RECENT ANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

North American Invasive Species Management Association

InvasivesU - NAISMA’s Exclusive Online Learning Library: The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) is excited to announce the launch of InvasivesU, our exclusive online learning library intended to provide professionals, students, and interested individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent and manage invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
in North America. The different courses inside of InvasivesU consist of sequenced video presentations, contributed by experts, along with supplemental materials for in-depth learning and assessment. Available online courses include:  Foundations of Invasive Species (FIS) Management Certificate Course and the NAISMA Mapping Standards Short Course (courses are available for a small fee or free for members).

Western Governors’’ Association

This resolution addresses invasive species management and adds substantial new policy, including: a call to address the destructive relationship between invasive grasses and wildfires; mechanisms to enhance regional invasive species research, planning and coordination; and recommendations to Congress and federal agencies on improving invasive species management on federal lands and supporting state-led management efforts. Read, download the resolution.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

UPCOMING WEBINARS

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series

July 21, 2022 @ 6 pm ET - The Trouble with Lionfish

A lot has changed since lionfish were first seen in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 40 years ago. It became an unprecedented, and perhaps unstoppable invasion, but it also rallied people of many stripes to the cause of protecting the places they loved, but saw being destroyed. Join Dr. Steve Gittings, Science Coordinator for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to find out why the invasion has been so concerning, what we've learned about lionfish impacts and control measures, and what the future holds for the invasion and the people who have become such a rich part of its history. They're good to eat, will never be endangered, and if you need a pair of shoes, Steve knows a guy.

NAISMA Monthly Webinars:

July 20, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - “Jumping Worms:” What We Know Now

August 17, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - How to Get Your Project Funded

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- Injurious Wildlife Listing Coordinator

USFWS announces an Injurious Wildlife Listing Coordinator vacancy in Headquarters (Falls Church). The incumbent serves as a senior Fish and Wildlife Biologist responsible for providing general staff support to the Branch Chief, Division Chief, Deputy Assistant Director, and Assistant Director–Fish and Aquatic Conservation; staying abreast of potentially controversial issues; and providing analysis and recommendations on current and emerging invasive species issues at national and international levels.  The incumbent is a recognized Service and national expert on injurious wildlife provisions of the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42), as implemented through regulations contained in 50 CFR part 16.  For rule promulgations under their purview, they will manage all aspects of the Injurious Wildlife listing process under the Lacey Act ensuring Injurious Wildlife listings comply with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and all other applicable laws, executive orders, and policies. Please note this line in the announcement: "Works to promulgate rules to list species as injurious by prioritizing threats posed by foreign wildlife species that are potential carriers of zoonotic pathogens and parasites not yet found in the United States." as the announcement is seeking individuals with a wildlife pathology background and a working knowledge of OneHealth principles.

Announcement number: 22-11546429-SM-SDHA; Open & closing dates:  06/27/2022 to 07/08/2022

USGS Fellowship on Climate Change and Invasive Species Research Prioritization

The primary focus will be to synthesize natural resource manager and practitioner survey results in order to better understand the needs for research and policy to address the major global change stressors of invasive species and climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change
.  The Fellow will also actively participate in working groups at the multiple RISCC networks around the country as well as the National Invasive Species Council, creating opportunities to build collaborations and contribute to research projects and to interact with agency and academic scientists across multiple institutions. There will be opportunities to apply for grant funding, collaborate with a diversity of partners, and potentially pursue their own research ideas. Closes 8/1/22.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

US. Fish and Wildlife Service

FY2022 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States – 2022: UPDATE EXTENDED DEADLINE

The 2022 QZAP NOFO has been slightly modified and the deadline for submission has been extended by 3 weeks. The required documents section for submittal, was missing some key components, therefore it was decided to extend the deadline. The funding announcement number is F22AS00373 and the full title is "FY2022 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States". Please disseminate this opportunity to all interested parties. Please feel free to reach out to barak_shemai@fws.gov. The opportunity can also be found at grants.gov but applications may NOT be submitted through grants.gov

NOAA Fisheries

Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants: Up to $85 million in funding is available for habitat restoration and coastal resilience through theFY2022 NOAA’s Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity.This funding will support transformational projects that restore habitat for our nation’s fisheries and protected resources, while also strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems. It will invest in projects that have the greatest potential to provide holistic benefits, through habitat-based approaches that strengthen both ecosystem and community resilience.

Projects selected through this opportunity will help:

  • Restore marine, estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems
  • Rebuild sustainable fisheries and contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species 
  • Protect the safety and well-being of coastal communities by using natural infrastructure to reduce damage from flooding and storms
  • Support the many benefits that healthy habitats provide, such as clean drinking water and industries like boating, fishing, and tourism



NOAA will accept proposals between $1 million and $15 million total over the award period. The application deadline is September 6, 2022.

