Overview of Invasive Species in Oklahoma

Karen R. Hickman, ProfessorNatural Resource Ecology & ManagementOklahoma State UniversityPresident, Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council

Overview

• Terminology• Background on Invasive Species• Oklahoma’s battle with invasives• Sources of Invasives• Why Invasives are Problematic• Effects of Invasives• Noxious Weed Lists (OK + neighbors)• Major Challenges• Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council

Hydrilla Control Project

Terminologyfor Invasive Species

• Non-native• Exotic• Non-indigenous species• Alien• Introduced• Prohibited• Nuisance• Noxious• Invasive• Weeds• Naturalized• Encroaching• Native, Invaders

Poison Hemlock

E. Redcedar

Background

• Since 1800, > 50,000 foreign plant and animal species established in the US

• Some are of benefit (i.e. food)– Wheat, corn, rice, cattle, soybeans

• Others are problematic (i.e. noxious, invasive)– USDA-APHIS (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)

estimates annual cost: Greater than $138 billion/year

• In US: Focus on Agricultural Weeds & Aquatic Nuisance Species– Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990:

Defined an aquatic nuisance species as a nonindigenous species that “threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on such waters.”

NepaleseBrowntop

Noxious vs Invasive

Noxious weed = Legal TermA noxious weed is any plant or plant product that can directly or

indirectly injure or cause damage to crops (including nursery stock or plant products), livestock, poultry, or other interests of agriculture, irrigation, navigation, the natural resources of the United States, the public health, or the environment.

Invasive Species = Descriptive TermExecutive Order 13112 written by Clinton in 1999 was first

official definition of an invasive species:“an alien species who does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to animal or human health.”

Musk Thistle

Oklahoma’s battle with invasives1994 - 1999: Thistle LawPrior to 2000: Concerns about out-of-control exotics, native

pests, aquatic nuisance species2000: Oklahoma’s Noxious Weed Law 2002: Eastern Redcedar Task Force2008: Oklahoma’s Aquatic Nuisance SpeciesManagement Plan approved2008: Oklahoma State Wildlife Action Plan 2008: Creation of Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council (OkIPC)2010: Weed Free Hay Certification Act

Feral Hogs

Zebra Mussel

Sources of non-native species

- Ballast Water and ship cargo - Agriculture Use (e.g. forage species) - Horticulture and Landscaping - “Accidental” (e.g. seed contaminants) - Animal transport - Altered Land Management - Intentional release - Expansion of Range - Military exercises - Moving and depositing soil fill - Vehicular Transport

Zebra mosquito

Nutria

• #1 Human health problems• #2 Economic Effects: $$’s spent on control; eradication; loss of

production and habitat• #3 Displace the native community (reduce biodiversity)• Alter fire frequency & intensity• Hybridize with natives• Create monocultures• Decrease livestock production • Disrupt natural nutrient & water cycles• Compete with native pollinators• Impact on Threatened & Endangered Species• Replace complex communities with monocultures

Why are we concerned with species that become invasive?

Salt Cedar

Red Imported Fire Ants

Africanized Honey Bees

Harm to Human HealthKudzu

Add Michael Lusk’s slide here

Source: Michael Lusk, USFWS, Washington DC

US Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge System

Costs for control by project start year at 20 % annual expansion rate of weeds in Douglas County, NV.

High cost of doing something about it!

Higher cost of doing nothing about it!

Economic Costs

Noxious Weed Lists:

• Oklahoma: 3Canada Thistle Musk ThistleScotch Thistle

• Missouri : 11• Kansas: 12• Texas: 27• New Mexico: 32• Arkansas: 38• Colorado: 71

For more information: ODAFF; TPWD; TDA;OCES PSS-2776 & EPP-7318

& Roadside Weed Management (USDOT)

Musk Thistle

Hydrilla

What are the MAJOR Challenges?Within the state of Oklahoma (and elsewhere): - Adding species to the Noxious Weed/Nuisance Species Lists

- Inconsistency in “ranking” among states, agencies, and organizations: Noxious; Nuisance; Prohibited; Problem species; Invasives

- Incomplete mapping of occurrences

Example: Kudzu- Millions of acres in the US invaded

- Costs US estimated $336 million/yr in lost production (not including control $$’s)

- Introduced to SE US in 1876 for ornamental, forage, and soil stability purposes

- One of the Top 100 World’s Worst Invaders - Listed as an noxious weed by 19 US states- Legal in Oklahoma

Kudzu

What are the MAJOR Challenges?

