written by Metro for managing natural areas, but the 4-County CWMA Technical & Scientific Review Committee has updated it for a wider audience of land managers.
View/Download 2020 Integrated Weed Maintenance Calendar
If you have any suggestions for the calendar, please contact Mitch Bixby (Mitch.Bixby@portlandoregon.gov).
A Toolkit for Invasive Annual Grass Management in the West
/The Western Governors’ Association (WGA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under a Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding, have been collaborating on efforts to meaningfully address the large-scale infestation of invasive annual grasses on western forests and rangelands. The result of this effort is a new toolkit for land managers to address the spread of invasive annual grasses in the West, including species such as cheatgrass, medusahead, and ventanata. WGA and USDA released the toolkit during a webinar, which featured presentations by members of the interagency committee that worked to develop the toolkit.
The toolkit is comprised of three elements:
A roadmap for invasive grass management in the West, with new best management practices for the identification and protection of relatively intact “core” areas;
Case studies highlighting the application of these practices in Idaho and Wyoming; and
A new geospatial data layer to help state and local officials manage invasive annual grasses at home, while also offering opportunities to identify new cross-boundary collaborative projects.
Plant ID: Ventenata dubia vs. Deschampsia danthonioides
/Deschampsia danthoniodes (native) and Ventenata dubia (invasive) grow in similar habitats, often right alongside each other and it can be very easy to confuse the two. Linked below is a one-page identification guide and a PowerPoint compilation of identification resources (Guide and Digital art by Bethany Reed, Malheur National Forest).