RECENT ANS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Decontaminating Firefighting Equipment to Reduce the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
The Northern Rockies Coordinating Group’s (NRCG) Aviation and Equipment Committees were tasked with developing a protocol for preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic (AIS) by wildland aviation & fire equipment. A mandatory protocol was developed and approved by the NRCG Board in 2018 but has since been updated. It should be noted that this updated protocol is based on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)’s 2017 “Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations” (PMS 444). The intent of this NRCG guide is to provide a more prescriptive protocol intended for a fire management audience, and to increase compliance and consistency of best management practices related to preventing AIS. Therefore, this template protocol/How-To Guide serves as supplement to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Guide to Preventing AIS Transport by Wildfire Operations (PMS 444, January 2017). The protocol applies to both ground operations and aviation and is mandatory in the Northern Rockies region. This protocol is demonstrated via a “How to Guide,” which includes detailed instructions for ordering, set up, and assembly of AIS decontamination stations; options for products/equipment based on site specific conditions; and best management practices for drafting water, which can prevent the risk of most AIS being transported or spread via wildland fire equipment. Fire management agencies in the West are taking the threat of AIS seriously and have committed to decreasing the possible risk of introduction and spread by fire management personnel.
Biofouling Prevention Forum
The Biofouling Prevention Forum will tackle the problems and offer solutions for biofouling in economic and environmental terms. Running on September 20th for 3 hours and free to attend, the event is key for bringing together policy makers, ship-owners, ship management companies, shipyards, engineers, naval architects and hull coating and anti-fouling manufacturers to discuss solutions for biofouling. Attend for free and take the first steps towards reducing unnecessary emissions from frictional drag and reduce fuel consumption.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
- American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
August 21-25, 2022; Spokane, WA - Mississippi River Basin Regional Panel Meeting
September 13-15, 2022; Tiptonville, TN - Western Regional Panel Annual Meeting
September 21-23, 2022;Anchorage, AK - Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference 2022
October 25-27, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin. - North American Invasive Species Management Association Conference
November 7-10, 2022; Fort Myers, Florida - Great Lakes Regional Panel Fall Meeting
November 1-3, 2022; Location TBD - Northeast ANS Regional Panel Fall Meeting
November 29 – 30, 2022; Concord, New Hampshire - Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel Fall Meeting
November 30 – December 1, 2022; Location TBD - Mid-Atlantic Regional Panel Meeting
December 14-15, 2022; Location TBD
UPCOMING WEBINARS
NAISMA Monthly Webinars:
August 17, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - How to Get Your Project Funded
This free webinar will cover examples of successful projects and tips that will improve your chances of getting funding.
September 20, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - Utilizing Fire and Grazing as part of an Integrated Prairie Management Program
The health and resilience of prairies relies upon plant/animal diversity and heterogeneous habitat that supports that diversity. The Nature Conservancy has been long experimenting with combinations of prescribed fire and cattle grazing that provide varied habitat structure and support high plant diversity at its Platte River Prairies in Nebraska. Our treatments include grazing stocking rates that are comparable with those used by our agricultural neighbors….
October 19, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - Invasive plant management on non-industrial forest lands in the Panhandle, Fl after Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael had catastrophic socio-ecological impacts on landowners and forestlands in the Panhandle, Florida. Although scientists predict an increase in the spread of invasive species after ecological disturbances, there is limited research about the human dimensions of hurricanes, invasive plants, and forest management…
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (PIFWO) is advertising our vacant GS-0401-13 Invasive Species Team Manager. The Invasive Species Team works across PIFWO, the Fish and Wildlife Office, our DOI sister bureaus, and regional and national partners on issues related to invasive species, including interdiction and eradication, biosecurity, and early detection and rapid response. This position is located in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Moving expenses are authorized (see announcement for additional details). We know that relocating to or between the Pacific Islands can be daunting; we encourage interested applicants to research what it is like to live and work on O'ahu. This position is telework eligible. Opens: 7/27/2022 Closes: 8/9/2022. USAJOBS LINK
USGS Fellowship on Climate Change. and Invasive Species Research Prioritization
A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The position will ideally be located at the U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC) office on the campus of University of Massachusetts in Amherst, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. The RISCC Management network, in collaboration with the National Invasive Species Council, is seeking a Fellow to conduct research at the intersection of climate science and invasive species management to contribute to prioritizing management action in the face of global change across the U.S. As a member of the RISCC network, the Fellow will collaborate in stakeholder-driven research and engage in actionable science and science communication that serves the network. FULL ANNOUCEMENT.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
None the week.
