Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan Cape Ivy (Delairea odorata) in Chorro Creek Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan version 11.18.2010 Non-commercial use of the contents of this plan are granted, provided users credit the Morro Bay National Estuary Program. This plan was prepared by the Morro Bay National Estuary Program with funding from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Jon Hall, Project Coordinator Morro Bay National Estuary Program 601 Embarcadero, Suite 11 Morro Bay, CA 93442 805.772.3834 x12 [email protected] www.mbnep.org table of contents Acknowledgements......................................................................................IV Overview.............................................................................................................1 Process of Invasion.........................................................................................5 Plan Components...........................................................................................8 Coordination ..........................................................................................11 Prevention...............................................................................................12 Early Detection......................................................................................15 Rapid Response....................................................................................17 Control & Management....................................................................19 Education and Outreach....................................................................22 References......................................................................................................24 Page III Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com acknowledgements The Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan has been developed through a partnership supported by a number of organizations, agencies, individuals & university researchers. Grateful acknowledgement goes to the original steering committee and to those involved in subsequent efforts. Jon Hall Shari Sullivan John Sayers Daniel Bohlman Julie Thomas Bob Meyer James Taylor Pete Waldburger Scott Steinmaus Marc Lea Dan Dugan Tom Edell Lisa Needles Holly Sletteland Sarah Barnard David Chipping Jody Olson Morro Bay National Estuary Program Morro Bay National Estuary Program California State Parks Land Conservancy of SLO Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District Small Wilderness Area Preserve (elfin-forest) California Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp SLO, California Army National Guard California Polytechnic State University, SLO County of SLO, Department of Agriculture Tenera Environmental CalTrans San Luis Science & Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA) Morro Coast Audubon California State Parks California Native Plant Society Camp SLO, California Army National Guard Cover: Chorro creek cape ivy invasion (©MBNEP). Inset photos cover, pages 1,5 & 8, left to right; Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) - MBNEP, European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - iStockPhoto.com, European green crab (Carcinus maenas) - Washington Dept. of Fish and Game American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) iStockPhoto.com. All photos and illustrations © MBNEP, unless otherwise noted. Page 4 chameleon -iStockPhoto.com Page IV Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com overview overview The Morro Bay Estuary and its surrounding watershed is arguably one of the most beautiful areas in California. We have a working fishing port, rich agricultural lands, abundant recreational opportunities, rare and important ecosystems, economically viable oyster farms and a thriving tourist economy. The bad news is that all of these resources we consider essential to the Central Coast experience could be and indeed are being degraded by non-native invasive species. Invasive species are those non-native plants, animals, insects and diseases which cause, or are likely to cause, significant impacts to our economy, environment or human health. The worst part is, many of them were intentionally introduced here! For example, South African veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina) was originally introduced to the Central Coast as a forage crop for cattle in sandy soils and later recommended for erosion control (Bossard et al., 2000). It now invades most of our coastal dune scrub communities in and around Los Osos. Coastal dune scrub is an assemblage of shrubby plants that create a unique and beautiful habitat that is essential for the survival of many different species, some of them listed as rare and endangered. South African veldt grass is rapidly converting this shrub dominated ecosystem to a grassland. If nothing is done to reverse this trend, we may lose this unique ecosystem and the species that depend on it forever. Fortunately, the Central Coast has a diverse community of organizations, African veldt grass (E. calycina) agencies and concerned citizens actively engaged in tackling the problem of invasive species. One example is the community based non-profit Small Wilderness Area Preserve (SWAP) who has engaged local citizens to restore and protect a preserve containing a rare pygmy coast live oak forest. They have successfully eliminated the South African veldt grass described above from most of this preserve as well as many other invasive species, but the struggle continues. New Page 2 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com overview Geographic Scope The geographic area defined for this Action Plan is the watershed running into the Morro Bay Estuary. Made up of the sub-watersheds of Chorro and Los Osos creeks, the Morro Bay Watershed covers approximately 