PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 20: Invasive Species
Wednesday, August 10, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Development of regional invasive species watch lists.
Drucker, Hilary*,1, Brown, Cynthia1, Stohlgren, Thomas1, 2, Lane, Eric3, 1 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA2 United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, USA3 Colorado Department of Agriculture, Denver, CO, USA
ABSTRACT- The United States is in the midst of a widespread invasive species crisis. Invasive species are associated with varying degrees of infestation and degradation, along with differing theories and opinions on approaches to mediate these threats. However, many specialists agree that it is essential to improve our ability to predict non-native invasions in order to make informed decisions about control and eradication. The most cost effective management scheme is to plan for eradication of a species before it has the opportunity to spread. This project has taken a systematic approach, synthesizing available data about invasive species distribution, abundance, and physical traits, and applying risk assessment tools to generate a list of invasive species that have the greatest potential to spread to the state of Colorado. We compiled data sources from county to statewide levels, created a model of increasing magnitude of invasiveness using invasive species evaluation tools and provided the state of Colorado with a scalable (ranked from least to most urgent) watch list of potentially invasive weeds. Our results are organized into discrete countywide watch lists, to assist counties in Colorado with early detection that will facilitate successful eradication. The project provides a model of invasion potential prediction that may be applied not only to weeds, but pathogen, animals, and insects.
Key words: invasive species, invasion potential, ranking assessment, watch lists