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Biodiversity Under Siege, Invasive Animals, and The National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Biodiversity under Siege, Invasive Animals and the National Park Service A State of the Knowledge Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2018/1679 ON THE COVER Photograph of an invasive Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) eating a non-native Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus cristatellus) in an agricultural field adjacent to Everglades National Park, Florida. Cuban treefrogs have become established in peninsular Florida since the 1920s when they likely arrived as hitchhikers in ship cargo containers. The non-native Puerto Rican crested anole is considered a possible predator of the native green anole (Anolis carolinensis), likely occurs because of escaped pets, and is spreading widely throughout the state. Photography by: Dennis Giardina, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Biodiversity under Siege, invasive Animals and the National Park Service A State of the Knowledge Report Natural Resource [Technical] Report NPS/NRSS/BRD?NRR—2018/1679 Jessica R. Resnik National Park Service Natural Resources Stewardship and Science Directorate Biological Resources Division 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 July 2018 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado Invasive Animals and the National Park Service The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Peer review was conducted by highly qualified individuals with subject area technical expertise and was overseen by a peer review manager. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Biological Resources Division website (http://www.nps.gov/brd) and the Natural Resource Publications Management Web site (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/) on the Internet. If you have difficulty accessing information in this publication, particularly if using assistive technology, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Resnik, J. R. 2018. Biodiversity under Siege, invasive Animals and the National Park Service: A State of the Knowledge Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2018/1679. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 909/146727, July 2018 Biodiversity Under Siege ii Contents Page Figures . v Tables . vi Appendices . �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� vii Executive Summary . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� viii Acknowledgements . .. ix Statement of Need . 1 Introduction . .. 1 Evolution of NPS Efforts to Develop an Invasive Animal Program . 4 Purpose of This Report . 6 Public Law: General NPS Authority . 7 1. Overview of NPS Authorities and Policies Guiding Management and Control of Invasive Animals . .. 7 Executive Orders . 11 Federal Regulations . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11 Special Regulations . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Park Compendia . 12 National Park Service Policy . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 Director’s Orders . 16 Reference Manuals . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16 Adequacy of Existing Legal Authorities . 17 2. Invasive Species Organization In the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate . 18 Biological Resources Division Invasive Animals Program Area . 19 Biological Resources Division Invasive Plants Program . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 Water Resources Division Invasive Aquatics Program Area . 22 Inventory and Monitoring Division Invasive Species Activities . 22 Government Performance and Results Act . 24 3. Servicewide Snapshot of Invasive Animals . 24 Definitions . .. 26 Methodology of Annual Data Call . 27 Quality Assurance and Quality Control . .. 27 Summary of NPS 2016 Invasive Animal Data . .. 27 Information Used for GPRA Reporting . 28 Summarizing Information Reported by Parks . .. 28 Interview Methodology . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32 iii Invasive Animals and the National Park Service Contents (continued) Page 4. Insights from Regional Offices . 32 Interview Results . 33 Informing Decisions . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 33 Factors in Making Decisions . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 35 Management of Invasive Animals . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 Regional Office Insights . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 39 5. Insights from Park Projects and Planning Inventories . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 42 Planning, Environment, and Public Comment . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 42 Project Management Information System (Servicewide Comprehensive Call) . 42 Park Planning Documents . 43 Preparedness and Early Detection . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 44 6. Early Detection and Rapid Response . 44 Rapid Assessment and Rapid Response . ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 45 Landscape Scale Coordination and Planning . 46 Data and Information Systems . 48 7. Information Management and Risk Assessments . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 48 Assessing Risks . 49 8. Summary . 51 Next Steps . 54 Literature Cited . ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 55 Biodiversity Under Siege iv Figures Page Figure 1. The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of 417 units that include over 84 million acres of lands and waters in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are seven organizational Regions of the National Park Service. 3 Figure 2. The eight different components to effective invasive species management that were identified in an Invasive Species Action Plan authored in 2006 by a team of NPS representatives. The Action Plan was never finalized or published. 5 Figure 3. Divisions and programs within the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate of the National Park Service Washington Support Office. The three highlighted divisions host the primary programs, program areas, or activities related to invasive animal (and plant) management. 18 Figure 4. Number of invasive animal populations reported to the NPS invasive animals data call (2005–2017). 25 Figure 5. Expenditure information for controlling invasive animals was requested in the annual NPS inva- sive animals data call from 2008 to 2012. 26 Figure 6. Decisions can take place within complex contexts. Decision support processes and tools can help structure decision-making, organize and analyze information, and build consensus around options for action. (Source: Moss et al. 2014) . 35 Figure 7. If an invasive plant or animal species is not detected and removed early, expensive and long- term management may be unavoidable.
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