48,000 acres or 75 square miles. San Francisco Morro Bay Los Angeles Page 3 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com overview invasive species are constantly being introduced to this area by wind, water, animals and humans. Efforts like the ones happening at the Elfin Forest are occurring all over the Central Coast. There are researchers working on marine invasive species in the estuary; resource managers tackling invasive fresh water fish competing with our native steelhead trout; and agricultural inspectors fighting to keep agricultural pests like the notorious light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) from becoming established and impacting our local agriculture economy, and many, many more. In 2010, to commemorate “California Weed Awareness Day,” a group of concerned individuals representing the diverse interests of the Central Coast came together to devise a new approach to addressing the age old problem of invasive species. The results of that workshop have been compiled into this “Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan”. Unfortunately, these efforts are being done in a patch work manner and many invasive species are slipping through the cracks. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive, coordinated local effort to tackle this problem a new approach was envisioned. American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Case Study 1 Jackson’s Chameleons (Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus) are native to humid cool areas of Eastern Africa. In 1981 ten Jackson’s Chameleons from the illegal pet trade escaped into the wild in Morro Bay. Finding the climate in Morro Bay similar to that in their home range, the population began breeding. The population is surviving, but it is unclear if they will ever expand and become a problem. Page 4 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com process of invasion process of invasion Conceptualizing invasion as a staged process, with each species passing from one stage to another, is helpful when identifying management strategies. The literature on invasion ecology varies in regards to the number and definition of stages invasive species pass through. In this plan, we describe an invasion progressing through six distinct stages defining a successful invasion (Catford et al., 2009) (Figure 1) The first stage of invasion (Stage 1: Transport) involves movement of the invasive species to a new location. Transportation of invasive species is often human assisted. Management prevention early detection/rapid response Objective 2 (Prevention) focuses on this stage of invasion. Stage 2 (Introduction) defines the arrival of a species to a new location. If a species is introduced into a favorable environment it will often go through a “lag phase,” acclimating itself to the local environment. This “lag phase” can be short, or in some cases, last many years. Once the “lag phase” is over, the new invader will enter Stage 3, Colonization. During colonization the population is increasing exponentially, often at an explosive rate. During the introduction and colonization stages, discovering the new invasion and responding to it rapidly (Objective 3 & 4) offers the best chance of eradi- control & maintenance human health impacts Population Size Carrying Capacity $ stage 1 transport stage 3 stage 2 introduction colonization stage 4 naturalization stage 5 spread financial impacts stage 6 impact environmental impacts Time Figure 1: Stages involved in invasion related to population growth over time. Corresponding management strategies are highlighted at the top of Figure 1. Page 6 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com process of invasion cating a species before it becomes a problem. By Stage 4, Naturalization, the population is well established, making eradication very difficult. When an invader reaches the naturalization stage, management strategies shift to controlling that population and, more importantly, preventing the invader from spreading to new areas (Objective 5). Once the invader begins spreading to new area (Stage 5) the process begins all over again with transport and introduction to new areas. Stage 6 (Impact) is based on human perceptions of how that invader is affecting the environment, human health or the economy. As a result, not all invasive species necessarily reach stage 6. The management strategies described under Objective 1: Coordination and Objective 6: Education and Outreach in this plan are applicable no matter which stage in the process an invader is in. Case Study 2 A native of Europe, the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) was first found on the Pacific coast in San Francisco bay in 1989. The green crab cannot tolerate strong wave action on the open coast, so is predominantly found in bays and estuaries. These crabs grow quickly, produce many offspring, and are voracious predators. They have caused significant damage to commercial soft shell clam, oyster and crab fisheries in the Northeast portion of the United States. They may have a similar effect upon the dungeness crab fisheries in California. They can also cause severe negative impacts to native crab and shellfish populations. The European green crab has been found in the Morro Bay Estuary, but the status of its population is unknown. Page 7 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components plan components The Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan is a watershed wide strategy to reduce the impact of invasive species. It encompasses all taxonomic categories of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine invasive species. To become invasive, these species must go through six different stages (Figure 1-page 6) including transport, introduction, colonization, naturalization, spread and impact (Catford et al., 2009). The