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United States Department of

March 2015 Number 8

Newsletter Editors Dean Pearson, Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service—RMRS From the Editors Missoula, Montana 59801 Phone: 406-542-4159 This newsletter is designed to keep a common theme in many Email: [email protected] managers and other users up-to-date with throughout the United States, including in http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/invasive-species/ recently completed and ongoing research places established specifically to protect by RMRS scientists, as well as to highlight native and communities. Although Yvette Ortega, Ecologist breaking news related to the exact number of plants introduced USDA Forest Service—RMRS Missoula, Montana 59801 issues. The newsletter is produced by into the United States is unknown, Phone: 406-542-4152 the RMRS Invasive Species Working published estimates range from 4,000 to Email: [email protected] Group (ISWG), a core group of scientists 5,000 species. Fortunately, only a small who volunteer to disseminate RMRS proportion of species identified as exotic Jack Butler, Research Ecologist invasive species science to managers appear to adversely impact , USDA Forest Service—RMRS and the public through this newsletter, the communities, and ecosystems. However, Rapid , South Dakota 57702 website, and periodic white papers. All of the larger portion of exotic species that are Phone: 605-716-2160 our products, including past issues of the currently considered benign represents Email: [email protected] newsletters and lists of publications, can a pool of potentially damaging species be found online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/ should environmental conditions shift in invasive-species/. their favor, as via climate change. The Invasive Species Working Group Early Detection section of this newsletter Team Leader In this issue, we highlight the importance highlights the need to be ever vigilant Dean Pearson, Research Ecologist of early detection and rapid response regarding entry of new species, even USDA Forest Service—RMRS as applied to new invader incidents for those that appear benign. meadow hawkweed, medusahead, and rush skeletonweed. Exotic plants are now USDA Forest Service—RMRS Production Publishing Services USDA Forest Service—RMRS

Meadow hawkweed infestation (photo credit: Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org). Black-capped chickadee (photo credit: K. Zeiber Nature Photographs).

1 Research Notes A Spectral Library of Native and Invasive Species from a Post-Fire Environment

By Sarah Lewis-Scholes (sarahlewis@ fs.fed.us), Andrew Hudak (ahudak@ The reflectance spectra of prickly lettuce in red and field fs.fed.us), and Pete Robichaud bindweed in green. Each plant ([email protected]), Forestry species has a unique spectral Sciences Laboratory, Moscow, Idaho signature. Managers were very concerned about spread following the 2005 School Fire that burned 50,000 acres of state, pri- vate and Umatilla National Forest lands in southeast Washington. Non-native plants, including invasive and noxious species, often increase after fire following reduc- tions in native plant and tree canopy cover and density. Remote sensing is often used after wildfires to monitor and map changes in soil and vegetation conditions. Toward improving this tool, RMRS and Univer- sity of Idaho researchers conducted a pilot study to collect unique plant “spectral re- Right: Sarah Lewis-Scholes samples the reflectance spectra of prickly flectance signatures” that can be combined lettuce (Lactuca serriola), which is with high-resolution remote imagery in or- non-native to eastern Washington. der to track weed spread. Penelope Morgan and Leigh Lentile collected these detailed Bottom: Collecting the unique reflectance spectra of field bindweed signatures for more than 70 species, in- (Convolvulus arvensis), a Class C cluding 11 classified as noxious in the state in eastern Washington. of Washington. The goal was to use the reflectance signatures, or “endmembers,” together with high-resolution, Quickbird satellite imagery to map weed spread after the fire. Over the course of six summers of field sampling, however, non-native spe- cies were found at low cover (maximum 2% plot cover) in fewer than 20% of the high severity burn plots and were absent altogether in unburned plots. The lack of substantial weed cover following this par- ticular fire kept researchers from detecting these plants using collected signatures in the remotely sensed imagery. However, the library of compiled reflectance spectra data can be used by other managers and scientists for similar remote sensing image analyses on other fires, particularly when paired with high-resolution, hyperspectral imagery that has many more channels than Quickbird. The spectral library may be accessed at: https://www.frames.gov/part- ner-sites/assessing-burn-severity/spectral/ spectral-library-eastern-washington/.

