Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During our extension we continue to make advancements in each area of our award. The Weed Treatment Planner and Plant Dispersal Modeling were incorporated into the curriculum of Invasive Plant Biology a senior and graduate course taught in 2012 at University of Idaho. One Ph.D. student, Sandya Kesoju has defended and submitted her dissertation, with graduation in Fall 2012. A Ph.D. student at University of Montana, Pablo Arcena successfully defended with graduation in Fall 2012. The non-market economics of plant invasion were presented at the 2012 Western Society of Weed Science Conference by Tyron Venn. Weed Treatment Planner was incorporated into training at the Idaho Weed Conference in 2012. Weed Treatment Planner continues to be modified from workshop participant input and with incorporation of two modes of utilizing vegetation layers to predict dispersal, the tool will be ready for strategic planning in 2013. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators for the project in 2011 and 2012 were Paul Brusven, Nez Perce Tribe, Gilbert Gale, USDA Forest Service, Lynn Burton, USDA Forest Service, Carol Randall, USDA Forest Service, Kim Goodwin, Coordinator for the Continental Divide Invasive Weed Barrier Zone, Kim Ragotzkie, Coordinator for Hold the Line project TARGET AUDIENCES: Weed superintendents and public agency land managers knowledge of Weed Treatment Planner was increased through a presentation at the Idaho Weed Conference. Invasive Plant Survey crew managers were targeted with hands-on use of the plant community susceptibility models for use in survey efforts for the Nez Perce National Forest, the Frank Church Wilderness, Madison County Idaho (adjacent to Yellowstone National Park) and for survey efforts within the Continental Divide Zone in Montana on lands adjacent to the Frank Church Wilderness. Students at the University of Idaho who took Invasive Plant Biology learned about plant dispersal and decision support tools such as Weed Treatment Planner. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Our plant community susceptibility models and dispersal models were used by the Nez Perce Tribe's plant survey crew in 2012 to search for rush skeletonweed on the Nez Perce National Forest and the Frank Church Wilderness. Evaluation of the utility of the susceptibility models by the plant survey manager was that the models were accurate and they have confidence moving forward that using the models will improve their survey efficiency. Our models were also used by USDA Forest Service in 2012 to manage for rush skeletonweed eradication in Montana. Our growing expertise with plant community susceptibility modeling has extended our work with leafy spurge and plant survey efforts to protect Yellowstone National Park from eastward movement of leafy spurge.
Publications
- Lass, L.W., Prather, T.S., Shafii, B. and Price, W.J. 2011. Chapter 13, Tracking invasive species in rangeland using probability functions to identify site specific boundaries. A case study using yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). In GIS Applications in Agriculture Volume 2 Invasive Species. CRC Press LLC. pgs 277-298.
- Prather, T.S. 2012. Slowness is deceptively fast. Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly, Spring Edition pgs 18-19.
- L.W. Lass, Cook, S.P., Shafii, B. and Prather, T.S. 2012. Development of a dispersal model for balsam woolly adelgid, Adelges piceae Ratzeburg (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), to facilitate landscape-level management planning. International Journal of Forestry Research (in review).
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We have an occurrence model built for rush skeletonweed. Wind is a component to dispersal for rush skeletonweed and so we have constructed a wind map for the state of Idaho for use in modeling dispersal via wind. The model variables include topographic aspect, elevation and an index for vegetation. Each of the variables were selected from multiple models that compared expected values with actual values from weather stations. These variables minimized mean square error. We now are beginning finer scale dispersal modeling of rush skeletonweed. We have identified areas where we have data from in-field plant surveys taken over a time series of up to 9 years and we will use those data to validate the predicted movement and compare it to the actual movement. We continue to try to use the model output for mapping from a helicopter but weather conditions have not been favorable. The aerial mapping will be attempted in 2012. We conducted a training session in Salmon, ID for plant survey and Weed Treatment Planner use and a copy of the Weed Treatment Planner was installed on all user's computers. The participants included federal,state and county agency personnel from across south and central Idaho and southwestern Montana. We are expanding work in northern Idaho through a cooperative agreement with US Forest Service to help with rush skeletonweed mapping in 2012 using the wind and occurrence mapping tools. We have initiated implementation of Weed Treatment Planner for strategic planning in Lemhi County. We also presented Weed Treatment Planner during a meeting in Island Park, Idaho for the Continental Divide group who seek to prevent species from moving across the divide. PARTICIPANTS: Tim Prather has continued to hold workshops for implementation of the dispersal models and implementation of Weed Treatment Planner. Bahman Shafii, Larry Lass, William Price, Sandya Kesoju and Tim Prather have continued work on dispersal modeling of rush skeketonweed. Tyron Venn, Pablo Arcena and Woodam Chung continue to work on incorporating economics into WTP and to improve decision tool logic. Two training sessions for professional development of federal, state and county personnel were conducted by Tim Prather. Collaborator Kim Goodwin, MSU organized one workshop and she has worked with implementation of susceptibility models within the Continental Divide group. Daniel Bertram and Carl Crabtree, collaborators in Lemhi and Idaho County are using WTP for strategic planning. TARGET AUDIENCES: Actions are modified among land managers after workshops on plant community susceptibility and dispersal modeling. The US Forest Service is using models to scout for areas of new infestation after fire. County personnel are using it for planning of weed efforts for next year. The Continental Divide group is using the plant community susceptibility models for directing plant survey efforts. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our model is being used to direct survey efforts for rush skeletonweed. People conducting surveys for rush skeletonweed are now using our plant occurrence model to determine areas that are susceptible to invasion by rush skeletonweed. One Cooperative Weed Management Area is currently using Weed Treatment Planner to set strategy for management of multiple species across large areas that encompass all of Lemhi County Idaho. Our training sessions have led to additional users who will be implementing our habitat susceptibility models and use Weed Treatment Planner for strategic planning.
Publications
- Newsletter: Marry Reese. 2011. UI Extension scientists help Idaho counties fight noxious weeds in Programs and People, University of Idaho, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, page 7.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Our first goal of modeling dispersal of 3 species has concluded for yellow starthistle and for Balsam wooly adelgid. The yellow starthistle occurrence model was converted to Arc/Info raster data to allow Arc/map to run COST spatial modeling module. The model was tested in Arc/Info and compared with our Idrisi development model. The results matched. The yellow starthistle dispersal model has been incorporated into Weed Treatment Planner. The dispersal model for balsam wooly adelgid also utilized both wind speed and direction to estimate movement from known infestations. Initially July wind speed and direction data was collected from the USFS Fire Laboratory and based on 10 km intervals. The USFS Fire Lab data did not match multiple year July average of digital weather stations recording in our study area. New wind speed and direction models used the digital weather data prior to 2010 for July to estimate an average speed and direction surface response image for the study area. The wind speed images were further adjusted using a method developed to estimate wind speed for wind turbine farm placement using vegetation, a surface shape classification, and flow as independent variables. The surface shape classification consisted of 11 possible topographic features: peak, ridge, saddle, flat, ravine, pit, convex hillside, saddle hillside, slope hillside, concave hillside and inflection hillside. July wind speed and direction models were compared to average wind speed and direction data being reported in July of 2010 by the RAWS weather stations in the study area and closely matched. Balsam wooly adelgid dispersal model and occurrence model are ready to convert to Arc/Info raster data to allow Arc/Map to run cost its spatial modeling module. Dispersal modeling for rush skeletonweed is complex and is still a major focus of our research efforts. Rush skeletonweed is the focus of Sandya Kesoju, our Ph.D. graduate student. Spatial dependence has been researched and it appears to track with terrain and our wind patterns that follow local terrain. A survey was conducted to determine non-market costs for invasive plant species was conducted in 2010 and results of that effort are being analyzed and will be incorporated into the economic forecast modeling that is a part of Weed Treatment Planner. The survey included citizens of both Idaho and Montana. PARTICIPANTS: Our research was reported at the Joint meeting of Weed Science Society of America and Society for Range Management ( Prather, Lass, L., B. Shafii, W. Price, S. Cook, S. Radosevich, W. Chung and T. Venn. Recognition of the need for landscape to region-wide management of invasive plant species has grown among landowners and land managers.). Extension efforts have included presentations of the Weed Treatment Planner with plant dispersal at a western US BLM training program in Boise, Idaho. The decision tool was of great interest among the participants who expressed interest in further training once each dispersal model has been incorporated. The Weed Treatment Planner was also used as part of a national web training held by the Center for Invasive Plant Management on Remote Sensing and Plant survey. Weed Treatment Planner and plant dispersal were part of trainings held at the Idaho Weed Conference in 2010, a regional seminar series among government agencies in Portland Oregon (sponsored by US Fish and Wildlife), and as part of a field tour in Preston Idaho with USDA Forest Service personnel from both Idaho and Washington , D.C. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our initial dispersal models for rush skeletonweed are being used for plant survey as part of a Continental Divide project funded through the Montana State Department of Agriculture. In Lemhi County Idaho, the plant survey is implemented using digital aerial sketch mapping using a human surveyor in a helicopter. Finding new infestations requires a tight flight pattern that increases costs. The initial dispersal model is being used to focus survey efforts to areas likely to contain new infestations. BLM land managers have expressed interest in using Weed Treatment Planner for weed management once the program has been completed. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Our search for a graduate student took longer than expected. The research for rush skeletonweed was delayed and will require additional time to complete that is beyond the scheduled end date of the project.
Impacts
We have created GIS layers that utilize wind patterns and susceptible plant communities in proximity to existing infestations. Those GIS layers are being used for plant survey using aerial digital sketch mapping that is implemented with a tablet computer with GPS and infestations located from a helicopter flying a grid over potentially infested areas. The effort is being led by our collaborators with the Continental Divide group with a focus within Lemhi County in Idaho and adjacent counties in Montana. BLM participants in a regional training found Weed Treatment Planner was a decision tool they would be interested in for further training and potential implementation.