different management strategies presented in this plan were developed to address the problem at every stage of the invasion process. These management strategies are written as objectives. The objectives are somewhat fluid, meaning they are not mutually exclusive and there is overlap between these categories. This plan is comprised of six objectives with 26 action items addressing (Table 1): • Coordination • Prevention • Early Detection • Rapid Response • Control & Management • Education and Outreach This is meant to be a living document. To allow a mechanism for easy revisions and updates there will be no draft or final version. Rather, there will be different versions denoted by the date last revised. The most current version of the plan will be available on a website in digital format at (www. centralcoastinvasives.com). Case Study 3 Originally introduced in 1980, the sabellid polychaete worm (Terebrasabella heterouncinata) from South Africa can devastate California’s abalone aquaculture industry. This worm infests the shell of its host, causing slowed growth and shell deformation, resulting in production delays and economic loss to growers. By 1993 Abalone growers in Cayucos (just north of Morro Bay) began seeing the distinctive signs of the sabellid worm in their abalone stock. From there the sabellid worm spread to a neighboring rocky intertidal zone infesting native gastropods. A large scale effort was launched by the local abalone farm, California Department of Fish and Game and teams of volunteers to eradicate this new pest. Over 1.5 million infested black turban snails were removed from the shoreline area. By eliminating the dominant host, the sabellid worm was successfully eradicated. This was the first eradication of a well-established invader in the marine environment. This story exemplifies early detection and aggressive action as a way to successfully eradicate a pest. Page 9 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Morro Bay Watershed Invasive Species Action Plan Summarized Table 1 Objective 1: Coordination Action Items: 1A Create collaborative Invasive Species Action Network (ISAN) 1B Create central website to coordinate the ISAN Objective 2: Objective 3: Objective 4: Objective 5: Prevention Early Detection Rapid Response Control and Management Action Items: Action Items: Action Items: Action Items: 2A Create a “Watch List” 3A Identify monitoring approaches 4A Create a rapid response network 5A Create list of existing invaders 2B Identify potential pathways 3B Create list of experts 4B Outline rapid response procedures 5B Categorize list by threat level 2C Recommend preventive practices 3C Establish a reporting center 5C Map Red Alert Species 2D Map “Biologically Important Areas” 4C Watershed-wide consultation with permitting agencies 3D Create citizen scientist monitoring program 2E Predictive modeling 4D Identify available resources and resource gaps 4E Secure funding for eradication 5D Create species profile for Red Alert Species 5E Prioritize Red Alert list for control 5F Create and implement management plans for priority species Objective 6: Education and Outreach Action Items: 6A Create peer network of professional communicators 6B Create reference library of resources 6C Create outreach campaign targeting general public 6D Create outreach campaign targeting specific vectors Page 10 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com Objective 1: Coordination plan components Coordinate Invasive Species Efforts in the Morro Bay Watershed Discussion: Many effective programs and efforts addressing invasive species exist in the Morro Bay Watershed. Although effective, most of these efforts focus on a single aspect of invasive species. To achieve complete coverage of the invasive species problem, these individual efforts must be coordinated to achieve a set of watershed wide goals that encompass all species and all invasion pathways. Action 1A: Create a collaborative network of invasive species practitioners, experts, regulators and concerned citizens to coordinate efforts, share information and raise awareness of invasive species in the watershed. Discussion: At the heart of effectively tackling the invasive species problem is an active network of concerned citizens, resource managers, conservationists, government agencies and scientists. The problem has become so widespread, it is only by partnerships, collaborations and the participation of the community living, working and recreating in the watershed that measurable progress can be made. As such, this should be the main focus to implementing this plan. 1 Action 1B: Create a central web- site to organize the “Invasive Species Action Network” and aid in implementing the “Invasive Species Action Plan”. Discussion: In today’s technologically based world, the internet is the best avenue to coordinate and connect people to implement a plan like this. A successful web based hub for the Invasive Species Action Network must connect its members to share information; provide a geographic based reporting center for documenting new and existing invasions; and alert members to newly discovered invasions. Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) Photo: Freddy Otte Page 11 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 2: Prevention Prevent new species from being introduced and existing invasions from spreading. Discussion: Preventing invasive species introduction is the most cost-effective strategy with the least environmental impact. It should be considered as the first line of defense. Action 2A: Create a “Watch List” 2 Action 2B: Identify potential path- of potential invaders likely to cause significant impacts. ways for invasive species introduction. Discussion: Invasive species already introduced and causing problems in California have the greatest likelihood of getting transported and introduced here. A list of invaders already present in California, showing a potential for significant impacts, should be screened to determine those species that pose the greatest threat to the Morro Bay Watershed. A list of potential invaders for each habitat type will be compiled and a technical working group will distill this list down to a “Watch List.” This “Watch List” can be used for a targeted prevention campaign as well as a way to focus Early Detection efforts. Discussion: With the overwhelming number of new introductions every year, focusing on preventing a single species from being introduced only captures part of the problem. While it may be possible to keep a species out, there will undoubtedly be many more species introductions slipping through the cracks. It is very difficult to predict which species will invade and cause significant impacts to our local watershed. Fortunately, many unwanted species get transported and introduced through similar pathways. Focusing on these pathways, or vectors, is recognized as the most effective way to minimize the introduction of new invaders. Many routes of entry are specific to certain habitat types. For example, aquatic invaders that get introduced into the estuary from the bottoms of boats are probably not going to be introduced Page 12 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 2: Prevention Prevent new species from being introduced and existing invasions from spreading. into creek systems too small for boats to navigate. For this reason, vectors will be identified for each specific habitat type. Action 2C: Recommend preven- tive practices to help minimize introductions of new species. Discussion: Many invasive species hitch a ride to new ecosystems on unwitting carriers. Once pathways of introduction are identified, preventive practices can be recommended and implemented to minimize the risk of bringing in a new invasive species. For example, New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) can enter creeks in our watershed by hitching a ride on waders of researchers visiting other areas of the state where this species is established. However, if certain decontamination procedures are taken, we can eliminate the risk of this species coming in through Mudflat in the Morro Bay Estuary. that avenue. Once these preventive practices are identified, an education campaign will follow to make people aware of their role in the spread of invasive species and what they can do to help. Action 2D: Map “Biologically 2 Important Areas” in most need of protection from invasive species. Discussion: Sometimes knowing where invasive species are not present is as important as knowing where they are. In the Morro Bay Watershed, some special areas contain intact habitat and assemblages of species not found elsewhere. With the threats posed by human encroachment, habitat fragmentation and climate change, several rare and endangered species like the Morro shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta walkeriana) and Morro manzanita (Arctostaphylos morroensis), could be pushed to extinction from the additional stress imposed by invasive species. When deciding on which invasive species and populations to control with limited resources, consideration must be given to protecting our most biologically significant habitats. For example, the highly invasive African veldt grass (E. calycina) is rapidly converting rare dune scrub ecosystems dominated by subshrubs and shrubs into non-native grasslands. By completely changing the habitat structure Page 13 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 2: Prevention Prevent new species from being introduced and existing invasions from spreading. of this community, we may ultimately lose many of the native plant and animal species that evolved with this community. A Technical Working Group of experts is needed to identify which biologically significant habitats remain and those areas should be mapped so we can preserve them through invasive species prevention, early detection, rapid response and control programs. Action 2E: Run Predictive Models on “Watch List” Species to Estimate the Invasion Potential for the Morro Bay Watershed. have the potential to become invasive in their area. This can be a great tool when resources are tight. Once a watch list is created for early detection and prevention programs, this same list should be screened by modeling a species’ environmental requirements to predict their potential geographic distribution in the Morro Bay Watershed and surrounding areas. By modeling these species, insight can be gained into which species may become problems here, and subsequently where to focus early detection efforts. Models can be parameterized and run by the local university, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. 2 Discussion: Not all non-native species that get introduced to a new area become invasive. Once introduced to a new area, a species must find a suitable environment to thrive. Additionally, it must possess the intrinsic traits necessary to expand populations exponentially while displacing or out-competing native species or by capitalizing a novel niche not currently occupied by another species. There has been much work done to create models to predict suitable habitats for a given species (Guisan & Zimmerman, 2000; Phillips et al., 2006; Stockwell et al., 1999). These models can help resource managers make informed decisions about which species Coastal dune scrub ecosystems like this are rapidly being converted to grasslands by the highly invasive African veldt grass (E. calycina). Page 14 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 3: Early Detection Detect new or spreading infestations at the early stages of invasion. Discussion: Some non-native species will invariably get introduced regardless of how efficient a prevention campaign is. It has been estimated that of all the species that are introduced, only about 10% of those will survive past the initial introduction. Of those 10%, only 10% will become invasive (Booth et al., 2003). Some of these species may experience rapid population growth after the initial introduction. Others however, have a substantial lag time between initial introduction and subsequent population growth. This is known as the “Lag Phase” (Booth et al., 2003). After the lag phase, an invasive species population will start to expand as it colonizes a new area. Early Detection strategies aim to detect these species during the lag phase or the early stages of expansion. This is a crucial time. Most species are recognized as a problem later in the expansion stage when it may already be too late for eradication. Early Detection can also be used to discover and deal with an established species that is expanding its population into new areas. Action 3A: Identify approaches to monitoring for early detection of species. Discussion: Approaches to monitoring vary widely depending on the habitat being monitored and the species being monitored for. Some monitoring techniques specifically target an individual species while others focus on monitoring introduction pathways to capture a broader suite of new invasions. Once a “Watch List 3 for potential new invaders (2A)” and “potential pathways for invasive species are identified (2B)” monitoring approaches will be identified to increase the chances of detecting harmful invasions early. Action 3B: Create a list of experts to aid in identification of new species. Discussion: A cornerstone of any early detection effort is the proper identification of a newly discovered species. In some cases, this is a simple matter, but in other cases expert opinion is required. Taxonomists usually have expertise only with a particular taxonomic group, like marine invertebrates or terrestrial plants. A list of experts in each field and their contact information will be compiled to aid in the identification of new species. European green crab (Carcinus maenas) Photo: Washington Department of Fish and Game Page 15 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 3: Early Detection Detect new or spreading infestations at the early stages of invasion. Action 3C: Establish a reporting center for new species or spreading species. Discussion: Currently, there is no place the general population can report a species that appears out of the ordinary in the Morro Bay Watershed. When a new species is found, it is essential to have a central place to report that discovery. There are different approaches to dealing with this. An easily accessed website and a central, physical reporting location where species can be quickly assessed and information disseminated is ideal. about new invasions, but it creates awareness among our local community about the ways these invasive species are getting introduced. Citizen Scientists can actually participate in protecting their own watershed. 3 The Morro Bay Estuary Program has a highly successful volunteer monitoring program for collecting water quality data throughout the watershed. The framework from this existing program can be expanded to include a Citizen Science Monitoring Program for early detection of invasive species Action 3D: Create a monitoring program of Citizen Scientists to aid in early detection efforts. Discussion: Citizen Scientists Programs are networks of volunteers who may have no specific scientific training but receive training from professional biologists to collect scientific data. The concept has been successfully utilized to gather enormous quantities of data previously unattainable by scientists. In addition to gathering vital information, these programs are great tools for outreach and public engagement with a particular environmental threat. Not only does this generate important data Citizen Scientist monitoring watershed creeks. Page 16 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 4: Rapid Response Quickly and efficiently respond to new or expanding invasions. Discussion: Rapid Response is a systematic approach to eradicating or containing a new or spreading infestation while it is still manageable. Research has shown that as infestation size increases, the amount of resources required for eradication also increases. After a certain threshold infestation level, eradication becomes unlikely and the focus shifts towards that of long term management (Rejmánek & Pitcairn, 2002). Both the system and infrastructure must be set up in advance for a response to be rapid and efficient. Action 4A: Create a rapid response network developing a warning system for partners. Discussion: The key to responding quickly to a new invasion is communication. The right people must be informed to mobilize an effective effort to eradicate an invasive species. Also, partners and stakeholders throughout the watershed need to be informed of new invasions or an existing infestation spreading to previously un-invaded areas. In concert with developing a web-based system for reporting new discoveries to aid in early detection of species, there must also be a component of that system designed to alert partners about new discoveries. 