2 Disease Gene white blister rust and its inheritance Discovered in Limber Pine in limber pine. The researchers report that 14% of the 105 tested limber pine seed By: Anna Schoettle (aschoettle@ lots show segregation of a disease-free fs.fed.us), RMRS Forestry Sciences trait consistent with inheritance by a single Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado dominant gene, which they name “Cr4.” Limber pine seedlings with the dominant Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is being resistant allele Cr4 remain disease-free af- threatened by the lethal non-native dis- ter artificial inoculation with the white pine ease white pine blister rust, increasing blister rust fungus. The average frequency bark beetle pressure, and climate change of the Cr4 allele across healthy and re- in mountain environments. Tree line cently invaded populations in the southern ecosystems dominated by limber pine Rocky Mountains was unexpectedly high are ecologically valuable for watershed (5.0%; ranging from 0 to 13.9%). This re- protection and diversity. Consequently, search suggests that Cr4 is not a product limber pine is of conservation concern in of a recent mutation and may confer other the southern Rocky Mountains. In a recent adaptive benefits against other abiotic or publication in the journal Phytopathology, factors. For more information Forest Service researchers report on the on this research, see Schoettle and others first of a series of studies using seed lots (2014) in the Recent Publications section. from individual seed trees (genetic fami- Cover of the February 2014 issue of Phytopathology. Depicted in the cover image: lies) to examine complete resistance to premature senescence of infected needles is an early indication of this genetic resistance.

Genetic Diversity and Population gene flow in sickleweed populations of Structure of Sickleweed (Falcaria the upper Midwest, probably as a result of mediated propagule dispersal, that vulgaris) have now resulted in higher genetic diver- sity. The ability of sickleweed populations By: Jack Butler ([email protected]), RMRS Forest & Grassland Research to expand vegetatively by root sprouting Laboratory, Rapid City, South Dakota can foster rapid selection of such adapted genotypes. Evolutionary changes that Genetic analysis of recently introduced have occurred in sickleweed since its es- plants can provide valuable insight into tablishment and expansion could be used their potential to be invasive and assist in to prioritize management strategies that developing management strategies. In this reduce gene flow among genetic clusters study, students and faculty at South Dakota or chlorotypes. For more information see State University collaborated with RMRS Piya and Nepal (2013) and Piya and others scientists to use chloroplast and nuclear (2014) in the Recent Publications section. Heavy infestation of sickleweed on the Fort DNA markers to (1) study the genetic Pierre National Grasslands (South Dakota). diversity and structure of upper Midwest United States populations of sickleweed, and (2) determine whether sickleweed populations in the United States were established from a single or multiple intro- ductions. Results of the study indicated a positive correlation between genetic diver- sity (higher number of alleles and higher observed and expected heterozygosity) and . Several studies have shown that high is a characteristic of many invasive plant pop- The coarsely toothed leaf is responsible for ulations. Further analyses showed three giving sickleweed its common name. distinct genetic clusters that are distributed without any geographic pattern, suggest- Graduate student Sarbottam Piya (left) studies ing multiple introductions of sickleweed the genetic diversity of sickleweed, an exotic plant in the northern Great Plains. Overall, the species recently introduced into the Northern Great Plains (photo credit: Madav Nepal). study indicates multiple introductions and 3 Who Gets the Novel Prize?

Black-capped chickadee showing By: Yvette Ortega ([email protected]. color bands used to track individuals us) and Dean Pearson (dpearson@ (photo credit: K. Zeiber Nature fs.fed.us), RMRS Forestry Sciences Photographs). Laboratory, Missoula, Montana Exotic species are infamous for their strong negative effects on native species, but less appreciated is the fact that such Ortega and University of Montana invaders can also have strong positive ef- researchers Leigh Greenwood and fects. For example, exotic organisms can Ray Callaway studied the provide a novel food resource—one that behavior of black-capped (Poecile is often superabundant—thereby subsi- atricapillus) and mountain (P. dizing native populations and potentially gambeli) chickadees in western triggering effects that ripple through the Montana to compare the degree . However, predicting which to which these closely related spe- native species will successfully exploit ex- cies exploited larvae of gall flies otic resources remains a challenge. RMRS (Urophora sp.), exotic biological were able to gather knapweed seedheads researchers Dean Pearson and Yvette control insects overwintering within the from erect plants rather than searching for seedheads of the invasive forb spotted seedheads on the ground. These shifts in knapweed (Centaurea stoebe). Chicka- foraging behavior allowed black-capped dees typically forage within tree or shrub chickadees to exploit gall fly larvae to cover, whereas knapweed and hence gall a much greater degree than mountain flies thrive in open grassland away from chickadees while minimizing exposure cover. The researchers found that black- to a high-risk , an outcome with capped chickadees were much more likely potentially important community-wide than mountain chickadees to forage for consequences. Behavioral flexibility has gall fly larvae. Black-capped chickadees been used to predict which species will be- strategically minimized time spent in come successful invaders. This new study open by flying out from cover suggests that behavioral flexibility may to retrieve knapweed seedheads and im- also be used to predict how native species mediately returning to cover to extract will respond to invasions, particularly the the larvae. Black-capped chickadees also availability of exotic food resources. For employed an atypical hovering technique more information on this research, see nearly twice as often as their sister species Study co-author Leigh Greenwood with Ortega and others (2014) in the Recent did, particularly when foraging away from mountain chickadee (photo credit: Leigh Publications section. Greenwood). cover. Via this hovering technique,

