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Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Research to Practice Paper: Where there is a when there is a way. Shifting phenology & windows of opportunity for control(2024) Buonaiuto, Daniel; Barker Plotkin, Audrey; Bois, Sarah; Brincka, Matt; Colberg, Eva; Colleran, Brian; Morelli, Toni LynPhenology—the timing of seasonal life-cycle events such as leafout, flowering, fruiting, and senescence—is a critical aspect of plant growth and reproduction. Planning management activities around these stages is important for effective invasive species management. Climate change is likely to shift the timing of plant phenological stages, altering the ideal treatment calendar. Therefore, understanding how climate change shifts a plant’s phenology will improve the timing and efficacy of best management practices. Closer monitoring of environmental cues will help track and predict phenological stages to adjust management accordingly.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Nuisance Neonatives. Guidelines for Assessing Range-Shifting Species(2020-01-01) Laginhas, Brittany B.; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Barker-Plotkin, Audrey; Beaury, Evelyn M.; Cousins, Elsa; Joubran, Sydni; Nelson, Michael; Talbot, Sam; Bradley, Bethany A.Native species will need to shift their ranges northward and upslope to keep pace with climate change in the Northeast U.S. However, this may cause some range-shifting species to have undesirable consequences in their expanded range. We provide a framework to identify the likelihood that a range-shifting species will become problematic and offer suggestions to minimize impacts from these species in the recipient habitat.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Gardening with climate-smart native plants in the Northeast(2020-01-01) Bradley, Bethany A; Bayer, Amanda; Griffin, Bridget; Joubran, Sydni; Laginhas, Brittany B.; Munro, Lara; Talbot, Sam; Allen, Jenica M.; Barker-Plotkin, Audrey; Beaury, Evelyn M.; Brown-Lima, Carrie; Fusco, Emily J.; Mount, Hailey; Servais, Bailey; Morelli, Toni LynAn estimated 80% of ornamental plants for sale are non-native. This means that the average yard does a poor job of supporting native flora and fauna. By shifting our plantings towards natives, we can dramatically increase the diversity of bees, butterflies, birds and other animals. In contrast, non-native plants do not support local food webs and can become invasive. Native plants increase biodiversity and reduce risks associated with invasive species, which supports resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Prioritizing range-shifting invasive plants High-impact species coming to the Northeast(2020-01-01) Bradley, Bethany A; Allen, Jenica M.; Griffin, Bridget; Laginhas, Brittany B.; Rockwell-Postel, MeiPrevention of new invasions is a cost-effective way to manage invasive species and is most effective when emerging invaders are identified and prioritized before they arrive. Climate change is projected to bring nearly 100 new invasive plants to the Northeast. However, these plants are likely to have different types of impacts, making some a higher concern than others. Here, we summarize the results of original RISCC research that identifies high priority, range-shifting invasive plants based on their potential impacts.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Taking Action. Managing invasive species in the context of climate change(2020-01-01) Beaury, Evelyn M.; Barker-Plotkin, Audrey; Brown-Lima, Carrie; Fusco, Emily J.; Griffin, Bridget; Joubran, Sydni; Laginhas, Brittany B.; MacLean, Meghan Graham; Munro, Lara; Nelson, Michael; Talbot, Sam; Bradley, Bethany AClimate change is likely to alter the timing and effect of invasive species management, as well as the suite of species we are managing. Despite concern about the effects of climate change, lack of information about how and when to take action is a barrier to climate-smart invasive species management. Here, we outline strategies for incorporating climate change into management along with examples of tools that can inform proactive decision-making.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Double Trouble. Understanding risks from invasive species + climate change(2019-01-01) Bradley, Bethany A; Beaury, Evelyn M.; Fusco, Emily J.; Griffin, Bridget J.; Laginhas, Brittany B.; McLaughlin, Blair C.; Munro, LaraIndividually, invasive species and climate change are major threats to global ecosystems. Together they create new challenges for effective management. Before we can design management strategies to respond to this double trouble, we need to understand how these two forms of global change interact.Publication Here's the Dirt: The Newest Recommendations for Garlic Mustard Management(2018-01-01) Stinson, Kristina A.; Argetsinger, Sophie; Jackson, Michelle R.; Coates-Connor, Erin; Meadows-McDonnell, MadeleineGarlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive plant that has quickly become naturalized throughout most of the United States. Due in part to high reproductive output and the release of chemical compounds that disturb beneficial plant-fungal associations, this species is able to outcompete many native plants. Over the years, different garlic mustard management strategies been prescribed and implemented with varying success. Here we summarize methods for the removal of garlic mustard based on the most recent literature and research conducted in our lab. We aim to provide a series of clear tasks that landowners, stakeholders, and managers may find useful regarding the eradication of garlic mustard.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Why Native? Benefits of planting native species in a changing climate(2018-01-01) Fusco, Emily J.; Allen, Jenica M.; Beaury, Evelyn M.; Jackson, Michelle R.; Laginhas, Brittany B.; Bradley, Bethany AYards host a variety of native and non-native plants. It is easy to assume all plants play a similar role in supporting wildlife, but native plants dramatically increase the diversity of bees, butterflies, birds and other native animals. Additionally, non-native plants can become invasive or support invasive pests. Native plants increase biodiversity and reduce risks associated with invasive species, which supports resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Out of Control? The Effects of Climate Change on Biological Control Agents and their Target Hosts(2023-01-01) Evans, Annette; Buonaiuto, Daniel; Fertakos, Matthew; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Pfadenhauer, William; Brown-Lima, CarrieBiocontrol is an important management tool that utilizes one species (a biocontrol agent) to control another (a target host) and can be an effective approach for controlling populations of invasive species across broad spatial scales. Most strategies of biocontrol involve introducing or supplementing natural predator, herbivore, parasitoid, or pathogen populations to reduce populations of target hosts. A successful biocontrol program results in the suppression (but not eradication) of target host populations across the landscape by reducing host abundance, reproductive output, or vigor. Climate change is complicating biocontrol. Biocontrol agents must have a clear ecological and/or evolutionary relationship with their target host in order to control populations effectively and avoid impacting non-target species. Climate-induced changes in phenology (timing of life events), morphology (form/structure), movement/behavior, physiology, and reproduction/development may differently affect the survival, reproduction, and performance/efficacy of both biocontrol agents and their hosts. There are growing concerns that mismatches between how biocontrol agents and their hosts respond to climate change could alter the efficacy of current and future biocontrol programs.