Treesearch

In the United States, biological invaders are managed by all Federal agencies that have responsibility for natural resources, as well as the States, territories, and occasionally regional entities. Federal agencies’ invasive species programs are implemented under the mandates and guidance provided by dozens of laws, which include statutes enacted by the Congress, Executive Orders issued by the President, and regulations adopted by the relevant agencies. Although there are numerous laws implemented by the States or occasionally regional entities, this chapter will focus on Federal legislatio...

Introductions of new invasive species continue with ever-expanding global trade, and the increase in invasive species does not show any sign of saturation for most taxonomic groups. However, some non-native species may arrive in an area and fail to become established or have no measurable impact. Thus, the protection of valued ecosystems depends on reliable knowledge about the species that are or might be invading, the ecosystems that are being invaded, the potential magnitude of different types of harm, the availability and effectiveness of management responses, and the desired state of...

Alaska has fewer invasive species and is less impacted by invasive species than most places on Earth. Until recently, Alaska has been protected by its cold climate and by its comparative lack of roads and other development.However, these barriers are eroding. Warming climate trends and longer shoulder seasons have reduced the climate flter that so far may have prevented some invasive species from establishing in the State (Figs. A1.1 and A1.2; Carlson et al. 2015; Jarnevich et al. 2014; Sanderson et al. 2012; Wolken et al. 2011). More extensive wildland fire combined with increasing...

Hawaii and the US-affliated Pacifc Islands (see Figs. A2.1 and A2.2 for associated map) have high levels of endemic native biodiversity, largely as a function of varied ecosystems and isolation. For example, Hawaii is the most isolated archipelago on Earth where 90% of its 10,000 native species are endemic. This geographic area represents most major forest ecosystem types and includes thousands of oceanic islands, elevational clines from coastal to alpine in temperate and tropical ecosystems, species and communities that occur nowhere else in the world, the tallest mountains on Earth, and...

The Northwest region (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; Figs. A3.1 and A3.2) contains major coastal and inland ports (Coos Bay, Lewiston, Pasco, Portland, Seattle-Tacoma, and The Dalles), waterways (Puget Sound, Columbia River Basin, and Willamette Valley), and major highway and rail arteries that provide pathways for invasive plants, pathogens, insects, and vertebrates.

The Southwest region (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) (Figs. A4.1 and A4.2) is marked by Mediterranean, montane, and desert climates/ ecosystems that provide unique and amenable conditions and habitats for invading plants, pathogens, insects, and vertebrates. Aridity is perhaps the dominant climatic feature framing the forest ecosystems of the Southwest (Peterson 2012). Extreme elevational gradients and the intervening desert landscapes in this region (Fig. A4.2) create pronounced biogeographical boundaries and refugia for endemic species of plants and animals....

Monitoring Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid being released for biological control of emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is challenging due to its small size and the cryptic placement of host eggs. We compared four O. agrili recovery methods: 1) rearing adults from bark (bark rearing); 2) sifting parasitized eggs from bark (bark sifting); 3) placing sentinel EAB eggs in screened envelopes on ash trees (sentinel eggs); and, 4) placing yellow pan traps on ash trees to capture adult parasitoids. In 2016,...

Forest production is strongly dependent on nutrient uptake; however, sustainable management of intensively managed plantations requires an improved understanding of this relationship when fertilization occurs frequently across short rotations. Here, we studied temporal nitrogen (N) concentration ([N]) and content (Nc) dynamics under different silvicultural practices (herbicide, fertilization, and planting density) throughout early loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stand development (5 years). We describe relationships of [N] and Nc of different stand components (foliage, branches, stem, roots,...

Recent state crayfish records, species descriptions, taxonomic revisions, and extensive additional collecting have rendered the previous Mississippi crayfish list, published in 2002, outdated. We compiled 9597 crayfish collection records from multiple sources, georeferencing localities that lacked coordinates. The new state list includes 65 species and possibly 5 subspecies. Thirteen species and 1 subspecies are endemic to the state, and another 21 species occur in only 1 other state. We created species lists by county and 4- and 8-digit hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) and discussed taxa...

Ongoing revitalization of the >5000-year-old tradition of using trees for vital culture and heritage activities including carving and weaving affirms Alaska Native resilience. However, support for these sustained cultural practices is complicated by environmental and political factors. Carving projects typically require western redcedar (Thuja plicata) or yellow cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) trees more than 450 years of age—a tree life stage and growth rate inconsistent with current even-aged forest management strategies. Herein, we qualitatively assess the significance of wood...