BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//NAISMA - ECPv6.15.17//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:NAISMA
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://naisma.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NAISMA
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20240310T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20241103T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20250309T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20251102T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20260308T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20261101T070000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250225T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250225T140000
DTSTAMP:20260918T130252
CREATED:20250123T124857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250221T161543Z
UID:124793-1740484800-1740492000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: USGS Research Partnerships Enhancing Biosecurity to Reduce Risks of Invasive Species
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an engaging webinar exploring innovative biosecurity efforts led by the United States Geological Survey. Topics include the use of airborne rapid eDNA technology in the Pacific Islands\, building effective partnerships to strengthen Pacific biosecurity\, evaluating the biosecurity benefits of boot brush stations\, and addressing the threats posed by exotic annual grasses to the western drylands. Discover how these cutting-edge initiatives are helping to protect ecosystems across diverse landscapes. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nAbstracts & Speakers \n\n\n\nCargo shipments represent one of the primary means for accidental introduction of invasive species to remote islands in the Pacific. Visual inspections can be challenging because of the complexity of different types of cargo and the small size of many invasive species of concern\, particularly insects. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a highly sensitive approach for species detection if an area can be effectively surveyed to collect eDNA\, which is challenging in terrestrial settings. Airborne eDNA represents a promising avenue to collect and isolate DNA from cargo areas\, and the enclosed nature of a cargo container may allow eDNA to accumulate\, even among small invertebrates. We will discuss preliminary work our team has been doing to assess the promise of airborne eDNA for island biosecurity and if successful\, how these protocols could be implemented in the future \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStephen Spear\, Research Biologist\, USGS Upper MidwestEnvironmental Sciences CenterStephen began his career as a conservation scientist with the Orianne Society\, a reptile and amphibian conservation organization and concurrently as a visiting scientist with the University of Idaho. During this time he worked on landscape genetics of snakes\, developed an eDNA monitoring program for eastern hellbender\, and initiated a bushmaster conservation program in Costa Rica. After six years at Orianne Society\, he worked for four years as Director of Wildlife Ecology at The Wilds\, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums institution in eastern Ohio\, where he oversaw hellbender and American burying beetle headstarting and reintroduction\, conducted site-level ecological studies\, and continued his work on eDNA and genomic projects. His USGS research portfolio includes advancing environmental DNA detection and use as an early detection and rapid response tool for management of invasive species. \n\n\n\n\n\nDeveloping strong biosecurity measures requires scientific knowledge\, standardized processes\, partnerships across disciplines\, and local leadership. In January 2025\, Guam led an on-island Biosecurity Training that served to showcase and advance years of information exchange with local\, regional\, and national agencies on best practices for managing the flow of invasive species into and off of the island. Guam is a major transportation hub for the Pacific Islands and is key to strengthening the region’s resilience to and preventing the spread of invasive species. This presentation will focus on the roles of the Department of the Interior and USGS in supporting the partnerships and science that supported Guam in hosting its recent Biosecurity Training\, and how we can advance timely followup action items and promising outcomes that benefit Guam as well as the neighboring islands in the Pacific region. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHeather Kerkering\, Assistant Regional Administrator for the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science CenterPrior to serving as Assistant Regional Administrator (ARA)\, Kerkering was the Science Coordinator for the PI CASC. As the ARA\, Kerkering facilitates collaborations with USGS scientists and partners across the State of Hawai’i and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) that focus on building resiliency of the Pacific’s fragile island ecosystems\, while acknowledging the importance of U.S. government strategic planning across the region. She was a founder of the Pacific RISCC and serves on several related committees\, including the National Invasive Species Council. Her work supports the Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and she represents USGS to events such as the annual Territorial Workshops\, Biosecurity Trainings\, and the Pacific Ecological Security Conference. Kerkering had the privilege to join the DOI delegation for Our Oceans 2022. Kerkering also oversees dozens of PICASC projects that span a wide range of topics and geographies\, carried out by federal and University Principal Investigators and local/regional community partners. Before joining PICASC\, Kerkering served as the Director of