Publications
- Prather, T. S., L. Lass, B. Shafii, W. Price, S. Cook, S. Radosevich, W. Chung and T. Venn. 2010. Recognition of the need for landscape to region-wide management of invasive plant species has grown among landowners and land managers. Proceedings of the 2010 Weed Science Society of America.
- Lass, L. W., T. S. Prather, B. Shafii, and W. J. Price. 2011. Chapter 13, Tracking invasive species in rangeland using probability functions to identify site specific boundaries. A case study using yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis in GIS Applications in Agriculture Volume 3 Invasive Species, Sharon A. Clay, Editor. CRC Press LLC.
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Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Our first goal of modeling dispersal of 3 species was addressed through first acquiring plant location data and calculating two vegetation indexes, Stressed Vegetation Index (STVI) and Transformed Soil Adjusted Index (TSAV), that relate to plant community competitive ability across our study sites in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. For climate interactions with plant growth we calculated two degree day variables from NOAA data sources and labeled spring accumulated growing-degree-day (SGGD) and winter accumulated cold-degree-day maps (WCGD). We also calculated incipient radiation as an additional climate variables that affects plant development. These data layers are now ready for use in network movement models. A graduate student has been accepted at University of Idaho and is beginning coursework and has begun initial model development. Our second goal involves damage costs. Three meetings have taken place with stakeholders to develop a survey for market and non-market damage costs. A descriptive model of damage costs was developed during the first year of the project for use during discussions at the three stakeholder meetings. A graduate student was accepted at University of Montana and his research will be development of market and non-market damage costs. Expanding of the decision support system has continued with stakeholder input both during an April 22, 2009 workshop and with a set of stakeholders who work with us in an advisory capacity. Developing teaching and extension workshop materials began prior to a two day workshop in April 2009. The workshop was attended by stakeholders from Idaho and Montana. Training materials were created for the workshop and those materials will serve as the core of information in training materials for workshops in year 2 of the project. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. T. Prather has coordinated activities for the proposal, developed training materials and planned and coordinated a two day workshop for Idaho and Montana stakeholders. He advertised for a graduate student who began in August 2009 and coadvises the student with Dr. Shafii. Dr. L. Lass has assembled data sets and calculated competitive and climate variables for use in the network movement model. Dr. Lass assisted with computer and GIS support at the April workshop. Dr. Bahman Shafii serves as major professor for the UI graduate student. Dr. Stephen Cook has assembled location data for the wooly adelgid and has consulted Larry Lass on model construction. Dr. Chung oversees development of the decision tool and has modified the tool with input from stakeholders. Mr. Pablo Aracena has programed the decision tool as part of his graduate program and modifies the decision tool with input from stakeholders. Ms. Sandya Kesoju began her graduate program in August 2009 and is focused on coursework during her first semester. Dr. Venn is developing the damage cost estimates that will be incorporated into the decision tool. He has conducted 3 workshops on damage costs and has acquired stakeholder input to construct a survey instrument to assess damage costs. Mr. Matthew Wibbenmeyer began his graduate program working on damage cost estimates, and has collected research papers on invasive species impacts as background material to create workshop materials for three workshops discussing invasive species impacts. Mr. Carl Crabtree, a weed superintendent in Idaho County, has provided plant location data for use in the project and is serving to advise on development of the decision tool. Ms. Pat Green is an ecologist with USDA Forest Service, Nez Perce National Forest, and has provided plant location data and advises on development of the decision tool. Daniel Bertram, weed superintendent for Lemhi County, ID has provided plant location data and advises on development of the decision tool. Ms. Kim Goodwin administers the Continental Divide Project which is a large-scale collaboration to prevent weed movement across the Continental Divide between Montana and Idaho. She has provided plant location data, serves as point of contact for the cooperators within the project area and helps with workshop advertisement as well as providing advice for decision tool development. Opportunities for training have included a presentation on the decision tool at the Idaho Weed Conference in 2009, an April 2009 two-day intensive workshop held in McCall, ID and two additional workshops focused on damage costs held in Boise, ID and Missoula, MT. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audiences include public and private land managers who manage large landscapes and would benefit from a decision tool that deals with large scale planning for weed management. Our efforts include development of curricula on plant dispersal, landscape level decision making and damage costs. These materials have been used during experiential learning activities as part of our outreach program. The same curricula will be modified for resident instruction during the second year of the project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
During an April two-day workshop, factors important to plant movement were discussed and summarized in workshop educational materials. In addition, a plant survey method designed to address plant movement was used during an outdoor lab session. Evaluation of the workshop indicated most participants who were from Federal, Tribal, State, and County agencies indicated they would adopt the adaptive plant survey method. Participants were excited about development of the decision tool and indicated they would test the decision tool as it developed. Early indications are that the participants consider the concept one they would incorporate into their management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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