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Preparing for sleeper species(2018-01-01) Bradley, Bethany A; Beaury, Evelyn; Fusco, Emily J.; Laginhas, Brittany; Pasquarella, ValerieMany naturalized non-native species never become invasive and generally are not prioritized for management due to limited resources. However, climate change could enhance the success of these species, causing some to become invasive. Therefore, we need to reassess the current pool of naturalized species to identify and prioritize management of ‘sleeper’ species.Publication Engagement Review Key Takeaways: NE CASC Outreach Publication(2023-01-01) Weiss, MarissaWe determined that building relationships among researchers and resource managers is the most important factor for creating science that is useful and used by managers, based on our review of successful collaborations among researchers and resource managers within ten projects at the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Are you Sleeping? Are you Sleeping? Predicting Invasion Potential of Non-Native Plants(2022-01-01) O'Uhuru, Ayodelé; Barker-Plotkin, Audrey; Dalaba, Justin; Pfadenhauer, Will; Suzzi, Amanda; Morelli, Toni LynSleeper species are non-native species that are established in a region and could become invasive as climate change makes conditions more favorable for many non-native species. Before we can manage potential sleepers, we must first know their identity. We analyzed non-native, established plants in the Northeast United States (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) using the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) protocol to identify species that have negative impacts on native ecological communities as well as negative impacts on agriculture, economies, or human health. Here, we highlight four potential sleeper species to watch out for.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Do Not Sell! Ornamental invasive plants to avoid with climate change(2022-01-01) Allen, Jenica M.; Beaury, Evelyn M.; Mazzuchi, Julia; Nelson, Michael; O'Uhuru, Ayodelé; Bradley, Bethany AClimate change is likely to bring dozens of new invasive plants to the Northeast. Despite their invasive tendencies, many of these species are sold as ornamental plants in slightly warmer climates, but are not yet a large part of nursery sales in the Northeast. By avoiding these species, we protect our native ecosystems from future invasive species impacts. We also present alternative native plants that provide similar aesthetics while also supporting biodiversity.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Marine Mischief: Salt marshes, climate change, and invasive species, oh my!(2022-01-01) Putnam, Aly; Nelson, Mike; Pfadenhauer, Will; Fertakos, Matthew; Suzzi, AmandaNew England salt marshes are highly productive, providing ecosystem services for people and native biodiversity. Human activities are causing climate change and affecting species composition in salt marshes, threatening these valuable ecosystems. The fate of these ecosystems depends on their natural resistance and the management actions taken in the immediate future.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Embracing the Future. Promoting adaptation and resilience to invasive species and climate change(2021-01-01) Lopez, Bianca; Brown-Lima, Carrie; Dalaba, Justin; Evans, Annette; MacLean, Meghan Graham; Morelli, Toni LynClimate change and invasive species can interact to increase disturbances and magnify changes in ecosystem form and function (Double Trouble). Increasing resilience is one of several management approaches for enabling healthy ecosystems to persist despite these changes. While resilience can be complicated and take many forms, it can generally be thought of as the “ability [of an ecosystem] to experience disturbances or environmental change without changing to a fundamentally different state” [Holling, 1973]. The accumulating effects of climate change, invasive species, or interacting effects of multiple disturbances can push an ecosystem past a tipping point and into a new ecological state. These alternative states are characterized by a different suite of species or functions, which are difficult or impossible to recover from (e.g. a shift from a closed-canopy to an open-canopy forested wetland). Actions to increase resilience help an ecosystem to maintain or return to its fundamental structure or function after a disturbance. Resilience falls in the middle of a spectrum of management goals ranging from preventing change (resistance) to promoting change (transformation) in the species composition, structure, or functions provided by an ecosystem. Clear management goals (See Table) and an understanding of the range of disturbances affecting focal ecosystems are necessary for deciding between managing for resistance, resilience, or transformation and what actions are required for successful management outcomes.Publication Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Forest Pest Risk is Heating Up(2021-01-01) Plotkin, Audrey Barker; MacLean, Meghan Graham; Cheng, Cynthia; Cousins, Elsa; Lopez, Bianca; O'uhuru, AyodeleInsect pests and pathogens, and climate change, each threaten forest health. But what happens when the two are combined? Climate change brings pests to new areas, makes pests more damaging, reduces trees’ defenses to pests, and can alter how forests recover after pest disturbance. Strategies for managing the combined impacts of forest pests and climate change include preventing new pest introductions, resisting pest spread by treating individual trees and diversifying forest stands, promoting more resilient forests that can rebound from pests, and helping forests transition to a state better adapted to our future climate.Publication Introduction to Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources Management(2011-01-01) Schweik, Charles MA lab exercise manual used in an Introduction to Geographic Information Systems class designed for undergraduates or graduate students. Material takes students though the fundamentals using ArcGIS v10.