the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) at the UH Mānoa\, She also helped launch the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CenCOOS) at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. She co-edited the first book on Coastal Ocean Observing Systems and has participated in numerous regional\, national\, and international initiatives to improve the collection\, coordination\, and application of environmental information to improve decision-making. \n\n\n\n\n\nBiological invasions represent a major threat to natural resource protection and conservation of biodiversity. With greater socioeconomic connections\, use of recreation areas\, and climate change\, the spread of invasive plants is only expected to increase. These biological pressures have led to significant investments in control measures\, with particular interest in early detection and rapid response tools. In the last decade\, boot brush stations have emerged as a promising tool for limiting introduction and spread of invasive organisms on human footwear in natural areas. In the first part of this presentation\, we review existing literature to evaluate what is known about the efficacy of these stations in different environmental\, biological\, and social contexts and their potential for biosecurity in the United States. In the second part\, we highlight efforts from the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) to promote a national network of boot brush stations as part of their PlayCleanGo program. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIan Pearse\, Ecologist\, Fort Collins Science Center Ian conducts research at the individual\, population\, community\, and ecosystem level scales. His work focuses on plant-insect interactions and involves work on endangered insects such as bumble bees\, strategies to map and control invasive plants\, the chemical ecology and behaviors that affect herbivory\, and the boom-and-bust seed production dynamics of many trees (i.e. mast seeding). His work informs management decisions made by the US Fish and Wildlife Service\, National Parks\, and a variety of other groups. \n\n\n\n\n\nCheatgrass and other exotic annual grasses have severely impacted vast expanses of semiarid uplands\, causing damaging increases in wildfire\, loss of native perennials and the habitat they provide\, and detracting from grazing\, military training\, recreation\, and other landscape uses. Management responses have ranged from acceptance of the changes; or resisting the changes through fire protection and suppression; or directing the changes to tolerable “alternative” vegetation states\, often with mixed success. Key breakthroughs have been made recently in detection\, monitoring\, and mapping of the invaders and the wildfire risks they pose\, and in the toolkits for eradication and restoration. Involvement of USGS scientists in the planning\, implementation\, and assessment of the treatments had led to substantial advances in the understanding of the fire and invasion problems\, enhancement of the tools\, and improved security of the fire and invasion threats across vast areas. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMatt Germino\, Supervisory Research Ecologist\, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science CenterMatt Germino is a supervisory research ecologist that developed and now leads the USGS FIREss team (Fire\, Invasives\, and Restoration Ecology of Shrub Steppe) of 20 researchers on the invasive-grass and wildfire problem affecting sagebrush rangelands and similar habitats in the western USA. The team provides both basic and actionable science for adaptive management of invasive grass-fire problems\, typically co-produced with managers of BLM\, FWS\, NPS\, DOE\, DOD\, state\, and private lands. His work topics such as ecology and control options for cheatgrass and other invaders\, wildfire fuels and risk modeling\, post-fire recovery. and determining the right restoration seed at the right time and place are described in nearly 200 journal articles over the last 25 years.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-biosecurity-at-usgs/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/bio-usgs.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250224T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250224T153000
DTSTAMP:20260918T130252
CREATED:20250122T125021Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250221T193152Z
UID:124777-1740403800-1740411000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: NOAA's Efforts to Support Biosecurity in Marine and Great Lakes Environments
DESCRIPTION:This webinar will explore emerging threats from invasive marine species\, the latest research on coral disease\, and innovative approaches to marine biosecurity. Experts will discuss NOAA’s response to invasive soft corals\, advancements in diagnosing and mitigating stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD)\, the evolving impact of lionfish populations\, and strategies for strengthening marine biosecurity to protect ocean ecosystems. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nNOAA’s Response to an Emerging Threat of Invasive Soft Corals in the Pacific and Caribbean Basins – Presented by Dr. Joe KriegerRecently\, several marine invasive species have been identified in the Pacific and Caribbean that could impact mission critical operations for US military\, federal and state agencies\, and local communities. If these are not addressed and accounted for\, there’s a substantial risk that these species could be unintentionally spread to other US regions\, potentially causing escalating and compounded economic and ecological damage. In this presentation\, I will detail NOAA’s response to this emerging threat and ongoing efforts to prevent the spread and establishment of these marine invasive species. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoe Krieger\, Ph.D.\, NOAA Invasive Species Coordinator \n\n\n\nDr. Krieger serves as NOAA’s national invasive species coordinator and is duty stationed at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor\, MI. Joe helps to coordinate NOAA’s invasive species work across the country and to bring awareness to new and emerging threats to NOAA’s managed resources (coral reefs\, fish stocks\, coastal/ shoreline habitat\, etc.). \n\n\n\n\n\nMolecular characterization and diagnosis of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) – Presented by Dr. Michael StudivanStony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is the most destructive coral disease described to date\, and has become endemic in most parts of the Caribbean. The AOML Coral Program is conducting interdisciplinary research to mitigate further impacts of this disease on Caribbean reefs\, as well as to prevent the potential spread of SCTLD to Pacific reefs. In this talk\, Dr. Michael Studivan will present an overview of the research the AOML Coral Program is conducting to characterize\, diagnose\, and model SCTLD spread\, including implications for management. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Michael Studivan\, Associate ScientistDr. Michael Studivan is an Associate Scientist at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) and NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)\, as part of the AOML Coral Program. His research involves the use of advanced molecular techniques to better understand coral diseases and treatments\, genetic connectivity of coral ecosystems\, and physiology/adaptation of corals in marginal and extreme environments. \n\n\n\n\n\nNature\, Take the Wheel!: Lionfish Abundance\, Impacts\, and Control After the Invasion Peak – Presented by Dr. Steve GittingsWhere are lionfish on the timeline of their invasion cycle? In many places they probably reached peak abundance several years ago. How will the post-peak phase play out? What will determine the levels of future impacts? Will the legacy of lionfish impacts be highly destructive on a continual basis\, less disruptive at some lower level\, or just a memory? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSteve Gittings\, Ph.D.\, Chief Scientist\, NOAA Office of National Marine SanctuariesDr. Steve Gittings is a conservation scientist\, training and working at Texas A&M University before managing the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary\, then becoming Chief Scientist for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in 1997. His specialty is ecosystem characterization and monitoring. He has studied coral reef ecology\, invasive species\, biofouling\, and impacts from ship groundings and oil spills. His team produces reports on resource status and trends in national marine sanctuaries\, which are critical elements of management planning. He has been a diver for over 50 years\, a scientific diver for over 40 years\, has done four saturation missions in the Aquarius habitat\, operated ROVs\, and is a submarine pilot. He also developed a lionfish trap that he hopes will help control deep populations of this invasive species while supplying lionfish as seafood. \n\n\n\n\n\nImproving Marine Biosecurity – Presented by Dr. Val BrownThis talk will provide a brief overview of marine biosecurity concepts including prevention\, early detection and rapid response\, and control and the challenges of addressing invasive species in the marine environment. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVal Brown\, Research Coordinator\, NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American SamoaVal Brown is one of the leads for the Pacific Preparedness Team of the US Coral Reef Task Force Coral Disease and Disturbance Working Group. She has worked in the Pacific Islands since 2004 on a broad array of issues including regional marine biosecurity. She was part of the teams that developed the strategic implementation plan for the Micronesia and Hawai’i Regional Biosecurity Plan and control efforts for crown of thorns starfish\, a nuisance species\, in Guam. In her current role as the Research Coordinator for the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa\, Val leads the conservation science program and efforts to better understand and protect the amazing marine resources in the sanctuary and the ecosystem services they provide to the people of American Samoa. \n\n\n\n\n\nHorizon Scanning and Risk Assessment – Presented by Rochelle Sturtevant\, Ph.D.This talk will provide an overview of NOAA work in the Great Lakes region to synthesize horizon scanning and risk assessment conducted at scales ranging from local to global\, and to scale this information for application to the Great Lakes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRochelle Sturtevant\, Ph.D.\, AIS Specialist and Program Manager for the NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS)\, Michigan Sea Grant\, Michigan University ExtensionDr. Sturtevant has worked with the GLANSIS database since its inception in 2003\, first as the Sea Grant Liaison to NOAA-GLERL and later as the GLANSIS Program Manager. This NOAA-led regional searchable database provides researchers\, natural resource managers and educators with access to distribution and impact data\, risk assessments\, and synthesis of the latest research publications. Rochelle’s position allows her to work collaboratively with Michigan Sea Grant\, Michigan State University Extension\, and the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) to address regional science information needs and support early detection and rapid response as well as regional coordination. Dr. Sturtevant serves as Sea Grant research representative to the Great Lakes Panel on ANS as well as contributing to the National Invasive Species Council’s Horizon Scanning