Early Detection

First Report of Medusahead grass has successfully invaded about 2.5 awns that can injure the eyes and mouths Wildrye Grass ( million acres of the Intermountain West. of grazing animals. If medusahead is al- Medusahead has high silica content, lowed to establish and spread in Montana, caput-medusae) in Montana which is slow to decay, leading to the it may degrade and creation of dense layers of thatch. As it habitat while altering fire regimes, as it By: Bryce Christiaens (bryce@ missoulaeduplace.org), Missoula invades an area, the thatch it generates has done in , Colorado, Nevada, County Weed District Manager, and inhibits the seeds of other species from Oregon, and , where it is listed as a Doug Dupuis ([email protected]), establishing while its seeds continue noxious weed. In 2014, the Confederated Confederated Salish and Kootenai to flourish within the dense litter layer. Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Montana Tribes Range Specialist In this way, medusahead is able to out- Conservation Corp.; U.S. and compete not only desirable vegetation Wildlife Service; and Weed Districts in In late 2013, Medusahead wildrye but also the likes of cheatgrass, another Sanders, Missoula, and Lake County part- grass (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) was problematic invader of the West. Another nered to map the roughly 1500 acres that found in Montana for the first time in concern is that medusahead has little to no encompass the current medusahead infes- one confirmed location on the Flathead forage value for wildlife or livestock be- tation. The affected area was subsequently Reservation. This highly invasive annual cause its seed heads are armored with stiff treated with an aerial application of the 4 Patch of medusahead wildrye grass and close-up of seedhead (Photo credit: Kelsey Miller, Lake County Weed District).

herbicide Imazapic as a first step aimed spread, and are implementing an outreach plans toward eventual eradication include at controlling the infestation. Managers and education program to encourage ongoing chemical, biological, and cultur- plan to seed a vegetative buffer strip along awareness of medusahead and preventa- al treatments, as guided by research and the outer edge of the infestation to inhibit tive measures against invasion. Future monitoring programs.

Rapid Response to a New designated as a Priority 1B noxious weed work was completed from October 21 to Infestation of Rush Skeletonweed by the state of Montana, with management November 16, 2014. The ranch owner also goals of eradication or containment as contributed $60,000 toward the effort. (Chondrilla juncea L.) in Ravalli well as education. Rush skeletonweed has More than 6500 acres of the ranch and County, Montana infested large areas in Idaho, Washington, nearby lands were surveyed on foot, by and Oregon, and the seeds are wind-dis- ATV, and from helicopter. Seven patches By: Gil Gale, Biologist, Bitterroot persed, so this species poses a very high were found, ranging in size from 0.25 to National Forest risk to grassland and shrubland habitats 6 acres in size, and 23 individual plants Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla jun- in western Montana. The new infestation were found. Plants were collected by cea L.) was detected on a private ranch represents a serious eastward expansion cutting, pulling, and bagging the fruiting by the ranch manager in southern Ravalli into these habitats, so rapid response was stems (102 bags) to reduce seed dispersal, County, Montana, in the fall of 2014. critical. The response was organized by and all patches were treated with herbi- This weed species is also known in Kellieann Morris, Ravalli County Weed cide. The bags were destroyed in a new northwestern Montana (where successful District, and Gil Gale, Bitterroot National incinerator that was acquired by the weed containment has occurred), and has previ- Forest. An emergency grant was received district. Additional surveys and treat- ously been found and eradicated at small from the Montana Noxious Weed Trust ments are planned for 2015. sites in west-central areas of the state. It is Fund for survey and treatment work. The

