Oregon Invasive Species Information Hub User Guide
OISC Information Hub Introduction
The Oregon Invasive Species Hub (Hub) was created in order to gather details and characteristics about invasive species and store that information in an active online database. The Hub provides an overview of available information on species or groups of species of concern such as presence/absence in Oregon, where it is found within the state by ecoregion or habitat type, means of conveyance, and its invasion potential and/or establishment level. This database is useful to evaluate available information, assess gaps in information and provide links to additional resources (such as risk assessments, fact sheets, etc).
The Need for an Oregon’s Worst Invaders List
The original Worst Invader List was created to highlight current invasive species of concern to Oregon. This list became a reference datasheet that allowed partners to review resources and management strategies. However, this static datasheet was difficult and time consuming to update. Since the study of invasive species is such a fast moving field, it became clear that there was a need to make this resource more editable and versatile. The new Hub has been moved to an Airtable database and is designed to provide up-to-date information regarding emergent invasive species.
Navigating Airtable
Airtable is a valuable tool in the management of data and resources. It functions similar to excel but has more real time customization and table linking capabilities. AirTable tables can be embedded on a webpage and open for anyone to view and sort through to find resources.
The Hub has different metrics which can be queried, such as species status in Oregon, introduction or dispersal pathways of concern, suitable habitat, or combinations of multiple metrics. The Hub also provides links to other resources, giving you access to additional critical information.
Table Views
On the OISC Hub webpage you will see multiple table views that allow you to access specific information within the Hub database. The first option is to view Alert Species.
Alert Species
The invasive species listed in the Alert Species table have been highlighted as a current immediate threat to Oregon. The table is separated into “Active” and “Previous” alert species. Click the “Expand” button in the top left corner of each entry in the alert species table to see more details including the Alert Description, Photos, Call to Action, Why is this an alert?, Primary Web Link, News & Press, Date of Alert, Date to Update Alert, Distribution Map (from Species Overview), and Species Overview. You can also select the “Download CSV” or “View Larger Version” to see the table as a whole.
Species to Look out for in Oregon
Below the Alert species table you will see the “Species to Look out for in Oregon” icons. You can click on the taxa groups to find information about species of concern to Oregon that have either not yet been detected, have been eradicated in the past, or have been contained to a limited distribution within the state.
Please Note: published species profiles are limited. Additional profiles will be published in a phased approach. A list of all species profiles currently under development, scroll to the bottom of this page.
All Published Species Profiles
The All Published Species Profiles table can be opened in either gallery form or table form. To view the full grid, click on the “View larger version” button in the bottom right of the grid preview. The link to the full table version is just below the grid preview.
Species Profiles
The information provided in each species profile can be examined in greater detail by selecting a species in either the grid or table version. When the species profile is open, you will see a long list of categories providing information on the species. Some of these categories are names or short descriptions, others are photo attachments and others are dates or check marks.
Using filters and searching for keywords
In order to look for specific information across species it is helpful to use filters and search for keywords. Select the larger version of the Species Profiles in either the grid or table view. Click on the “Filter” icon in the top left corner of the page. Then select “Add Condition”. This will bring up options to sort the data to fit any query. You can search across all published species to find species that have certain characteristics or fields populated. Additionally you can sort the table according to any field.
Once you have created a table with a specific query, see the example below of all species profiles selected as having human health impacts, you can either download the table as a CSV or print the table.
Additional Resources
Within each species profile there are links to additional resources that provide background information on the species and its distribution and/or management strategies. Look for these resources in the “Attachments” and “Document Link (URL) (from Associated Resources)” categories.
Distribution Maps
Where possible, published species have links to distribution maps that show how specific species have spread into and/or across Oregon. A common tool to track a species distribution is through iMapInvasives. Though there are other distribution map tools that provide this useful data. This information can be found in species profiles under the “Distribution Maps” category.
Management Implications
An important goal of the OISC invasive species Hub is the collection of management strategies and implications for factors important to Oregon. Early detection of invasive species is critical for preventing establishment, preventing spread, and limiting the potential economic, social, and environmental impacts. Early detection & rapid response (EDRR) is a key strategy in Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species and is often highlighted in this category.
Invasive Species Impacts
The destructive impacts seen from invasive species can range across environmental, economic and social concerns. Within each species profile there is a breakdown of how specific species may have, or are already having, an impact on the following categories:
Human Health Impacts
Economic Impacts
Ecological Impacts
Potentially Impacted by Climate Change
Impact on FIrst Foods
To discover more about the impacts of climate change and first foods on invasive species, go to the “Spreading Information not Invasives” section on the OISC Hub website and click on the following links Invasive Species and First Foods and Invasive Species and Climate Change.
How to Get Involved
The OISC Hub provides invasive species specialists opportunities to connect and share information, allowing better preparation and rapid response to invasive species threats. In order to provide accurate information we rely on experts in the invasive species field to provide comments and feedback on the data and functions of the Hub. At the bottom of the OISC Information Hub webpage you will find a button that allows you to leave Proposed Edits and Input, this short form allows you to give your overall feedback, proposed content edits for species records, and/or opportunities for improving the information Hub's usefulness for you.
If you are interested in becoming more involved with the Hub please reach out to the OISC coordinator at coordinator@oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org