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities: Up to $10 million in funding is available for habitat restoration and resilience awards for underserved communities though NOAA’s FY2022 Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities Notice of Funding OpportunityThrough this funding, NOAA will engage underserved communities in habitat restoration activities that promote resilient ecosystems and communities. This funding will provide capacity for these communities to more fully participate in developing future transformational habitat projects.  This capacity is intended to ensure that communities are integral to the visioning and decision-making for coastal habitat restoration projects that affect them, and that they directly benefit from these projects.  

Projects selected through this opportunity may include: 

  • Capacity building activities, including participation in municipal or regional-scale resilience planning, project planning and feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, and proposal development for future funding.
  • Restoration activities, including demonstration projects, engineering and design, permitting, and on-the-ground implementation.



NOAA will accept proposals between $250,000 to $500,000 total over the award period. The application deadline is September 30, 2022.

RECOMMENDED READING

Analysing economic costs of invasive alien species with the invacost R package

Leroy, B., Kramer, A. M., Vaissière, A. C., Kourantidou, M., Courchamp, F., & Diagne, C. Analysing economic costs of invasive alien species with the invacost R package. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

The tails of two invasive species: genetic responses to acute and chronic bottlenecks

Gatto-Almeida, F., Pichlmueller, F., Bodey, T. W., Samaniego, A., & Russell, J. C. (2022). The tails of two invasive species: genetic responses to acute and chronic bottlenecks. Biological Invasions, 1-11.

ANS IN THE NEWS…  

Great Lakes Moment: The imperiled mussels of the Detroit River

July 4, 2022. Central Michigan University Ph.D. student Shay Keretz believes there is still hope and is focusing her dissertation on if and where native mussels remain in the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers and predicting, using a mathematical model, other refuge areas for these endangered and threatened specie

Invasive, giant snail sighting forces South Florida county into quarantine

July 3, 2022. Residents can leave their homes, but if they find one of these snails, there’s a few precautions in place.

Tennessee fisherman catches unique white and yellow bighead carp

July 3, 2022. He didn't know, however, it would turn out to be the most unique fish he'd ever caught — a rare white and yellow bighead carp.

Peter Dykstra: American Invasive Species Hall of Fame, part 2

July 3, 2022. Sequels are rarely as good as the original. But here are five more invasive species for the American Invasive Species Hall of Fame. You can see last week’s first five here.

Invasive species ‘Blitz’ begins

July 2, 2022. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the campaign Friday in conjunction with seven Great Lakes states, six Northeast states, and six Canadian provinces.

Game and Fish catching more aquatic invasive species on boats entering Wyoming

June 30, 2022. At check stations across the state, Game and Fish has found aquatic invasive species (AIS) on at least a dozen boats. Last year, Game and Fish found mussels on 55 boats across the whole season, which runs to November.

Survey Shows Growth of Aquatic Invasive Species in Lake Chelan

June 30, 2022. A recent aquatic invasive species survey at Lake Chelan shows that invasive aquatic plants are more widely distributed in the Wapato Basin and lower Lucerne Basin of the lake compared to survey results from eight years ago.

Catching invasive species in Hawaii, why it matters

June 29, 2022. Tarantulas, snakes and even bearded dragons are just some of the creatures that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture focuses its efforts on. Officials said a new species of pest is found every month in Hawaii and while they are mostly insects, reptiles are certainly a point of focus.

Invasive European green crabs are spreading. Here’s how WA is fighting back

June 29, 2022. In January, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation after the crabs were increasing exponentially within the Lummi Nation’s Sea Pond and coastal areas in Whatcom County.

Michigan DNR pushes back on Asian carp rebranding

June 29, 2022. While the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is working to rebrand Asian carp to promote more active fishing and human consumption of the fish, its Michigan counterparts are pulling back.

Environmentally friendly pet food company welcomes invasive species name change

June 28, 2022. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the name change of Silver carp to Silver Copi on June 22. Supporters of the name change include Chippin, a pet food company dedicated to developing foods that use planet friendly proteins, including Silver Copi.

DNR hosts Great Lakes 2022 Landing Blitz to prevent spread of invasive species

June 27, 2022. As a holiday weekend approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is stationing volunteers at Lake Wissota to educate the public on how to prevent the spread of invasive species.

In struggle to protect Lake Champlain, prospects of more invasive species are worrisome

June 27, 2022. Lake Champlain is home to many nonnative and invasive species, but environmentalists fear it may soon become home to more.

Can Finding New Culinary Markets for Green Crabs Help Curb the Invasive Species?

June 27, 2022.  Up and down the East Coast, fishers, chefs and distillers are pioneering new uses for an overwhelming population of European green crabs