Chondrilla juncea

Rush skeletonweed (left, center) and distribution map (right) (EDDMapS. 2015. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia—Center for Invasive Species and Health. Available: http://www.eddmaps.org/ [April 14, 2015].). 5 First Report of Meadow meadow hawkweek (Hieracium caespitosum) Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum) in South Dakota

By: Brian E. Dickerson (bedickerson@ fs.fed.us), RMRS Forest and Grassland Research Laboratory, Rapid City, South Dakota During the 2014 field season, RMRS staff at the Rapid City Forest and Grass- land Research Laboratory discovered a non-native plant species new to the Black Hills and, quite possibly, new to the U.S. central plains states. A native of , meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespi- tosum, Dumort.) was introduced in the eastern United States as an ornamental Current distribution of meadow hawkweed in the United States (green) and recent range expansion in South Dakota (red dot) (EDDMapS. 2015. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The in 1828. Since then, it has expanded its University of Georgia—Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available: http://www. range considerably in the midwestern and eddmaps.org/. [April 2, 2015].). northeastern United States. It was first re- corded in the Pacific Northwest in 1969, sity of Idaho, reported excellent success in of a serious invader that could threaten the leaving a considerable gap in the central controlling meadow hawkweed using the ecological integrity of this unique forest. and southwestern portions of the United herbicide Clopyralid. The sudden discov- To read more about meadow hawkweed, States. Meadow hawkweed is listed as a ery of a small population of this invader in see the following references: the Black Hills National Forest of western noxious weed in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Stone, Katherine R. 2011. Hieracium and Washington. It is a perennial with South Dakota may represent a consider- caespitosum. In: Fire Effects fibrous roots and short to long rhizomes. able range expansion in a relatively short Information System [Online]. U.S. The plant is conspicuously hairy on the period of time. The Black Hills is an up- Department of Agriculture, Forest leaves and stems and produces a milky lifted island of ponderosa pine and spruce Service, Rocky Mountain Research juice when broken. Stems are 2 to 9 dm in forest surrounded by a sea of mixed grass Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory height and leaves are mostly basal. Each prairie and the nearest known populations (Producer). Available: http://www. stem produces a flat topped compact ter- of meadow hawkweed are quite distant fs.fed.us/database/feis/. minal cluster of 5 to 30 yellow flowers. It both spatially and ecologically (see map). Wallace, J.M., T.S. Prather, and L.M. has been reported to establish as low, mod- The small population found in the Black Wilson. 2010. Plant community erate, or dense patches in upland forest Hills occurred in one of a series of per- response to integrated management openings, mountain meadows, permanent manent, 1000-m2 monitoring plots in an of meadow hawkweed (Hieracium pastures, and abandoned farmland. Popu- area that was logged in 2007. The plots caespitosum) in the Pacific Northwest. were evaluated for non-native plants pre- Invasive Plant Science and Management lations in Montana and Idaho are described 3:268-275. as recent and as rapidly spreading, where harvest, 3 years post-harvest, and then dense populations often displace native again 7 years post-harvest (in 2014). No Wilson, L.M., J. Fehrer, S. Brautigam, and species. Because it is generally consid- other populations of meadow hawkweed G. Grosskopf. 2006. A new invasive ered a weak competitor, growing on poor were found on this timber sale, which was hawkweed, Hieracium glomeratum hand-pulled, or on any of the other five (Lactuceae, Asteraceae), in the Pacific soils in its native range, management of Northwest. Canadian Journal of timber sales that were evaluated in 2014. meadow hawkweed in its new range often 84:133-142. involves the integration of herbicides and However, field biologists in the Black fertilization. Dr. John Wallace, Univer- Hills region are now alert to the potential

Meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum) (left) showing hairy basal leaves and stem (middle) and the habitat in which it was found (right). 6 Other News