4 Action 4B: Outline rapid response procedures (What to do and who has responsibilities in case of invasion) Discussion: A systematic procedure for identifying new species, assessing their risk and implementing actions needed for eradication will facilitate the quickest response possible. Time is valuable when a new invasion occurs. By outlining the steps to go through before the response is actually needed, the whole procedure will run smooth and efficient and the response will be quick and effective. Page 17 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 4: Rapid Response Quickly and efficiently respond to new or expanding invasions. Action 4C: Hold a watershed wide consultation with permitting agencies (DFG,USFWS,etc.) to expedite future rapid response actions. Discussion: Often the biggest hurdle to eradicating a new species is acquiring the necessary permits. The permitting process can be extremely time-consuming depending on the agency handling the permit; treatments used; habitats being worked in; and sensitive species that may be affected. In an attempt to make this process more efficient, a watershed wide consultation should be done with the various permitting agencies to find ways to expedite the process into an emergency response time line. Potential agencies for the consultation include: • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • NOAA Fisheries • CA Department of Fish and Game • California Department of Pesticide Regulations • Regional Water Quality Control Board Action 4D: Identify potential resources or resource gaps for dealing with new invasions. Discussion: Eradicating new or spreading populations requires specialized resources. Depending on the habitat, specialized tools and knowledge may be required. An audit of current resources among Invasive Species Action Network members will be done regarding tools, knowledge, skills and infrastructure applicable for eradicating invasive species. Based on this audit, missing critical resources for mobilizing a rapid response will be noted. 4 Action 4E: Secure a funding source to eradicate new high risk invasions. Discussion: In some cases a new discovery may be deemed an exclusion pest by government agencies. In those cases, funds may already exist for eradication. To respond to a new discovery that doesn’t fall into this category, money must be on hand to react quickly. The coordinator will work to secure eradication support funds. Ideally, funding will be provided as a lump sum which can be drawn from to eradicate high priority new invasions. A system must be created to decide how to allocate rapid response funds. This should be a transparent system decided upon by a technical working group. Page 18 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 5: Control and Management Control and manage the spread and impact of established high priority populations. Discussion: Once a population becomes established, eradication may become infeasible. Some of these species create substantial impacts and must be managed or controlled. Once eradication is deemed infeasible, control and management typically involves containing an invasion by preventing spread to new areas. This approach is very similar to an early detection and rapid response scenario. If eradication from the whole watershed is not possible, eradication may be achieved for smaller management units like sub watersheds. New isolated insipient populations can be eradicated while the perimeters around existing large populations are maintained. Action 5A: Create a list of known invaders in the watershed Discussion: Creating a list of nonnative species in a region is an important first step in documenting the current threats and impacts of invasive species. Control and management of invasive species begins with knowing what species are present. Many partners in the watershed have lists of non-native species derived from resource assessments. These lists will be consolidated as a starting point. Action 5B: Categorize the list of existing invaders by relative threat level to the environment, economy and human health. Discussion: Non-native species can negatively impact the economy, human health and natural biodiversity. However, not all non-native species have the same level of impact. Some non-native species are able to survive, but have no significant impact. 5 Controlling these species is considered a poor use of resources. However, some of these non-native species are significantly impacting our regions resources or have the potential to do this. These species typically expand their populations exponentially and are termed “invasive”. There are different approaches to assessing an invasive species threat. The best approach is to follow a protocol designed to make the process of assessing and listing species objective and systematic. A technical working group should develop listing criteria to provide objective, systematic assessments of invasive species threats to the watershed. This assessment should consider a species relative impact; invasive potential; and feasibility of control. Once this assessment protocol is developed, it will be applied to the list of known non-native species created under Action 5A. The highest level of ranking will be identified as “Red Alert” species. These species will be the focus for further management efforts. Page 19 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 5: Control and Management Control and manage the spread and impact of established high priority populations. Action 5C: Map “Red Alert” spe- cies distribution in the watershed. Discussion: Once “Red Alert” species are identified, populations will be mapped to show the extent of the infestation This will help with determining the potential impact of the infestation and strategizing the management approach. The mapping approach should allow for comparability between different taxonomic groups and different habitat types. Mapping resolution will be selected for rapid assessment utilizing the minimum mapping unit to capture adequate information for planning purposes. has already occurred for that species in the watershed; and what effective management tools currently exist. Action 5E: Prioritize “Red Alert” species list for control. 