RECOMMENDED READING
Invading the soundscape: exploring the effects of invasive species’ calls on acoustic signals of native wildlife
Hopkins, J. M., Edwards, W., & Schwarzkopf, L. (2022). Invading the soundscape: exploring the effects of invasive species’ calls on acoustic signals of native wildlife. Biological Invasions, 1-13.
Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions
Soto, Ismael, Ross N. Cuthbert, Antonín Kouba, César Capinha, Anna Turbelin, Emma J. Hudgins, Christophe Diagne, Franck Courchamp, and Phillip J. Haubrock. "Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions." Scientific Reports 12, no. 1 (2022): 1-12.
Guiding large-scale management of invasive species using network metrics
Ashander, J., Kroetz, K., Epanchin-Niell, R., Phelps, N. B., Haight, R. G., & Dee, L. E. (2022). Guiding large-scale management of invasive species using network metrics. Nature Sustainability, 1-8.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (PIFWO) is advertising our vacant GS-0401-13 Invasive Species Team Manager. The Invasive Species Team works across PIFWO, the Fish and Wildlife Office, our DOI sister bureaus, and regional and national partners on issues related to invasive species, including interdiction and eradication, biosecurity, and early detection and rapid response. This position is located in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Moving expenses are authorized (see announcement for additional details). We know that relocating to or between the Pacific Islands can be daunting; we encourage interested applicants to research what it is like to live and work on O'ahu. This position is telework eligible. Opens: 7/27/2022 Closes: 8/9/2022. USAJOBS LINK
USGS Fellowship on Climate Change. and Invasive Species Research Prioritization
A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The position will ideally be located at the U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC) office on the campus of University of Massachusetts in Amherst, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. The RISCC Management network, in collaboration with the National Invasive Species Council, is seeking a Fellow to conduct research at the intersection of climate science and invasive species management to contribute to prioritizing management action in the face of global change across the U.S. As a member of the RISCC network, the Fellow will collaborate in stakeholder-driven research and engage in actionable science and science communication that serves the network. FULL ANNOUCEMENT.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
None the week.
RECOMMENDED READING
Invading the soundscape: exploring the effects of invasive species’ calls on acoustic signals of native wildlife
Hopkins, J. M., Edwards, W., & Schwarzkopf, L. (2022). Invading the soundscape: exploring the effects of invasive species’ calls on acoustic signals of native wildlife. Biological Invasions, 1-13.
Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions
Soto, Ismael, Ross N. Cuthbert, Antonín Kouba, César Capinha, Anna Turbelin, Emma J. Hudgins, Christophe Diagne, Franck Courchamp, and Phillip J. Haubrock. "Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions." Scientific Reports 12, no. 1 (2022): 1-12.
Guiding large-scale management of invasive species using network metrics
Ashander, J., Kroetz, K., Epanchin-Niell, R., Phelps, N. B., Haight, R. G., & Dee, L. E. (2022). Guiding large-scale management of invasive species using network metrics. Nature Sustainability, 1-8.
ANS IN THE NEWS…
Invasive reptiles and amphibians have cost the global economy billions, study suggests
July 31, 2022. Invasive reptiles and amphibians have cost the global economy more than $17 billion US between 1986 and 2020, a recent study suggests.
Unhappy as a clam — invasive species is a threat to wild salmon
July 31, 2022. As if the wild Atlantic salmon didn’t have enough challenges to its survival, a lethal and relatively new invader could pose a serious threat to its river spawning beds.
Invasive fish species trapped in Courtenay creek threaten salmon
July 30, 2022. An invasive species called the Pumpkinseed Fish, an aggressive eater, has just been found in the remote water source that releases to neighbouring creeks and salmon-bearing rivers.
Translocated fish may be more problematic than invasive species
July 26, 2022. The results show that the quality of the habitat is the most important factor for the well-being of native fish. However, translocated species were found to be as problematic as the exotic ones.
When the invasive fish are native
July 25, 2022. Study warns about the ecological impact of native species in waters that do not correspond to them
Experts warn of invasive poisonous sea urchins in southern Turkey
July 24, 2022. During a two-month-long controlled research over two 9 square meter areas, they found that the invasive species resettlement rate in that part of the Mediterranean has reached 108%.
High-tech boat cleaning stations offer solution to aquatic invasive species
July 24, 2022. As the 2022 summer boating and fishing season gets underway, the number of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) is increasing,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Australia Has Lost More Mammal Species to Extinction Than Any Other Continent: Report
July 24, 2022. The state and trend of the environment in Australia have been labelled “poor and deteriorating” in a damning new government report, with findings revealing the country has lost more mammal species to extinction than any other continent in the world.
Monique Keiran: Zebra mussel incident shows humans' role in spread of invasive species
July 24, 2022. Many, if not most, invasive species have been introduced to new areas over the last few centuries because we humans have either deliberately and knowingly or accidentally and unintentionally brought the species to new places.