Invasive Plants in the Fire Effects Species Reviews. The new user interface Information System also has new search capabilities that en- able users to find FEIS literature reviews By: Kris Zouhar ([email protected]. by location, life form, plant community, us), RMRS Fire Sciences Laboratory, nativity, invasiveness, and/or Federal le- Missoula, Montana gal status. With the growing body of literature on invasive plants, land managers and FS and NPS Partnership to planners may struggle to keep up with Conserve Mountain Top the scientific literature on species of con- cern. The Fire Effects Information System Ecosystems from the Invasive (FEIS, http://www.feis-crs.org/beta/) of- Pathogen that Caused White Pine fers syntheses of the literature on Blister Rust and fire for 182 plant species considered invasive in . FEIS synthe- By: Anna Schoettle (aschoettle@ ses integrate information on autecology, fs.fed.us), RMRS Forestry Sciences community ecology, and fire relationships, Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado including effects of fire on invasive plants, Interagency collaboration between the the effects of plant invasions on fuel char- USDA Forest Service and the National acteristics and fire regimes, and the use of Park Service, using available tools and National Park Service and RMRS employees fire to control invasives. These syntheses collecting limber pine seed cones in Rocky methods that are compatible with land use Mountain National Park for rust resistance are much more than lists or summaries of designations, has led to the development testing and gene conservation. articles; they provide a logically sound, of a wide variety of programs to conserve thoroughly documented narrative based on and promote self-sustaining five-needle information from the scientific literature pine ecosystems in the presence of white and forest health assessments; developing and managers, organized and presented pine blister rust. Interagency collaboration rust resistant populations; and restoration so readers can identify potential applica- provides the science foundation in devel- plantings and trials. The scientific knowl- tions to their management issues. A new oping conservation strategies for high edge generated from this work reduces FEIS user interface and a new collection elevation five-needle pine ecosystems. the uncertainty in projecting outcomes of literature reviews, called Fire Regime These interagency programs include sam- of interventions or inactivity to improve Syntheses, will make additional fire re- pling frameworks, in situ and ex situ gene trade-off analyses as managers assess their gime information accessible for all FEIS conservation; demographic, regeneration, options. The information can also feed into economic analyses and inform the public. Depending on the intensity of im- pact by white pine blister rust, efforts are focused on developing restoration activi- ties in declining landscapes (Restoration Strategy) and/or proactive interventions in threatened ecosystems to mitigate future impacts (Proactive Strategy). Restoration treatments can slow impacts and rebuild impacted populations, while proactive interventions can help prepare the land- scape for invasion to mitigate the severity of future impacts. The goal of both ap- proaches is to conserve the species and promote self-sustaining five-needle pine ecosystems in the presence of white pine blister rust. For more information on this research, see Schoettle and others (2013) in the Recent Publications section.

Advanced Search Page, Fire Effects Information System. 7 IUFRO Joint Conference of Five- Needle , Rusts of Forest Trees, and Genomics Groups

