PS 9-76
Ecological crowdsourcing for adaptive management of Phragmites-invaded wetlands
Phragmites australis (common reed) is an invasive species that threatens structure and function of wetlands throughout North America by growing in monocultures that displace native plants, particularly in human-disturbed environments. Uncertainties imposed by cryptic invasion complicate Phragmites management, because there are both native and non-native lineages. Although Phragmites invasion occurs on a continental scale, most research is site-specific, taking place under controlled experimental conditions. There is little research about conditions faced by managers, and the prevalence and efficacy of management techniques. We sought to address this by developing a cooperative learning network of managers engaged in treating invasive Phragmitesin North America by crowdsourcing. The network will serve as the foundation for an adaptive management framework to enable learning from ongoing management over time. To expand our network, we revamped the project protocol in 2013 compared to 2012. The 2013 protocol was more pictorial, and participants were sent a package with all of the project’s forms, the protocol, pre-labeled sampling bags, and a pre-paid flat-rate box for mailing samples. The large-scale of our network and associated samples allows us to search for generality in drivers of invasion (genetics, edaphic conditions) and effectiveness of management responses.
Results/Conclusions
Management - The most common management reported was resting (no action), employed at 47% of sites. The second most common management action was herbicide (35%), followed by mowing (6%), grazing (6%) burning (3%), and seeding (1%). Other actions, such as selective removal of plants, were used at 5% of sites.
Cooperative learning - Between 2012 and 2013, we increased the size of our cooperative learning network from 6 participants in 4 US states and Ontario, Canada, to 50 participants in 15 US states (CA, CO, FL, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MT, NE, NY, OH, SD, VA, WI) and Ontario, Canada. Participants including volunteers, stewards, and resource professionals engaged in management of private, state, federal, and military lands each contributed data and Phragmites leaf and soil samples, for genetic and nutrient analysis respectively, for up to 10 Phragmites-invaded sites each (ntotal = 124). Data submitted included GPS coordinates, community composition, hydrology, and management history for 141 transects. Development of a cooperative learning network is a critical first step in building a framework of adaptive management for identification of effective treatment strategies against invasive Phragmites. We have identified, implemented and documented a methodology for developing such a network.