CURRENT RESEARCH AND RESEARCH APPLICATION PROJECTS
Evaluating the Effects of Management-ignited Fire on the Influx of Exotic Plants in Wilderness
WHO: Peter Landres - Leopold Institute
WHAT: This project is designed to determine whether exotic plants invade areas where management-ignited prescribed fires have been used to reduce fuels and restore a more natural fire regime.
WHERE: Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, ID
WHEN: 2000-2003
WHY: Wilderness and fire managers recognize the need to restore the role of fire to wilderness after decades of fire suppression. In addition to natural ignitions, management-ignited fire is also being considered in wilderness. But many exotic plants are disturbance specialists and they currently surround most wildernesses, so there is great concern that fire will allow these exotics to gain a foothold from which they may spread throughout the wilderness, in effect trading one problem (lack of fire) for another (exotic plants). This research will give managers information about whether exotic plants are likely to invade naturally-ignited or management-ignited burn areas in wilderness, allowing them to analyze tradeoffs between restoring fire and the potential for introducing exotic plants, as well as planning mitigation strategies for these exotics in those areas where their invasion is most likely.
The Effects Of Wildland Fire And Biocontrols On Spotted Knapweed In Western Montana
WHO: Peter Landres - Leopold Institute; Ray Callaway - University of Montana
WHAT: The overall purpose of this agreement is to explore how wildland fire affects the establishment and growth of spotted knapweed in western Montana, how spotted knapweed subsequently affects native grasses, and whether biocontrol agents affect these interactions. Specific objectives of this research are to answer the following questions:
- What is the effect of wildland fire on spotted knapweed biomass and reproduction?
- Does biocontrol infection reduce spotted knapweed biomass and reproduction in the field?
- Does biocontrol infection on spotted knapweed increase the biomass and reproduction of native grasses in the field?
- Does wildland fire alter the direct effect of biocontrol infection on spotted knapweed fitness or the indirect effect of spotted knapweed biocontrol infection on native grasses?
WHEN: 2001-2006
WHERE: Bitterroot National Forest - Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, MT
WHY: Invasive plant species are one of the greatest threats to wildlands in the United States. Disturbances such as fire create conditions that are favorable for exotic species invasion of native plant communities. These conditions include increased bare soil, reduced competition, and increased light and nutrient levels. The fires of 2000 created these conditions on nearly 1.5 million acres in the Northern and Intermountain Regions. Therefore the fires of 2000 potentially set the stage for an unprecedented expansion of established weeds and invasion of new weed species. This could lead to altered plant and animal communities, altered successional pathways, altered fire regimes, and reduced or eliminated Threatened and Endangered Species.
Click here to view a research update for this project - May 22, 2003 (pdf format)
NOTE: If you do not have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer, you can view this presentation by downloading Acrobat Reader.
National Wildlife Refuge Invasive / Non-Native Species Survey
WHO: Amy Cilimburg, Doug Tempel, and Vita Wright - Leopold Institute
WHAT: In collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Leopold Institute recently conducted a survey of invasive and exotic species within National Wildlife Refuge wilderness areas. We collected information on the presence, distribution, perceived threat, and current management of invasive plants and exotic animals and pathogens in wilderness. The surveys were completed in July 2001, and a
report of the survey findings was completed in December 2002. To download either a copy of this survey or the results database, go to Wilderness Invaders.
WHERE: National Wildlife Refuge Areas with wilderness throughout the United States
WHEN: 2001-2002
WHY: The Presidential Executive Order on Invasive Species (2/3/99) directed all federal agencies to prevent and control introductions of invasive species in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. Since the Executive Order, activities to prevent and control invasive plant and animal species have become a Fish & Wildlife Service priority on all National Wildlife Refuges. The National Strategy for Invasive Plant Management directly addresses the importance of detecting and monitoring invasive plants:
"Early detection of new infestations, both of plants known to be invasive and those not known to spread aggressively, will keep eradication and control costs at a minimum. Information is needed regarding initial sightings of new plants with invasive potential and new infestations of recognized problem plants. In addition, a national system for storing and disseminating information about weed occurrences would drastically improve our ability to fight invasive plants."
As a first step toward developing a national system for storing and disseminating information about invasive species, the Leopold Institute conducted a survey of non-native invasive plants, non-native animals, and non-native pathogens in National Wildlife Refuge wilderness areas.
Potential Future Research Projects
- Compilation and review of methods to predict invasive species occurrence in wilderness.
- Develop a modeling-based framework for prediction.
- Develop review and synthesis of control methods for exotic plant invasion in wilderness.
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