By: Anna Schoettle (aschoettle@ fs.fed.us), RMRS Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado World-wide experts in genetics and ge- nomics of five-needle pines and rusts of forest trees convened in Fort Collins June 15-20, 2014, for their first joint confer- ence to share cutting edge methods and emerging technologies to sustain healthy forest ecosystems. This is the first joint conference of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) 2.02.15 Genetics of Five-Needle Pines working group, IUFRO 7.02.05 Rusts of Forest Trees working group, and the genomics working group Strobusphere. Anna Schoettle, a Deputy Coordinator for the IUFRO Five-Needle Pine work- ing group, co-organized the conference Anna Schoettle delivers a presentation on the ecology and genetics of Rocky Mountain bristlecone with Richard Sniezko, Richard Hamelin, pine (Pinus aristata) at the Mt. Goliath Research Natural Area during a conference field trip (photo and David Neale and served as the local credit: Richard Sniezko). coordinator with help from Kelly Burns and others. The conference included two days of presentations and four field trips improving and streamlining Montana’s understanding of the current status, (southern Wyoming, Rocky Mountain efforts to tackle the threat of invasive trends, and potential threats of inva- National Park, Mt. Goliath Research species in the state. The order establishes sive species in Montana; Natural Area, and ARS National Center the Montana Invasive Species Council (4) identifying priorities for prevention for Genetic Resources Preservation) to (MISC) to serve as the overarching coun- and control of invasive species in learn about current forest conditions, on- cil to combat invasive species in the Montana; going research, and conservation of pines state—both aquatic and terrestrial. “Mon- (5) recommending and taking measures as they are challenged by the non-native tanans cherish our outdoor recreation and that will encourage prevention, early invasive white pine blister rust. The field spaces, and those spaces play a crucial detection, and control of harmful inva- trips also included visits to limber pine role in our state’s vibrant economy. It is sive species in Montana; and Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine imperative that we do everything we can (6) championing priority invasive species forests. The 106 attendees included rep- to protect Montana from the threat of in- issues identified by stakeholders to resentatives from 16 countries, 17 U.S. vasive species that disrupt our land, water, best protect the state; and states and 4 Canadian provinces; students, and native species,” Bullock said. “None (7) advising and working with agency active researchers and professionals, and of us want another knapweed spreading personnel, local efforts, and the scien- retired experts participated. Financial across Montana.” tific community to implement program priorities. contributions by numerous USFS entities, The MISC will be tasked with: BLM, American Forests, Whitebark Pine The MISC will be made up of 21 mem- Ecosystem Foundation, Sierra Pacific (1) providing recommendations, direc- tion, and planning for combating bers, including representatives from tribal Industries, and IUFRO helped make the governments, county weed districts, the conference a success. infestations of invasive species throughout the state, while preventing Montana State University extensions, conservation districts, conservation or- Montana Governor Steve Bullock the introduction of others; (2) fostering cooperation, communica- ganizations, private land owners, natural Signs Executive Order to Combat tion, and coordinated approaches that resource groups, private industry, and Invasive Species support international, Federal, region- representatives from state and Federal al, state, local, and tribal initiatives for stakeholder agencies. Press Release, Office of the Governor, the prevention, early detection, and State of Montana, December 4, 2014 control of invasive species; Governor Steve Bullock was joined (3) serving as a non-partisan forum that by sportsmen, conservationists, and land would achieve a science-based in- managers as he signed an executive order terdisciplinary and comprehensive

8 Learning to Live With Cheatgrass: Giving Up or a Necessary Paradigm Shift?—A Viewpoint Cheatgrass demonstrating its ability By: Stan Kitchen ([email protected]. to establish in the toughest of us), RMRS Shrub Sciences Laboratory, environments (right), and its ability to Provo, Utah dominate a native plant community (bottom). , cheatgrass, downy brome, downy chess, early chess, drooping brome, June grass, bronco grass, 100-day grass, Mormon oats, military grass; each name reveals a distinct perspective of this North American immigrant. Before 1492, distribution included northern Af- rica, Europe, and central . Cheatgrass expanded during the last 12,000 years in concert with the domestication and herding of livestock and with cultivated agriculture. Cheatgrass was first observed in North America in Pennsylvania around 1790. It is thought to have first arrived in contaminated grain or perhaps as pack- ing material protecting a precious family heirloom. The earliest record for the West was nearly 100 years later in 1883 from the state of Washington. By about 1930, it had spread to all 50 states (with the pos- sible exception of Florida); and today, its New World range includes all Canadian provinces, parts of northern Mexico, and temperate South America, even as its range continues to expand. Highly would do well to acknowledge the new re- (3) developing reasonable expectations successful newcomers, such as cheatgrass, alities created by introduced species and and practices for mitigating effects while should be viewed as permanent additions focus efforts on: (1) limiting new intro- preserving core ecosystem functionality. to North American flora. Researchers, land ductions, (2) assessing the variability of For more on Stan’s article, see Kitchen owners and managers, and policy makers impacts across affected ecosystems, and (2014) in the Recent Publications section.

Awards

Sharlene Sing, Forestry Sciences System. Sharlene’s partnership work in and demonstrating field methods, to co- Laboratory, Bozeman, Montana supporting invasive plant management authoring informational brochures and Research Entomologist Sharlene Sing experts, resource managers, and other handbooks on various weed species and recently received the 2013 National scientists on a wide variety of issues their management. Her ongoing informal Forest System Invasive Species Program related to the ecology and management of consultations with National Forest System Award for Excellence in Invasive Species invasive plants, with particular emphasis personnel as well as other Federal, state, Partnership Development from the on implementation, safety, and assessment and private partners on invasive weed Washington Office. This national award of classical biological control of exotic related issues allow for participation recognizes a Forest Service individual , earned her this award. Her work in extensive field tours assessing the or office demonstrating outstanding, ranges from developing and disseminating suitability of sites to biological control, dedicated leadership in the development technology transfer products and activities, providing data for planning documents, of partnerships to address invasive such as leading instructional workshops and co-writing competitive grant species threatening the National Forest proposals.

