Conservation Threats and the Benefits of Invasive Reporting
EDDMapS is a way for invasive plant management to be expanded and informed more closely. Inside protected areas, invasive plants are largely monitored and treated by biologists according to management plans or on site decision making at the ground level.
Invasive species often choke out native species, decreasing biodiversity. They can reduce or eliminate plants that are necessary for local wildlife, that maintain erosion control, and that balance the soil composition. Some invasives can change the chemical composition of the soil itself. Some, such as tree of heaven or ailanthus altissima, release a chemical that stunts the growth of other plants.
Impacted sites can be hotbeds for invasive species, so the more impact that is concentrated in an area, the more attention must be paid to the possible infestation and spread of invasive species. EDDMapS can help land managers, private home owners, non profit groups, volunteers, and other make more informed decisions about invasive species management.
There is also an economic component to stopping or reducing the spread of Invasive Species. For example, Florida spends as much as 3-6 million dollars to treat melaleuca in the Everglades, annually. As much as 14.5 million dollars is spent by Florida annually on hydrilla management. Understanding the spread and on the ground infestation rates can help to inform a more proactive approach to these costly ventures in the future.
The information I will mostly be reporting is in the Piedmont Area of Virginia. The invasives I will be coming into contact with are those that are threatening the wildlife clearings and recreation systems where I work. Most of these species are widespread and their ranges already include the area in which I work. In these cases, it is more a question of density and on site information for a wider audience of users. The information that I am reporting and the information that I am accessing aids in understanding what trends are involved in the spread and density of an invasive species, and those trends will be examined further in future blogs on this webpage.
Reid, A. M., Morin, L., Downey, P. O., French, K., & Virtue, J. G. (2009). Does invasive plant management aid the restoration of natural ecosystems? Biological Conservation,142(10), 2342-2349. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.05.011
Invasive species often choke out native species, decreasing biodiversity. They can reduce or eliminate plants that are necessary for local wildlife, that maintain erosion control, and that balance the soil composition. Some invasives can change the chemical composition of the soil itself. Some, such as tree of heaven or ailanthus altissima, release a chemical that stunts the growth of other plants.
Impacted sites can be hotbeds for invasive species, so the more impact that is concentrated in an area, the more attention must be paid to the possible infestation and spread of invasive species. EDDMapS can help land managers, private home owners, non profit groups, volunteers, and other make more informed decisions about invasive species management.
There is also an economic component to stopping or reducing the spread of Invasive Species. For example, Florida spends as much as 3-6 million dollars to treat melaleuca in the Everglades, annually. As much as 14.5 million dollars is spent by Florida annually on hydrilla management. Understanding the spread and on the ground infestation rates can help to inform a more proactive approach to these costly ventures in the future.
The information I will mostly be reporting is in the Piedmont Area of Virginia. The invasives I will be coming into contact with are those that are threatening the wildlife clearings and recreation systems where I work. Most of these species are widespread and their ranges already include the area in which I work. In these cases, it is more a question of density and on site information for a wider audience of users. The information that I am reporting and the information that I am accessing aids in understanding what trends are involved in the spread and density of an invasive species, and those trends will be examined further in future blogs on this webpage.
Reid, A. M., Morin, L., Downey, P. O., French, K., & Virtue, J. G. (2009). Does invasive plant management aid the restoration of natural ecosystems? Biological Conservation,142(10), 2342-2349. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.05.011
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