RECENT ANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

DOI-FWS Announces Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Winners:  

From an invasive reptile trapping system to a nucleic acid barcode that identifies poached and trafficked wildlife products anywhere in the world, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Theodore Roosevelt (TR) Genius Prize winners and their technological innovations will help address conservation challenges and opportunities and engage new communities and diverse ideas. The six prize competitions encourage technological innovation that advances the Service’s mission by preventing wildlife poaching and trafficking, promoting wildlife conservation, managing invasive species , protecting endangered species, reducing human-wildlife conflict with nonlethal methods, and reducing human-predator conflict. Each of the 2022 prize winners will receive between $50,000 to $100,000 for their winning innovation submission, totaling $550,000 for the 2022 prize competition. 

Details:  https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-09/theodore-roosevelt-genius-prize-winners-announced 

North American Invasive Species Management Association: Registration is open for the Annual Weed Biological Control Summit

NAISMA’s Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit communicates the latest in weed biocontrol research to North American invasive plant managers and educators. The Summit aims to connect researchers to on-the-ground practitioners and experiences. In 2022, we are focusing on weed management practitioners who utilize weed biocontrol within their integrated weed management programs throughout North America. Managers and researchers will share implementation stories, challenges, and successes. This year’s summit integrates the research and implementation of biocontrol from regional land managers’ perspectives. REGISTER HERE.

Ruth Patrick Award

The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) is currently seeking nominations for the Ruth Patrick Award. This award honors outstanding research by a scientist in the application of basic aquatic science principles to the identification, analysis and/or solution of important environmental problems. Please consider submitting a nomination for a colleague by October 28th! Instructions for submitting a nomination are here. A nomination consists of a letter of support, plus 3 letters of endorsement. The nominee does not need to be a member of ASLO, but the nominator does.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

UPCOMING WEBINARS

October 27, 2022; 10:00 am (PT):Aquatic Invasive Species in Commerce

Many species of plants and animals are bought and sold globally. The majority of these transactions cause no harm to the environment as responsible sellers and buyers trade species that do not become invasive. However, the increase in global sales is resulting in an increase in the trade of aquatic plants and animals that become invasive. Join us as we discuss our goals to work collaboratively with organizations, agencies, industry, and individuals to identify actions and solutions to mitigate the risks associated with aquatic 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 commerce. Presenters:  Leah Elwell, Conservation Collaborations, LLC; Stephanie Otts, National Sea Grant Law Center; Lisa DeBruyckere, Creative Resource Strategies, LLC.  

Registration:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7577377167901780752

NAISMA Monthly Webinars:

November 16, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST -  Invasive Mussel Collaborative Tools and Accomplishments

Invasive Mussel Collaborative Tools and Accomplishments Presented by: Ashley Elgin with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Diane Waller with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Jeff Tyson with the Great Lakes

December 21, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST - Understanding ISPM 15 to Reduce the Risk of Pests in Wood Packaging

ISPM 15 was fully implemented in the United States in 2006 to reduce the risk and spread of quarantine pests associated with wood packaging. This session will review the ISPM 15 program and how it has evolved to successfully achieve its goal, and where there are efforts of continuous improvement so that wood packaging can be used effectively and safely to facilitate safe trade.

Not MI Species Webinar Series

Thursday, November 10, 2022, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Treat me right! Rules, regulations and best practices for controlling aquatic invasive species in Michigan’s inland lakes

Virtual Island Biosecurity Workshop

December 6 & 7, 2022; 1pm to 5pm PST

Connect with colleagues around the world to learn and share your island biosecurity knowledge! We welcome presentations on all aspects of invasive species prevention, detection, and response. Click HERE to register.

Invasive Species Centre

Monday, Oct. 31, 2022 11:00 A.M. EDT - Knock, knock, knocking on non-natives’ doors

With 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 risk of aquatic invasive species (AIS) introductions are expected to increase in different aquatic habitats throughout Canada. There are risk assessment tools, such as the Canadian Marine Invasive Screening Tool (CMIST), that can help identifying species that could be of major concern in terms of ecological impact. During this webinar, a summary of how this tool can be applied to identify door knocker species in marine and freshwater environments will be given.

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 11:00 A.M. EST - Coming in Hot: Early Detection and Rapid Response Priorities in SE Michigan

For those in the field of invasion biology, or residents who are trying to manage their property, it can sometimes feel like a race against time until the next species appears! We will discuss some of the priority species for our region, such as European frog-bit, mile-a-minute weed, red swamp crayfish, and Japanese stiltgrass. We have two highways that run through our CISMA which see heavy traffic from Chicago to Ann Arbor, and connects southern Michigan to both northern Michigan and Ontario. We wish to share some of our challenges and successes in hopes to better prepare land managers for what is coming their way, and some of our educational efforts aimed at prevention.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Fish and Wildlife Administrator - Coordinator for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).  GLRI is a multi-million dollar Initiative to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world.  If you are a dynamic and innovative leader who is passionate about conserving the Great Lakes, partnering with multiple federal, state, and tribal agencies and NGOs, leading USFWS programs and regions to strategically develop and implement plans and projects, and administering this complex program, please apply!  This GS-14 position is open on USAJobs October 17 - October 28, 2022 (Announcement number R3-23-11686600-MR-MP). Location is negotiable within Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio or Michigan.  If you have questions contact me (lori_nordstrom@fws.gov) or Sean Marsan (sean_marsan@fws.gov).  

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation: Environmental Scientist IV - Aquatic Nuisance Control Specialist

This position is within the Lakes and Ponds Management and Protection Program of the Watershed Management Division. This position supports the Lakes and Ponds Program’s efforts to provide outreach and technical assistance on aquatic invasive species management and leads aquatic nuisance control permitting efforts. Responsibilities include:

  • Leading the Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Permitting Program including coordinating DEC's technical review of permit applications 
  • Implementing Complaint and Enforcement Response Actions for ANC Permitting 
  • Providing technical assistance to lakeshore property owners, lake / watershed associations, the public, and other State agencies on all aspects of ANC Permitting
  • Supporting the implementation of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention and Management Program

FULL ANNOUCEMENT: Application Deadline Date:  10/30/2022

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

None this week.

RECOMMENDED READING

Hydrology-mediated ecological function of a large wetland threatened by an invasive predator

Pintar, M. R., Dorn, N. J., Kline, J. L., & Trexler, J. C. (2022). Hydrology-mediated ecological function of a large wetland threatened by an invasive predator. Science of The Total Environment, 159245.

Confirming the broadscale eradication success of nutria (Myocastor coypus) from the Delmarva Peninsula

Anderson, D. P., Pepper, M. A., Travers, S., Michaels, T. A., Sullivan, K., & Ramsey, D. S. (2022). Confirming the broadscale eradication success of nutria (Myocastor coypus) from the Delmarva Peninsula, USA. Biological Invasions, 1-13.

The Future of Invasion Science Needs Physiology

Boardman, Leigh, Julie L. Lockwood, Michael J. Angilletta, Jesse S. Krause, Jennifer A. Lau, Michael E. Loik, Daniel Simberloff, Christopher J. Thawley, and Laura A. Meyerson. "The Future of Invasion Science Needs Physiology." BioScience (2022).

ANS IN THE NEWS…  

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Finds Evidence of Zebra Mussels in Highline Lake

October 23, 2022. State officials have confirmed the presence of an invasive zebra mussel in Highline Lake located at Highline Lake State Park north of Loma, Colorado.

230 Pythons Taken From Florida Everglades In Annual Contest

October 22, 2022. Florida wildlife officials said Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, that 1,000 hunters from 32 states and as far away as Canada and Latvia removed 231 Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition known as the Florida Python Challenge, an annual competition to eliminate the invasive species from the South Florida wetlands preserve.

Sparkling fish, murky methods: the global aquarium trade

October 19, 2022. Millions of saltwater fish like these are caught in Indonesia and other countries every year to fill aquariums in living rooms, waiting rooms and restaurants around the world with vivid, otherworldly life.

'Invasive' species actually have a lot of benefits

October 18, 2022.  In a new review article, biology researchers make the case for reevaluating maligned non-native species to consider benefits as well as costs.

Native predatory fish help control invasive species in Hawaiian fishpond

October 18, 2022. Jacks and barracuda in Heʻeia fishpond were found to feed on Australian mullet, an invasive species introduced to Oahu waters in the 1950s. This finding, published in Aquaculture, Fish, and Fisheries by researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), and Paepae O Heʻeia suggests that these native predatory fish may provide a form of biocontrol on populations of the invasive mullet species.

Toxic invasive tree frog hitched ride in car traveling from Florida to North Carolina

October 18, 2022. The agency reported the unusual discovery in an Oct. 17 Facebook post and noted the frog was contained before it could escape into the wild.

News release: Zebra mussels confirmed in Fish Lake in Hennepin County

October 18, 2022. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of zebra mussels in Fish Lake, near Maple Grove in Hennepin County.

DEC Celebrates Success of Croton River Invasive Species Control Project

October 17, 2022. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the successful completion of a long-term treatment of the aquatic invasive plant Hydrilla verticillata in the Croton River. Federally listed and State prohibited hydrilla was first discovered in the Croton River in 2013. Nine years later, no hydrilla was found thanks to an intensive DEC control project.