9 Awards continued

Jeanne Chambers, Forestry Sciences for the BLM in Idaho, Jeanne has spent She is an influential advocate for Great Laboratory most of her career in her current position, Basin ecosystems, a regional leader in the Research Ecologist Jeanne Chambers studying riparian, , and alpine partnership of science and management, recently received the 2014 Distinguished systems throughout the West. She has a and a key contributor to regional Restorationist award from the Great Basin distinguished publication record in basic collaborative programs. These programs Chapter of the Society for Restoration and applied science and has synthesized include the Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Ecology. Jeanne received the award during scientific information in a way that Evaluation Project, the Great Basin the Society for Ecological Restoration’s has informed the trajectory of science Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Regional Conference in Redmond, Oregon, and science-management partnerships the Great Basin Fire Science Delivery last month. The award recognizes Jeanne on the topics of annual weed ecology; Project, the Great Basin Research and for her sustained career achievement in sagebrush-steppe restoration; ecosystem Management Partnership, and the Great and management. resistance and resilience; and riparian Basin Consortium. Beginning as a Range Conservationist ecology, restoration, and management.

Recent Publications

Connolly, B.; Pearson, D.E.; Mack, R.N. Pearson, D.E.; Icasatti, N.; Hierro, J.L.; Schoettle, A.W.; Connor, J.; Mack, J.; 2014. Effect of native generalist , B. 2014. Ants as agents of Pineda Bovin, P.; Beck, J.; Baker, granivores on exotic plant biotic resistance to exotic plant G.M.; Sniezko, R.A.; Burns, K.S. 2013. invasiveness and habitat . invasions. PLoS ONE 9(8): e103824. Establishing the science foundation Ecology. 95: 1759–1769. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103824. to sustain high-elevation five-needle pine forests threatened by novel Kitchen, S.G. 2014. Learning to live with Pinto, S.M.; Pearson, D.E.; Maron, interacting stresses in four western cheatgrass: giving up or a necessary J.L. 2014. Seed dispersal is more national parks. The George Wright paradigm shift. . limiting to grassland diversity than Forum. 30: 302–312. http://www. 36: 32–36. or seed . georgewright.org/303schoettle.pdf. Journal of Ecology. 102: 1258–1265. Maron, J.L.; Auge, H.; Korell, L.; Pearson, Schoettle, A.W.; Sniezko, R.A.; Kegley, D.E.; Hensen, I.; Suding, K.N.; Stein, Piya, S.; Nepal, M. 2013. Characterization A.; Burns, K.S. 2014. White pine C. 2014. Staged invasions across of nuclear and chloroplast blister rust resistance in limber disparate grasslands: effects of microsatellite markers for Falcaria pine: evidence for a major gene. seed provenance, consumers, and vulgaris (Apiaceae). American Journal Phytopathology. 104: 163–173. on and of Plant Science. 4: 590–595. . Ecology Letters. Piya, S., Nepal, M.P.; Butler, J.L.; Larson, 17: 499–507. G.E.; Neupane, A. 2014. Genetic Ortega, Y.K.; Benson, A.; Greene, E. 2014. diversity and population structure Invasive plant erodes local song of sickleweed (Falcaria vulgaris: diversity in a migratory songbird. Apiaceae) in the upper Midwest USA. Ecology. 95: 458–465. Biological Invasions. 16: 2115–2125.

Ortega, Y.K.; Greenwood, L.; Callaway, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits R.M.; Pearson, D.E. 2014. Differential discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and response of congeneric consumers where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, to an exotic food resource: who gets parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all the novel resource prize? Biological or part of an individual’s income is derived from any Invasions. 16: 1757–1767. public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program Pearson, D.E.; Hierro, J.L.; Chiuffo, M.; information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should Villarreal, D. 2014. seed contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, predation as a biotic filter influencing Publications are available on the RMRS write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 exotic plant and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250- Invasive Species Website: http:// 9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 distribution. Biological Invasions. www.rmrs.nau.edu/invasive_species/ (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 16: 1185–1196. publications.php employer.

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