Invasive Exotic Plant Monitoring in Capitol Reef National Park. 2011 Field Season

摘要

Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are a significant threat to natural ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and controlling them is a high priority for the National Park Service. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) selected the early detection of IEPs as one of 10 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. During surveys conducted on September 2729, 2011, Capitol Reef National Park staff detected four IEP species on monitoring routes and transects along 7.3 kilometers of Oak Creek. Of the invasive species considered priority species for the park, only tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis) and Russian olive (Elaeangus angustifolia) were detected. Tamarisk was by far the most common (68 of 69 infestations) IEP detected along monitoring routes. While infestations were widespread, actual IEP percent cover was low in Oak Creek. Both tamarisk and Russian olive were present in numbers similar to those recorded during surveys in 2003.