Monitoring Mapping and Risk Assessment for Non-Indigenous Invasive Species in Nebraska

Biological invasions are a growing threat to both human enterprise and ecological systems. This project provides resources to the public and private sector on 1) the potential spread and impact of non-indigenous species in Nebraska, 2) actual and potential maps of non-indigenous species range (habitat specific maps at high resolution), 3) information regarding identification and management of potential invaders, 4) centralized information on management and impacts and potential spread of currently established non-indigenous species (a Web portal), 5) outreach within Nebraska to county-level governments and individual stakeholders regarding the management, surveillance and control of non-indigenous species, and 6) an organizational and informational Nebraska conference on non-indigenous species impacts – their spread and management –focusing on state-of-our-knowledge, and coordination of disparate management and information-provisioning efforts with a goal towards unifying disparate efforts.

Goals

To help build a cohesive non-indigenous species biosecurity and management system in Nebraska that is integrated and relatively seamless across institutional boundaries. Also,to map the potential spread of many invasive species in Nebraska.

Current Status

This project is complete with results compiled into a master's thesis

The following article, authored by Annabel Major and Craig Allen, appears in the April 2008 edition of Prairie Fire. It describes the threat of invasive species and what it means to Nebraskans, Invasive species in Nebraska: The battle for Nebraska's natural legacy.The article can be found at: http://prairiefirenewspaper.com/ Do a Search for "invasive species" to bring up the article title.

A Master's thesis should be completed by May 2009.

Project Website
Invasive Species
Graduate Student(s)

-Justin Williams, Amy Williams

Project Coordinator(s)

Karie Decker, Chris Kelly and Annabel Major

Funding

-Nebraska Environmental Trust

Cooperators