Finding their song: Reviving the declining western chorus frog population is now critica
July 24, 2022. Across the world, these amphibian species are rapidly disappearing due to habitat loss, disease, pollution, harvesting, invasive species and .
Watercraft inspection at Wabamun Lake helps keep invasive species out of the water
July 23, 2022. The Watercraft Inspections Program set up a station at Wabamun Lake, Alta. on Saturday, looking for any potentially invasive species — particularly zebra and quagga mussels.
New web scanning technology helps protect the Great Lakes from invasive species
July 22, 2022. Great Lakes officials are using tech to scan the web for businesses selling invasive species. The Great Lakes Commission is testing a web-crawler that scans for websites selling invasive species that could harm the Great Lakes.
Evidence of invasive green crabs found near Metlakatla, the first confirmed sighting in Alaska
July 22, 2022. Biologists with Metlakatla Indian Community say they’ve found the first evidence of European green crabs on Annette Island near the southern tip of Southeast Alaska.
Game and Fish Concerned With Number of Aquatic Invasive Species Being Detected
July 22, 2022. Close to four months into the 2022 boating season, Wyoming Game and Fish Department has stopped 10 boats with mussels attached, one with a live brook stickleback mixed with live-caught bait and one with curly pondweed.
Help USDA Estimate Feral Swine Damage to U.S. Agriculture
July 22, 2022. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), in coordination with the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program, is conducting a Feral Swine Survey.
Region gets money to fight invasive species, led by $3.4 million for Lake Tahoe
July 21, 2022. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is giving $3.4 million to a tribe and environmental planners in the Mountain West to help them control and prevent aquatic invasive species.
Taking a Bite out of Invasive Species
July 21, 2022. The formation of an industry commission to confront the spread of aquatic invasives brings front and center a threat to boating and fishing that for years has been addressed by a patchwork of federal and state initiatives.
Invasive zebra mussels found in South Dakota reservoir 27 miles from Wyoming border
July 21, 2022. Zebra mussels, an invasive aquatic species, were discovered in Pactola Reservoir west of Rapid City, South Dakota last week and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department said Thursday the finding is cause for concern in Wyoming.
Scientists Explore Gene Editing to Manage Invasive Species
July 20, 2022. APHIS scientists are exploring the feasibility of genetically modifying traits in invasive species to manage their populations, control diseases, create new detection tools for plant pathogens and more.
Rising numbers of exotic snakebites reported in the UK
July 20, 2022. Exotic snakebites recorded in the UK have "soared" over the course of a decade, as numbers of the exotic pet increase -- a peer-reviewed study in Clinical Toxicology reveals.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rescinds Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Exclusion Regulations
July 20, 2022. This action restores the Secretary of the Interior’s discretion to determine how and when to exclude areas from critical habitat designations and the Service’s role as the expert agency responsible for administering the ESA.
The westward spread of zebra and quagga mussels shows how tiny invaders can cause big problems
July 19, 2022. Now, the mussels threaten to reach the country’s last major uninfested freshwater zones to the west and north: the Columbia River Basin in Washington and Oregon, and the waterways of Alaska.
Cats classified as invasive species by Polish scientific body
July 19, 2022. The domestic cat has been added to the non-native species database compiled by the Institute of Nature Conservation at the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Poland’s leading academic body, thereby qualifying cats as an “invasive non-native species”.
Invasive fish: Sperm hijacking as success strategy
July 19, 2022. The Prussian carp is considered one of the most successful invasive fish species in Europe. Its ability to reproduce asexually gives it a major advantage over competing fish. An international research team has now managed to describe the complete genome of the Prussian carp for the first time. This also provides a much better understanding of its peculiar reproductive method.
Biden-Harris administration announces $3.4 Million for Lake Tahoe Basin to address aquatic invasive species
July 19, 2022. The Biden-Harris administration announced Tuesday that the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded $3.4 million in funding from their for cooperative agreements with the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to combat the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe.
If you import water from Midwest, you might also bring in invasive species like Asian carp
July 19, 2022. It is interesting to read the many opinions on the possibility of importing water from the Midwest and even more interesting to see how ideas spread.
More than half of today’s threatened species need targeted interventions to stave off extinction
July 18, 2022. As environmental and anthropogenic pressures mount, threatened species are inching closer to extinction. According to a new paper led by researchers at Newcastle University, roughly 57% of these species require targeted interventions to ensure their continued survival.
Meet the dogs sniffing stinky mussels for work, not play
July 18, 2022. After a quick sniff and a glance back at his master, the black-haired German shepherd sat down and stared at the boat. It was a sure sign that a mussel was hiding somewhere in the machine.
