Invasive Species - What's New on NISIC's Site

Invasive aquatic species are known to be one of the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss, and their management especially in marine environments is incredibly challenging. To tackle this issue, the GloFouling Partnerships, led by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and in collaboration with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), World Sailing, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has published a new Biofouling Management for Recreational Boating Report [PDF, 13.4 MB]. The aim of the report is to stop the spread of invasive aquatic species which can adhere to hulls and other areas of recreational craft by addressing how to manage biofouling.

On August 9, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosted a virtual forum on invasive carp harvest and product use. This virtual event was convened in response to direction provided by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. Bighead, silver, black and grass carp – collectively referred to as ‘invasive carp’ – have been spreading in waterways across the United States and causing environmental damage since their introduction in the 1970s for use in aquaculture facilities and retention ponds. Provides access to the full recording of the forum, as well as the presentation slides.

The green crab is an invasive marine species spreading throughout the coastal waters of the United States. Efforts between NOAA Fisheries and Metlakatla Indian Community have been leading the way on monitoring to detect this species’ presence in Alaskan waters. The green crab has been found in U.S. waters since the 1800s, but this is the first confirmed presence in Alaska. They are a serious threat for Alaska’s tidal habitats.

If you see an invasive green crab on Annette Islands Reserve, call (907) 886-FISH to make a report. If you encounter a potential green crab elsewhere in Alaska, take photographs from multiple angles and send them to Tammy Davis. Then submit a report to the Alaska Invasive Species Reporter, or call the Invasive Species Hotline: (877) INVASIV.

Classical biological control, which reunites invasive insects or plants that have spread in new, invaded areas with their natural enemies, is the only means of reducing permanently and over large areas the harm such invaders cause. Short of eradication, which is rarely practical once an invader has spread widely, this method is the only solution that does not depend on endless control activities and their associated costs. The purpose of this book is to highlight the value that programs of classical insect and weed control have provided to the United States over roughly the last 40 years (1985–2022).
See also: FHAAST Publications for more resources.

The Lionfish Challenge 2022, the seventh annual, is a summer-long tournament that rewards divers for their lionfish harvests. The tournament boasted a total of 707 registered participants, the most in the program’s history. 196 divers conducted a total of 676 trips throughout the state during the 3-month tournament and brought in a whopping 25,299 lionfish.

Collaborative study determines effective messengers, language choices, and modes of delivery for disseminating educational information on how firewood choices can impact forest health. A recent study done in collaboration between The Nature Conservancy’s Don’t Move Firewood campaign and researchers from Clemson University showed that most people in the U.S. don’t know firewood can harbor invasive forest insects and diseases, but when targeted education materials are used effectively, they can learn and are likely to change their behavior.

ARS Science Leads Way in Screening at the Molecular Level. Fungal pathogens represent a large and economically significant challenge to crops worldwide. The challenge is so great, in fact, diseases caused by fungal pathogens can cause crop losses of 10-20% (worth $100-$200 billion) each year. Historically, a variety of biological, chemical, and mechanical methods have been used to fight fungal diseases, Lately, though, researchers have focused on molecular methods to develop disease-resistant crops, which would reduce the need for, and damage caused by, chemical fungicides.

This funding guide includes information on DOI funding opportunities that could support projects that manage invasive species (e.g., prevention, detection, control/eradication, restoration). It is important to note that information is subject to change. All funding opportunities are subject to the availability of appropriated funds; a program that is listed may not offer funding in any given year. The guide is a starting point. Other DOI funding opportunities may exist that are not included here or that are broader in scope yet could be appropriate for invasive species management. This product helps to advance implementation of the DOI Invasive Species Strategic Plan by increasing awareness of Interior's financial assistance programs that may be available to fund invasive species management activities.
See also: DOI Invasive Species Coordination for related information

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list the tricolored bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The species faces extinction due primarily to the range-wide impacts of white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease affecting cave-dwelling bats across the continent.

Bats are essential for healthy ecosystems and contribute at least $3 billion annually to the U.S. agriculture economy through pest control and pollination. The growing extinction crisis highlights the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before declines become irreversible.
See also: Related story (Sep 13, 2020) - How the USFWS and its partners are working to keep this little bat from vanishing forever

BioOne VISTA is a monthly collection of recently published articles highlighting timely subjects and themes in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences.

The September 2022 edition focuses on research in BioOne Complete about invasive and non-native plant species. Invasive species can be detrimental to ecosystems. Invasive plant species can change native plant communities, prevent forest regeneration, and even change the soil chemistry of an area. Understanding how non-native and invasive plants impact habitats around the world is an important step in combating the problems they present.