5 Discussion: With limited resources, not all species categorized as “Red Alert” can be controlled. The list must be prioritized to decide where to focus these resources. Existing control programs will likely factor into this listing, as will species impacts to public trust resources, the economy or human health. Action 5D: For “Red Alert” Spe- cies Identify Biology; Ecosystems Infested; Introduction Pathways and Method of Spread; Effective Management Tools; and History of Management in the Watershed. Discussion: To effectively manage an invasive species a lot of information must be considered. Information should be obtained on how that species is spreading; the seasonal phenology of the species; how that species effects our local economy or human health; how that species affects native species and ecosystems; what is making the ecosystem susceptible to invasion; what kind of management Page 20 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 5: Control and Management Control and manage the spread and impact of established high priority populations. Action 5F: Create and implement control/management plans for high priority “Red Alert” species. Discussion: Any species control should happen under a formal management plan. The management plan should include a description of the general approach, a time line for control based on the seasonal phenology, methods to be used, maps of populations or areas targeted for control, partners that will be involved, and permits needed. Originally introduced as an ornamental plant, jubatagrass (Cortaderia jubata) has escaped from cultivation and is creating problems throughout the coast of California. Recognizing this threat, the local San Luis Obispo Weed Management Area has been working to eradicate this plant from the chain of mountains known as the Morros Range. 5 Page 21 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 6: Education and Outreach Discussion: Education and outreach efforts factor into every aspect of the invasive species problem. Behavioral change in the individuals contributing to the spread of invasive species is only possible when that community understands the potential impacts, their role in the problem and what can be done to help. Action 6A: Create a peer network of professional communicators focused on the issue of invasive species. Discussion: A Technical Working Group of Professional Communicators should be formed to guide the invasive species outreach effort. This network can review new materials created; provide input on which existing projects have proven successful and document lessons learned from less effective projects. Action 6B: Create a reference library of resources to aid the invasive species education and outreach campaign. Discussion: One of the barriers to creating effective outreach materials is a lack of available, copyright-free images and outreach material to employ in messaging efforts. An on-line “catalog” will be created as a repository for education and outreach material 6 which can be used by partners and others. The “catalog” should include clear licensing and usage requirements and be hosted in a commonly used or very simple to use format. This “catalog” should be maintained and continually updated as new materials are presented. Action 6C: Create an outreach campaign to raise awareness of the invasive species problem with the general public. Discussion: Poor understanding of invasive species among the public provides significant opportunities for inadvertent species transportation, most commonly through recreational pursuits such as boating. Behavioral changes typically happen through education. To increase public interest in addressing this problem, general awareness of residents and visitors must be raised. Communication with the public should be prePage 22 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com plan components Objective 6: Education and Outreach sented through a consistent, prioritized principal message employing a variety of outreach methods and tools. Action 6D: Create an outreach campaign targeting specific vectors identified under OBJECTIVE 2: PREVENTION. Discussion: For each vector and pathway for invasion that is identified, an outreach campaign should be created to specifically target those risk factors. Techniques will vary widely depending on the risk factor and the audience targeted. This is best handled by professional educators and communicators who can accurately identify the audience and craft a communications strategy to effectively reach those individuals. These efforts will be a much more targeted campaign than the generalized effort to reach the average citizen described in Action 6C and may involve pre-project surveys, focus groups and other traditional social marketing tools. Every effort should also be made to measure audience response and rate of behavior change in order to evaluate effectiveness of the campaigns. 6 Page 23 Morro Bay Invasive Species Action Plan • www.centralcoastinvasives.com references Booth, B. D., S. D. Murphy & Swanton, C. J. (2003). Weed Ecology in Natural and Agricultural Systems. Cambridge, MA: CABI Publishing. Bossard, C. C., J. M. Randall & Hoshovsky, M. C. (2000). Invasive plants of California’s wildlands. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press Catford, J.A., Jansson, R. & Nilsson C. (2009). Reducing redundancy in invasion ecology by integrating hypothesis into a single theoretical framework. Diversity and Distributions, 15: 22-40. Guisan, A. & Zimmerman, N.E. (2000). Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology. Ecol. Model. 135: 147–186. Phillips, S.J., Anderson, R.P. & Schapire, R.E. (2006). Maximum entropy modeling of species geographic distributions. Ecol. Model. 190: 231-259. Rejmánek, M. & Pitcairn, M.J. (2002). When is eradication of exotic pest plants a realistic goal? Proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives. Stockwell, D. & Peters, D. (1999). The GARP modeling system: problems and solutions to automated spatial prediction. Int. J. Geograph. Inform. Sci. 13: 143–158. 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