OK Biological Survey

OK Biological Survey;OkIPC Citizen Science

What are the MAJOR Challenges?

Political:Prevention of introductionLegislative “issues”Internet TradeConflicting GoalsLack of regulatory oversight (e.g. bait)Dept. of Transportation rules & regulationsJurisdiction (e.g. Purple Loosestrife)

Didymo; “Rock Snot”

• Introduced as ornamental, crop seed

contaminant, and through ballast waterfrom Eurasia

• Capable of invading any moist area – From estuaries and wetlands to roadside

ditches

• Can form extensive monocultures • US spends $45 Million dollars in control• ~ Rate of spread >250,000 acres/year• Considered one of the Top

100 World’s Worst InvadersPimentel et al. 2005

Thompson at el. 1987

Swearingen 2005

Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife

What are the MAJOR Challenges?

Political:Prevention of introductionLegislative “issues”Internet TradeConflicting GoalsLack of regulatory oversight (e.g. bait)Dept. of Transportation rules & regulationsJurisdiction (e.g. Purple Loosestrife)

Social :ValuationNeighbors# of Skilled and trained InspectorsLack of Commitment; Agreement; EducationConflicting Goals: horticulture, landscaping, aquaculture

Saltcedar; Tamarix

What are the MAJOR Challenges?

Ecological issues:Lack of control methodsLack of native seedRestoration effortsFire resistancesSeed sourcesLack of Integrated Pest Management approachesExotic grasses invading native rangelandsCollateral damage from broad range treatmentThe “Unknown belowground”

Biggest: Inconsistency Example: Exotic grasses (ODWC and OERB)

Sericea lespedeza

Giant Salvinia

Bindweed

Sericea Lespedeza

• Native of eastern Asia• Brought to US in 1896 as potential forage• Used for land reclamation, soil conservation,

& forage production in eastern & central US• Listed as a crop plant in some states (OK)• Listed as a noxious weed in others (KS & CO)• One person’s treasure…..

Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council

To facilitate efficient and effective management of invasive plants for the protection of the

economic and natural resources of Oklahoma’s private and public land and water.

Yellow Iris

Interested PartiesState Agencies & Organizations:

– OK Dept. of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry– OK Dept of Wildlife Conservation– OK Dept. of Transportation– OK Farm Bureau– OK Biological Survey– Oklahoma-TNC– OK Wheat Growers Association– OK Association of Conservation Districts– Osage Nation– OK Native Plant Society– OK Natural Areas Registry– Kaw Nation– University of Oklahoma– Oklahoma State University– University of Central Oklahoma– Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Unit– OK Conservation Commission– OK Natural Heritage Inventory– OK Recreation and Tourism– OSU Extension Service– Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation– OK Vegetation Management Association– OK Grazing Lands Association– OK Association of County Commissioners– OK Nursery and Landscape Association– Blue Thumb Program– OK Tourism– OK Prescribed Fire Associations– OK National Guard Troops

Federal Agencies & Organizations :– USDA-NRCS– Bureau of Indian Affairs– US Fish and Wildlife Services– Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge– US Army Corps of Engineers– US Geological Service– Dept. of Defense (Tinker)– USDA-APHIS– Dept. of Transportation– National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils– American Fisheries Society– Society for Range Management– The Nature Conservancy

Others:– Numerous Private Landowners & Managers– Johnston Seed – DOW Agrosciences– DuPONT– CLARKE– Sunshine Nursery– Holman Seed

Old World Bluestems