Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force News and Announcements

Week of October 28, 2019

Recent ANS Announcements

Dreissenid Mussel Rapid Response in the Columbia River Basin: Recommended Practices to Facilitate Endangered Species Act Section 7 Compliance

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Creative Resource Strategies, LLC., and many contributing partners have finalized the document entitled, Dreissenid Mussel Rapid Response in the Columbia River Basin: Recommended Practices to Facilitate Endangered Species Act Section 7 Compliance.  This manual was developed in support of the Department of the Interior Safeguarding the West from Invasive Species initiative, and it contributes to the commitment to increase capacity for aquatic invasive species response.  This manual is intended to align closely with the existing Columbia River Basin Interagency Invasive Species Response Plan: Zebra Mussels and Other Dreissenid Species.

Specifically, this manual contains important information to facilitate action agency compliance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) during invasive Dreissenid mussel rapid response actions in the Columbia River Basin (CRB).  The manual strives to make the ESA regulatory process as efficient and effective as possible for action agencies by providing guidance to expedite the ESA section 7 consultation process through emergency consultation procedures.  Therefore, the manual provides information about control techniques for Dreissenid mussels and the potential impacts to federally listed species and critical habitat in the CRB, along with ways to avoid and minimize adverse impacts caused by response actions.

For questions or a copy of the document, t, please contact: Theresa Thom, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Region. Email: [log in to unmask], (503) 736-4722.

News from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center 

Innovations in Invasive Species Management Conference and Training

Registration is open for the third annual Innovations in Invasive Species Management Conference Training to be held in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho December 10^th – 12^th, 2019 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The 2019 Innovations Conference is being hosted by the Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council (https://www.pnw-ipc.org/) ,   The Northern Rockies Invasive Plant Council (http://www.nripc.org/) and Invasive Plant Control, Inc. (www.invasiveplantcontrol.com).  If you have any questions please give Steven Manning a call at 615-969-1309 or send an email at [log in to unmask]. 

Conference Lodging: The room block is filling up quickly so please click on this link to make your room reservations:  The Coeur d’ Alene Golf & Spa Resort Innovations Conference Room Reservations

Please note that rooms will not be assigned until check-in and that the room type requested is not guaranteed until check-in. For those wanting to call in to confirm their reservation, please call 800-688-5253, and our Reservations Team will be happy to assist you in confirming your stay. The cutoff date for room reservations under the conference block is November 8^th, 2019.  If you are unable to reserve a room please contact Steven Manning ([log in to unmask])to request an increase in the room block. 

Pennsylvania Lake Management Society Conference

Please submit your abstracts within the next 7 days to be considered as a presenter for the 2020 Pennsylvania Lake Management Society Conference. vThe conference will be held March 4 & 5, 2020 at the Wyndham Garden State College, PA. The deadline to submit an abstract is November 1, 2019.

Please forward abstracts with the required information to Kate Harms via e-mail at [log in to unmask] or via regular mail to PALMS, PO Box 171, Mertztown, PA 19539. All requested information should be submitted by November 1, 2019. Questions may be directed to Kate at the above e-mail address, or by calling (484) 656-1649

Upcoming Meetings

21st International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species

 October 27 – 31, 2019; Montreal, Quebec

National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Fall Meeting

 November 6 -7, 2019; Beltsville, Maryland

Great Lakes ANS Regional Panel Meeting

 November 13-14, 2019; Ann Arbor, Michigan

3rd Environmental DNA Technical Exchange Workshop 

 November 18 – 20, 2019; St. Petersburg, Florida

Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel Fall 2019 Meeting

 November 19 - 20, 2019;Charleston, South Carolina

Joint Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Regional ANS Panel Meeting

 December 10-11, 2019; TBD, New York

Innovations in Invasive Species Management Conference and Training

 December 10-12th, 2019; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

100th Meridian Initiative Columbia River Basin Team

January 22-23, 2019 ; Portland, Oregon

80th Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference

 January 26-29, 2020; Springfield, Illinois

Upcoming Webinars

Clean. Drain. Dry. Rapid Response Communication Kit Webinar

Time: Oct 29, 2019 11:00 AM Central Time 

Join Wildlife Forever and learn about their newest resource, the Clean. Drain. Dry. Rapid Response Communication Kit.This kit was created for Lake Associations, Local Governments, National Organizations and other partners to spread the world after an area lake has new invasive species infestation. Learn about different elements of the kit and their benefits in this webinar.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/125487943?pwd=UmRIb3diVGpBcUtSbUFaMGJWM0JNUT09   Meeting ID: 125 487 943 Password: 653805

One tap mobile +16465588656,,125487943# US (New York); +14086380968,,125487943# US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 125 487 943

Using eDNA as an early detection tool for invasive mussels

November 4, 2:00-3:00 PM EST

Please join us for a webinar hosted by the Invasive Mussel Collaborative examining the study and use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Presenters will discuss eDNA sampling as a detection tool as well as the potential for its use in dreissenid management.

To register click HERE.

New tools for identifying and prioritizing range-shifting invasive plants

November 5 from 2-3 pm

Hosted by the Northeast IPM Center; Join Jenica Allen and Bethany Bradley to learn about new tools for identifying and prioritizing range-shifting invasive plants coming soon to a landscape near you. Whether you’re a property owner, land manager, landscape professional, or policymaker, these tools are for you. Drs. Allen and Bradley will provide a live demonstration of the tools and answer your questions about how climate change could influence invasive plants.

Here's the link to register.

Two Case Studies on Hydrilla Rapid Response in the Great Lakes

Tuesday, November 19th from 2:00-3:00pm EST

Jennifer Dunn, Biologist with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Great Lakes Programs, and Mike Adam, Senior Biologist with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, will be presenting two case studies of recent hydrilla detections and rapid response efforts. Jennifer will present on the recent hydrilla discovery in Orchard Park, New York and the rapid response efforts that occurred to address this discovery. Mike will provide an overview of the County’s response to the recently documented hydrilla infestation in Libertyville, Illinois, along with background on the Illinois Hydrilla Rapid Response Plan. We will have an approximately 40-minute panel presentation followed by a Q&A session.

For information, please contact: [log in to unmask].

Employment Opportunities

USFWS-NWRS Regional IPM/Invasive Species Coordinator

DOI Regions 9 & 12 (formerly Pacific Region 1) is looking for an energetic, dynamic individual with strong background in integrated pest management (IPM) and invasive species management as the Regional IPM/Invasive Species Coordinator. This Regional IPM/Invasive Species Coordinator provides programmatic support for the 67 National Wildlife Refuges and five National Monuments in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Hawaii, and the Pacific Remote Islands. The duty station is the Regional Office in Portland, OR. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are authorized

Open & closing dates:  10/15/2019 to 10/29/2019

Pay scale & grade: GS-0401-11/12

Announcement number: MR-20-10620098-JLS MP https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/548811700

State of Wyoming – Vacancy Announcement - 040-Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Fish Division

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking an Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator located in Cheyenne or Laramie, WY. This position coordinates aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control activities for the state of Wyoming.  The position implements the Wyoming AIS program, including coordination of outreach, watercraft inspections, statewide monitoring and interagency and interstate coordination.

Human Resource Contact: Laura Curtis 307-777-4507 Click here to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure. URL:    http://agency.governmentjobs.com/wyoming/default.cfm

Recommended Publications

Invasive alien species and planetary and global health policy

Stoett, P., Roy, H. E., & Pauchard, A. (2019). Invasive alien species and planetary and global health policy. The Lancet Planetary Health, 3(10), e400-e401.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment, released in 2019,1 identified invasive alien species, those introduced by humans into regions beyond their natural distributions, as one of the five top direct drivers of biodiversity loss.2 Although many cases exist of positive adaptations to the introduction of invasive alien species, they are generally regarded as a severe threat to local ecosystems, wildlife, and human health and overall wellbeing. Once established, efforts to eradicate invasive alien species can raise both public health and ethical concerns because of the unintended effects that control measures can have on the environment and human livelihoods (eg, chemical control and biocontrol agents).

Unfortunately, invasive alien species are widespread across all biomes and geographical regions. These species can be considered as an evolving global health threat and are changing the socio-ecological context in which billions of people live, lowering natural resilience to other perturbations and reshaping local ecology. Indeed, we can plausibly argue that invasive alien species are one of the main signposts of the Anthropocene era…

Incorporating climate change into invasive species management: insights from managers.

Beaury, E. M., Fusco, E. J., Jackson, M. R., Laginhas, B. B., Morelli, T. L., Allen, J. M., Pasquarella, V. J., Bradley, B. A. (2019). Incorporating climate change into invasive species management: insights from managers. Biol Invasions. doi: 10.1007/s10530-019-02087-6. 

Summary: Interactions between invasive species and climate change present new challenges for invasive species management. However, it was unclear what the common concerns, management strategies, limitations, and research needs were for managing invasive species in a changing climate. In a survey of invasive species managers from government, non-profit, and private organizations across the U.S., Beaury et al. (2019) found that the majority of managers were very concerned about the influence of climate change on invasive species management but their organizations were significantly less so. Managers reported that lack of funding and personnel limited their effective management, and lack of information on how to manage presented an added challenge when considering the combination of invasive species and climate change. Even so, 65% of managers reported successfully incorporating climate change into their management, which can be further facilitated by connecting managers across regions and by integrating existing research findings into management strategies. This study shows that if addressed collaboratively, climate change might be an opportunity to increase the efficiency and success of current management efforts.

Management implications: The following strategies were identified as ways that managers incorporate climate change into invasive species management:

• Strategic planning - acquiring new land, improving partnerships across boundaries
• Preventative management - monitoring for range shifting invasive species, planting native species adapted to warmer temperatures
• Treatment and control - changing timing of treatment to match shifting flowering times
• Education and outreach - talking to partners in warmer regions about their problem species and management methods, educating self and staff about the effects of climate change on invasive species
• We need more opportunities for information exchange about treatment techniques, new problem species, and other resources in order to proactively manage invasive species in a changing climate.

ANS in the News

Water companies playing leading role in the battle against invasive species, says industry group

Posted October 28, 2019 – Water companies continue to work with government, NGOs and other partners to tackle invasive species and help promote biosecurity. Through the Check, Clean, Dry biosecurity partnership for example water companies are helping fund a project to prevent invasive species from entering the country in the first place. 

DFO considers release of toxins to control an invasive species in Miramichi Lake

Posted October 28, 2019 – Officials at Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans are weighing in on a troublesome question. Should they allow a healthy lake to be poisoned — even temporarily — to avert a potential disaster for the Miramichi River's wild Atlantic salmon?

New invasive species found in Pennsylvania waters

Posted October 28, 2019 – The bloody red shrimp, a tiny species native to the Black Sea of eastern Europe and western Asia, has been found in Pennsylvania for the first time.

Scientists call for improved approach to biodiversity targets on invasive species

Posted October 28, 2019 - A Monash-led international commentary on the harm caused by biological invasions has urged policy makers to develop conversation targets in a unified framework informed by new data integration methods developed in the last decade.

'Citizen army' needed to tackle invasive species, MPs suggest

Posted October 25, 2019 - The cost to the economy of non-native species taking hold in the UK is estimated to be £1.8bn a year, a report from the environmental audit committee says. Among their recommendations, they call for an army of 1.3 million volunteers to be trained across the country to identify and respond to the threat from non-native species, in a scheme modelled on one developed in New Zealand.

How to stop the spread of invasive species and parasites in Arizona lakes and streams

Posted October 25, 2019 - When the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) manages our fishing, there are many factors they take into account to provide the best fishing, while ensuring the conditions for native populations are successful.

Invasive ticks could become problem in Alaska

Posted October 24, 2019 – According to a scientist from the University of Alaska Anchorage, non-native species of ticks may soon be a problem in Alaska.

 After 70 years, the fight to get sea lampreys out of the Great Lakes continues

Posted October 24, 2019 - A number of destructive invasive species have invaded the Great Lakes in the past several decades. These non-native creatures can do significant damage to native ecosystems. Biologists work hard to control them, but it's an ongoing battle.

Barrasso: We Must Improve Flood Prevention, Expand Water Storage & Combat Invasive Species

Posted October 23, 2019 – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a hearing titled “Improving American Economic Competitiveness through Water Resources Infrastructure: Federal Panel.”

Behrend students discover invasive shrimp species in Lake Erie

Posted October 22, 2019 – Near midnight at Erie's Lampe Marina, with their first throw of the net, three Penn State Behrend students caught something that had never before been seen in Pennsylvania waters: a tiny, black-eyed shrimp known as Hemimysis anomala.

Inadequate funding hampering battle against invasive species: Region

Posted October 22, 2019 - A recent study conducted by the Invasive Species Centre shows Ontario municipalities and conservation authorities are spending $50.8 million per year to address invasive species.

Latest weapon against lionfish invasion? Meet the Roomba of the sea.

Posted October 22, 2019 - How to counter invasive species, a common, and often intractable, problem? One entrepreneur’s clever approach offers lessons in finding solutions in the unlikeliest of places.

How San Diego Scientists Are Helping The Navy Keep Ship Hulls Clean

Posted October 22, 2019 – Scientists around the country, including some in San Diego, are working with the U.S. Navy to tackle an age-old problem known as biofouling. It's the accumulation of marine organisms on the bottom of a boat.

Poor Water Conditions Drive Invasive Snakeheads Onto Land

Posted October 22, 2019 - The largest fish to walk on land, the voracious northern snakehead, will flee water that is too acidic, salty or high in carbon dioxide – important information for future management of this invasive species.

New Study from Carleton University Shows Warming Ocean Boosts Invasive Lionfish Appetite

Posted October 17, 2019 - A new study from Carleton University’s Clay Steell and Steven Cooke’s Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Lab is the first to show that invasive lionfish eat more and perform better as the ocean warms with climate change, thanks to a digestive system that likes the heat.

Targeting deeply held values crucial for inspiring pro-environmental behavior

Posted October 15, 2019 - A recent study in Sustainability Science shows that deeply held values, which align closely with political leanings, can predict whether someone takes action to protect the environment. And it suggests people on opposite ends of the political spectrum can be spurred to take action, as long as messaging taps into those values.