BIOLOGICAL definition of an invasive exotic

1
A WEED is any plant you dont want

• BIOLOGICAL definition of an invasive exotic
• NOXIOUS WEED - any plant regulated by a
  governmental body

2
Characteristics of Invasive WEEDS

1. NON-NATIVE
2. INVASIVENESS
3. COMPETITIVENESS
4. PERSISTENCE
5. AGGRESSIVENESS

3
Understand the Seriousness of Invasive Weeds

• Land use is changing
• Weed spread over the past 100 years in MT
• ECOLOGICAL and ECONOMIC impacts of invasive weeds

4
Land use is changing

• Increasing Public and Wildland Interface
• Increasing Recreation Use
• Increasing Human Movement/Transportation

5
IMPACTS! OF INVASIVE WEEDS

• reduce habitat for fish, wildlife and livestock
• choke out native plant species, threaten
  sensitive species
• increase soil erosion and stream sedimentation
• limit recreational opportunities
• cost millions of dollars each year

6
WHY DO ANYTHING?

• ECONOMIC 35 billion/year in costs/ damages(US)
• - SFPWMA partners spent over 200,000 this year
  controlling weeds primarily in Flagstaff and
  adjacent highways and forests
• - MONTANA - 42 million is costs and damages for
  one weed species

7
Total Direct and SecondaryAnnual Economic
Impacts42.107 million
Silently sneaking across boundaries, noxious
weeds cost Montanans millions of dollars each
year.
Knapweed Infestations
8
spotted knapweed in MT
1925 1950 1975 TODAY
9
KNAPWEED in N. AZ
10
What is at risk?

• Ground disturbing projects
• Sensitive and endangered species habitat
• High intensity fires
• High-use Recreation sites
• Road construction, reconstruction,
• maintenance

11
Propagules of Regeneration

• SEEDS
• FLOWERS
• SOIL SEEDBANK
• RE -VEGETATION

• ROOTS
• SOIL DISTURBANCE
• SOILS TRANSFER

12
Pathways of Introduction

• ON SITE SOURCES
• PLANT MATERIAL
• SEED BANK
• OFF-SITE SOURCES
• SOIL/FILL MATERIALS
• EQUIPMENT
• REVEGETATION/ MULCHING
• COORDINATION

13
Pathways of Introduction
HAY
TOURISTS
NURSERY PLANTS
TRUCKS
TRAINS
PRODUCE
FIRE
Construction Equipment
14
RISK ASSESSMENT

• Pre Field Review
• Field Reconnaissance
• RISK RATING
• Risk Rating Likelihood x Consequence
• Likelihood The likelihood that weeds will
  establish in project area.
• Consequence The consequence of weeds
  establishing in project area.

15
(No Transcript)