Task Team and the ANSTF’s Early Detection and Rapid Response Subcommittee. \n\n\n\n\n\nAn overview of Chondria tumulosa in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the development of preliminary biosecurity protocolsChondria tumulosa was first observed and collected in 2016 after it was found in small patches overgrowing coral reefs around the northeastern backreefs of Manawai (Pearl & Hermes Reef) in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM). It was not until a research expedition in 2019 that the seriousness and extent of Chondria reef overgrowth and spread came to light. At that time\, preliminary lethality experiments were conducted to inform management of the biosecurity protocols required to mitigate the risk of inadvertently spreading this cryptogenic species elsewhere in the PMNM or inhabited Hawaiian Islands. Further trials were conducted in 2022 to better expand managers’ biosecurity mitigation options after the alga was discovered at the adjacent atoll of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) in 2021. In 2023\, the species was identified at Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) growing cryptically and is now considered to be present at the last three atolls of the Hawaiian Archipelago. It is imperative that managers understand the options available to prevent further spread of this species through vectors associated with anthropogenic activities and natural occurrences. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrian B. Hauk\, Sanctuary Resource Specialist\, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries-PapahānaumokuākeaBrian Hauk is the Resource Protection Specialist for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Part of his duties are to oversee PMNM’s marine biosecurity protocols for alien species management in the Monument. Prior to his time at NOAA\, he worked for Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources utilizing mechanical removal techniques and biocontrol methods to control several invasive red algal species. This background has been very applicable to PMNM’s most recent challenge of managing Chondria tumulosa. Since its discovery\, Hauk has been heavily involved in the development of management actions related to the cryptogenic species that is overgrowing pristine coral reefs in the northern most atolls of PMNM.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-marine-biosecurity/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/iStock-1286727567-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250224T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250224T130000
DTSTAMP:20260918T130252
CREATED:20250122T124408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250204T133215Z
UID:124773-1740398400-1740402000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: The role of primary and secondary introduction pathway management in effective biosecurity
DESCRIPTION:Effective biosecurity is crucial for safeguarding the United States’ ecosystems\, economy\, and public health from the growing threat of invasive species. One important component of biosecurity is identifying and managing the many ways in which non-native species are moved from one location to another. Introduction pathways include the vector that carries the non-native species (e.g.\, ship hulls\, horticulture\, aquaculture)\, and the geographical routes the species travels. Introductions can be classified as primary – where non-native species cross jurisdictional or biogeographic boundaries\, or as secondary – where they move within these boundaries after the initial introduction. Focusing management efforts on high-risk primary introduction pathways is an efficient approach for reducing the threat posed by multiple invasive species at once before entering the United States. However\, once a species breaches those borders\, the management focus shifts to secondary pathways to limit its spread. This presentation will cover the benefits of managing introduction pathways\, the transition between pre-border\, at-the-border\, and post-border pathway management\, and the challenges we face moving forward. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Deah Lieurance\, Asst. Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management\, Penn State University \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Lieurance is an Assistant Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department at Penn State University. She has worked for over 12 years in invasive species prevention and risk assessment and led the first horizon scan for invasive species threats in the United States. Currently\, Dr. Lieurance is leading horizon scans for the U.S. Virgin Islands\, Puerto Rico\, and a national horizon scan for plants in trade\, as well as a project ranking secondary spread pathways to contribute to the National Early Detection and Rapid Response Framework. She also ran the University of Florida’s risk assessment program for non-native plants and is currently building the Penn State University Invasive Species Risk Analysis Program: a cooperative extension program to determine the invasion status or invasion risk of non-native species for the Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species Council. Her research spans plant-herbivore interactions\, the enemy release hypothesis\, and biocontrol development for high-priority invasive plants. She is currently developing a research program to investigate the effect of climate change on the ecophysiology and chemical ecology of invasive plants and how that might shape plant herbivore interactions.ns.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-the-role-of-primary-and-secondary-introduction-pathway-management-in-effective-biosecurity/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/prim-sec.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR