BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//NAISMA - ECPv6.15.17//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH 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:20220313T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20221106T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20230312T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20231105T070000 END:STANDARD 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:20231004T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231004T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20230710T160334Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230807T142131Z UID:120688-1696424400-1696428000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Utilizing Invasive Plants as a Medium for Conservation Artwork DESCRIPTION:Presented by Jane Kramer \n\n\n\nJane Kramer’s projects are created with a conceptual approach and are focused on environmental and social issues. Her ongoing project\, Foreshadowing: Endangered and Threatened Plant Species\, began upon selection into the Art from the Lakes program and with funding\, in part\, from Michigan Nature Association. For this project\, Jane photographs the shadows of Michigan’s endangered and threatened plant species and transfers the images onto paper she makes from invasive plant species. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJane Kramer is a fine art photographer in East Lansing\, Michigan\, and the recipient of an Individual Artist Grant and a Chris Clark Fellowship from the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. She has a degree in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota and photography training from the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula\, Montana. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-invasive-species-as-a-medium-for-conservation-artwork/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/rsh100.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231016T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231019T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20230306T143720Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230921T125218Z UID:120163-1697443200-1697734800@naisma.org SUMMARY:North American Invasive Species Management Association 31st Annual Conference DESCRIPTION:Co-hosted with the Nebraska Invasive Species Council October 16-19\, 2023 | Lincoln\, Nebraska \n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://naisma.org/event/north-american-invasive-species-management-association-31st-annual-conference/ CATEGORIES:Summit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/confcard1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231115T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231115T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20230313T121257Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230907T132344Z UID:120187-1700053200-1700056800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Decades-Long Partnership Successfully Eradicates Destructive Nutria Rodents from Maryland DESCRIPTION:Nutria are invasive\, semi-aquatic\, South American rodents first released into Dorchester County\, Maryland in 1943. Since their release\, nutria have destroyed thousands of acres of wetlands through their destructive feeding habitats. A concerted effort to eradicate nutria in Maryland began in 2002 following a two year pilot project to determine if nutria could be eradicated from the Chesapeake Bay and if the damaged marshlands would recover. The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project\, under the direction of a management team initially composed of representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)\, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR)\, Tudor Farms\, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)\, and University of Maryland\, began the first phases of the project in April 2002. Twenty years later in 2022\, the The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project announced that nutria were successfully eradicated from the state of Maryland. In this webinar\, participants will learn about nutria and the successful partnership-based program that eradicated the invasive rodents from Maryland. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresented by Jonathan McKnight\, Associate Director of the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service within the Department of Natural Resources \n\n\n\nJonathan McKnight has served in numerous roles in wildlife habitat conservation since 1986. He is currently the Associate Director of the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service\, the wildlife management section of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. URL:https://naisma.org/event/november-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/nutria-91.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231207T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231207T150000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20230824T141514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240109T140225Z UID:120896-1701946800-1701961200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Annual Biocontrol Summit: Using Weed Biocontrol to Reduce Wildfire Risk and Mitigate Wildfire Impacts DESCRIPTION:The North American Invasive Species Management Association’s 4th Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit will be held virtually on December 7\, 2023\, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CST. The Biocontrol Summit communicates the latest in classical weed biocontrol research to North American invasive plant managers and educators and aims to connect researchers to on-the-ground practitioners. This year\, NAISMA is highlighting the role weed biological control can play in reducing wildfire risk and mitigating wildfire impacts throughout North America. The Biocontrol Summit integrates research and implementation of biocontrol from the regional land managers’ perspective. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAgenda\n\n\n\n\n11:00 am – 11:05 am Welcome by Christie Trifone Millhouse\nNAISMA Executive Director\n\nModerated by Joey Milan\, Bureau of Land Management\n\n\n11:05 am – 11:20 am Invasive Grasses\, Landscape Transformation and Fire: \n When and Where Might Invasive Grasses be Reasonable \n Targets for Biological Control? \nCarla D’Antonio\, University of California Santa Barbara\n\n11:20 am – 11:35 am Recognizing Classical Biological Control as a Crucial \n Component in National Landscape Restoration Efforts\nSteve Jirik\, Bureau of Land Management\n\n11:35 am – 11:50 am Classical Biological Control of Invasive Annual Grasses\n Brian G. Rector\, USDA Agricultural Research Service\n \n11:50 am – 12:00 am Discussion\n\n12:00 pm -12:15 pm BREAK\n\n12:15 pm – 12:30 pm Non-native Plant Invasions and Altered Fire Regimes: \nA National Wildland Fire and Invasive Species Management Conundrum \nMichele Crist\, Bureau of Land Management\n\n12:30 pm – 12:45 am Weed biological control- an ally in wildfire risk reduction \n activities in the wildland urban interface. \nCarol Randall\, USDA Forest Service\n\n12:45 pm – 1:00 pm The Importance of Biocontrol in a Post-Fire Integrated \n Weed Management Strategy. \nJoey Milan\, Bureau of Land Management\nJenn Andreas\, Washington State University\n\n1:00 pm – 1:15 pm Discussion\n1:15 pm – 1:25 pm BREAK\n1:25 pm – 1:40 pm Landscape Impacts of Biocontrol in Toadflax Infested Landscapes\n Sharlene Sing\, USDA Forest Service \nRocky Mountain Research Station \n\n1:40 pm – 1:55 pm Invasive Plants\, Fire\, and the Influence of Biological \n Control in Florida’s Everglades\nMelissa Smith\, USDA-Agricultural Research Service Invasive Plant Research Laboratory \n\n1:55 pm – 2:10 pm Wildfire and Biocontrol in Invaded Riparian Systems\nTom Dudley\, University of California Santa Barbara\n\n2:10 pm – 2:55 pm Discussion\n2:55 pm – 3:00 pm Closing by Jenn Andreas\n\n\n\n\nPresentation Abstracts and Bios\n\n\n\nInvasive grasses\, landscape transformation and fire: when and where might invasive grasses be reasonable targets for biological control? \n\n\n\nCarla D’Antonio\, University of California Santa Barbara \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: Grasses as a group have been moved around the world both on purpose and accidentally and arguably have contributed to ecosystem transformation more than any other lineage of plants. This includes both purposeful and accidental introductions. Here I review the ability of many grasses to spread beyond their introduction site\, take advantage of ongoing anthropogenically driven landscape change\, and promote further change  via promotion of fire. I give examples of where invasive grasses are contributing to increases in fire frequency and spread rates. Their influence on fire intensity and severity are less well studied. While the fire-related problems associated with invasive grasses are severe in some settings\, selecting species for biocontrol control will not be easy because many invasive  grasses are still important to the success of the livestock industry and the consequences of their reduction on rangelands have not been well studied. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Carla D’Antonio is a Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Environmental Studies and Ecology\, Evolution and Marine Biology at UCSB. Her interests are in factors driving vegetation change and the impacts of species invasions. She has worked on the ecology\, dynamics and impacts of invasive species in Hawaii and the western mainland USA since 1985 both as an academic researcher\, and as a federal scientist. Previous positions include  being Lead Scientist of the Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit for the USDA-ARS in Reno\, Nevada and working for Chanel Islands National Park on habitat restoration. Prior to joining the faculty at UCSB\, she was a professor at UC\, Berkeley \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRecognizing classical biological control as a crucial component in national landscape restoration efforts \n\n\n\nSteve Jirik\, Bureau of Land Management \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: Classical biological control (CBC) is a proven tool for naturally controlling widespread invasive species infestations. For many decades it has successfully controlled problematic species such as St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)\, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)\, Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) and many others to the point that they are no longer a major concern in areas they once dominated. These successes demonstrate CBCs potential for passively restoring our western landscapes which are increasingly transitioning to invasive annual grasses and rapidly expanding noxious weeds such as rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)\, yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and others. \n\n\n\nHowever\, most individuals outside of the invasive species community are unaware of CBCs potential\, resulting in minimal/sporadic funding for CBC development. This presentation discusses ways to increase awareness and explores opportunities to leverage CBC development in national landscape restoration efforts. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Steve Jirik has worked for the US Bureau of Land Management since 1989 with a focus on fire rehabilitation\, restoration\, fuels\, invasive species and grazing management. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management from the University of Idaho and has served as Idaho BLM’s Emergency Fire Rehabilitation and Invasive Species Program lead since 2011. Steve enjoys the outdoors\, history\, and family trips. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClassical biological control of invasive annual grasses. \n\n\n\nBrian G. Rector\, USDA Agricultural Research Service \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: Several Eurasian annual grass species\, including cheatgrass and medusahead\, have become invasive on millions of acres of rangeland in western North America. These grasses compete with native flora\, disrupt ecosystems\, and when senesced\, provide abundant tinder to spark and carry fire to larger fuel sources\, contributing to recent increases in the magnitude and intensity of destructive wildfires. USDA-ARS has initiated a classical biological control program targeting these and other invasive annual grass species\, assembling and coordinating an international team of scientists to aid in carrying it out. From surveys of the native ranges of the targeted grass species\, this program has to date yielded the discovery of several candidate biocontrol agents\, including a mite and a wasp on medusahead and a mite\, a weevil\, two midges\, and two fungi on cheatgrass. Evaluations of the suitability of each of these candidates for release as biocontrol agents are at varying stages. Preliminary surveys have been conducted for other invasive annual grass targets\, including red brome and wiregrass. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Dr. Brian G. Rector has worked as a Research Entomologist for USDA-ARS for 24 years\, now based at the Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit in Albany\, CA. His current research is focused on classical biological control of invasive annual grasses in the  western USA\, including the discovery and identification of their natural enemies\, and evaluation to assess their suitability for importation into the USA as biocontrol agents. Dr. Rector holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and has published 67 peer-reviewed articles in the diverse fields of entomology\, acarology\, taxonomy\, plant pathology\, plant and arthropod physiology\, apiculture\, agronomy\, ecology\, evolution\, molecular genetics\, genetic pest management\, and biological control. In addition to his working relationships with stakeholders in the western USA\, Dr. Rector has active collaborations with scientists from Bulgaria\, France\, Italy\, Poland\, and Serbia. Most evenings he can be found listening to Boston Red Sox or Bruins games on internet radio. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNon-native Plant Invasions and Altered Fire Regimes: A National Wildland Fire and Invasive Species Management Conundrum. \n\n\n\nMichele Crist\, BLM Fire Planning and Fuels Management Division \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: In recent years the incidence\, frequency\, and severity of wildfires has increased across the U.S. landscape with consequent impacts on public safety\, livelihoods\, and the environment. Invasive species\, along with climate change\, are playing a major role in altering fire regimes and shifting vegetation recovery patterns after fire. For example\, invasive species\, and non-native grasses in particular\, have the potential to increase available fuel in ecosystems and change fuel properties; wildfire size by creating horizontal and vertical fuel continuity; wildfire intensity from larger fuel loads; and wildfire frequency with an increase in invasives post-fire. Recognizing the growing importance of this dynamic\, the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) and the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) launched a partnership in 2020 designed to identify and advance opportunities to better align invasive species and wildland fire management. This effort has included major US federal agencies including the Department of the Interior\, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\, and the Department of Defense\, along with a growing range of non-federal actors including state and local governments\, researchers\, and other land managers. This effort has focused on addressing management needs and opportunities at national\, regional\, and landscape scales. The presentation will provide some background on the situation with invasive species and wildfire in the U.S.\, review priority actions identified by NISC and WFLC\, and discuss ongoing and future steps for implementation. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Throughout her career\, Michele has been heavily involved in ecological research and modeling in the disciplines of landscape ecology as well as wildlife\, fire\, forest and sagebrush ecology\, climate change\, and invasive species management. In her current position\, as a landscape ecologist for the BLM Fire Planning and Fuels Management Division\, she leads the development\, coordination\, and application of science. She has produced national fire risk  assessments\, and several interagency geospatial assessments and frameworks used in large-scale prioritization and management of fire risk\, vegetation restoration\, and invasive annual grasses that have a negative influence on wildfire. She has led inter-agency teams to develop tools\, guidance documents\, and large-scale frameworks for wildland fire and natural resource management. She also collaborates with USGS\, US Forest Service\, universities\, and other organizations on research projects that inform fire planning and fuels management to help reduce uncharacteristic fire at national and regional scales. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWeed biological control- an ally in wildfire risk reduction activities in the wildland urban interface. \n\n\n\nCarol Randall\, USDA Forest Service \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: The US Forest Service has embarked upon a 10-year initiative to confront the wildfire crisis by increasing fuels and forest health treatments across jurisdictions to match the scale of wildfire risk- especially to the wildland interface in the Western United States. The management of weeds is crucial for the prevention of extreme wildfires. Weed biological control is the only weed management tactic that\, if successful\, brings about desired ecological change over large areas without repeated costs or treatment of the entire infested area\, and the development and use of weed biological control should increase to meet the current wildfire crisis. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Carol Randall is the USDA Forest Service Northern and Intermountain Region Forest Health Protection Pesticide Use Coordinator\, Invasive Plant Program Manager\, and Weed Biological Control Specialist stationed in Northern Idaho. She has worked with western land managers to increase the use and monitoring of biological control as a key component of integrated weed management strategies. She is a passionate advocate for the meaningful incorporation of weed biological control into weed management strategies that help reduce wildfire risk and promote ecological resiliency. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Importance of Biocontrol in a Post-Fire Integrated Weed Management Strategy.\n\n\n\nJoey Milan\, Bureau of Land Management; Jenn Andreas\, Washington State University \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: When considering viable treatment options following wildfires\, often the funding associated with Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) spans a period of three years or less. Given the invasive nature of most species land managers contend with on a landscape scale\, an approach that does not include a biocontrol component when successful biocontrol agents have shown to be effective\, is not an ecologically sustainable option. To date\, there have been very few implementation plans that focused on concerted biocontrol release efforts following wildfires. In this presentation\, the emphasis will be on utilizing biological control options following wildfires in areas infested with target weeds that have been successfully controlled by biological control either previously in the burned area or in areas that have not been burned where biocontrol is used as a treatment option. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio:  \n\n\n\nJoseph “Joey” Milan is a Boise\, Idaho native. Joey graduated from the College of Idaho with a BS in Biology and the University of Idaho where he completed his MS in Entomology. Upon completion of his MS\, Joey began working at his present position as a Biological Control Specialist with the BLM. At his present post\, he serves as the interagency coordinator for biological control\, assisting weed control practitioners in their Integrated Weed Management approach by providing technical assistance and monitoring of past releases as well as organizing new collections and additional potential release sites. \n\n\n\nJennifer Andreas is a Professor with Washington State University Extension where she leads the Integrated Weed Control Project (IWCP) and acts as the state weed biocontrol specialist. Jennifer started working in biological weed control in 1998 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Lethbridge Research Centre while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge. She continued with biocontrol research at CABI – Switzerland and then completed a Master of Science in Entomology at the University of Idaho\, where she investigated the environmental safety of the houndstongue root weevil.  In 2005\, she joined WSU and shifted her focus onto invasive species education\, biocontrol implementation and education and is the primary biocontrol resource for Washington State. In addition to this work\, Jennifer is chair for the Flowering Rush Biocontrol Consortium\, co-chair of the Columbia Basin CWMA\, co-chair of NAISMA’s Classical Biological Control Committee\, and conducts research for several weed-biocontrol systems. To learn more\, please visit: www.invasives.wsu.edu. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBiocontrol Impacts on the Management of Dalmatian Toadflax-infested Rangeland.\n\n\n\nSharlene E. Sing\, USDA Forest Service – Rocky Mountain Research Station  \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: Efficacy of target weed management\, native plant biodiversity\, and maintenance or increase in desirable cover class(s) were compared over time among three 300-acre treatment areas. Treatments included conventional helicopter-applied herbicide\, classical biological control by the Dalmatian toadflax stem mining weevil Mecinus janthiniformis\, and a no-treatment option control. To best assess treatment relevance to operational conditions\, the study area was located within a Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest grazing allotment and was subject to additional disturbance from wildfire and wildlife (elk\, mule and whitetail deer\, black-tailed prairie dogs\, and yellow-bellied marmots). The relatively rapid spread of the biocontrol agent into the helispray and control treatment areas\, though welcome from a management perspective\, is a confounding but consistent factor in interpretation of the effects of the planned treatments. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Dr. Sharlene E. Sing is a Research Entomologist based at the Bozeman Forestry Sciences Laboratory\, USDA Forest Service – Rocky Mountain Research Station. Her research focuses on developing\, evaluating\, optimizing\, and increasing the use of classical biological of weeds. Her primary targets include invasive toadflaxes\, Russian olive\, and saltcedar. This work is influenced by an overarching interest in ecological risk assessment. She also serves as the Chair of the Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds (TAG-BCAW). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInvasive Plants\, Fire\, and the Influence of Biological Control in Florida’s Everglades.\n\n\n\nMelissa Smith\, USDA-Agricultural Research Service Invasive Plant Research Laboratory \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: Fire is a physical process\, often utilized by for cultural land management\, that has wide ranging impacts on native and introduced vegetation. Despite being one of the largest wetland habitats on the planet\, Florida’s Everglades – a series of sloughs\, swamps\, marshes\, and wetlands -is dominated by lightning-caused fires. Fire is also a significant vegetation management tool. But invasive plants can drastically impede the efficacy and usefulness of this tool by altering fire regimes. Species that display some alteration of fire regimes include Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum)\, paperbark tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia)\, and Brazilian pepper-tree (Schinus terebinthifolius). Biological control agents have been introduced for all three species in the hopes that reductions in the target species will not only alter the competitive interactions between native and invasive species\, but that there will also be a restoration of more normal fire behaviors within invaded landscapes. Herein we review the interactions of the target species with their biological control agents and the native communities in relation to fire. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Dr. Melissa Smith is a research ecologist with the USDA’s Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Fort Lauderdale\, Florida. Melissa joined the lab in 2012 and focuses on broad ecological interactions of large-scale plant invasions and their introduced biological control agents have with the native community. Some of the species Melissa is currently investigating include Melaleuca quinquenervia\, Acacia auriculiformis\, Lygodium microphyllum and Pontederia crassipes. At the Invasive Plant Research Laboratory\, Dr. Smith has delved into many collaborative projects to investigate larger ecological questions (e.g.\, competition\, predation\, parasitism\,succession) within a biological control context. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWildfire and Biocontrol in Invaded Riparian Systems\n\n\n\nTom Dudley\, Research Biologist\, University of California Santa Barbara \n\n\n\nPresentation Abstract: Invasive plants are closely associated with ignitions and spread of \n\n\n\nwildfire across the West and reducing their abundances is key to managing this risk\, however the large scale of weed invasions makes it extremely difficult to provide adequate and cost-effective control. In riparian areas in particular\, replacement of fire-resistant native woodlands by flammable taxa such as Tamarix spp. (tamarisk\, saltcedar)\, Arundo donax (giant reed) and many ruderal spp. like Centaurea solsticialis (yellow star-thistle) and several annual grasses has changed the fundamental nature of fire in these ecosystems. Biocontrol potentially offers a sustainable means for reducing such fire risks at the landscape level. The case of  biomass reduction of Tamarix by the leaf beetle\, Diorhabda carinulata\, provides an example of such benefits for fuel volume\, as well as the potential to use managed fire to further enhance weed mortality via suppressing metabolic storage of carbon necessary for post-fire recovery. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio: Tom Dudley is an aquatic ecologist working in western rivers and riparian systems with the Marine Science Institute at UC Santa Barbara\, with graduate degrees in aquatic entomology from Oregon State University and UCSB\, and post-doc studies in desert  ecosystems through Arizona State University. His rivers kept getting infested by non-native plants\, so he has evolved to studying the impacts and control of invasive plants and animals\, particularly the use of biocontrol as part of riparian restoration programs. URL:https://naisma.org/event/annual-biocontrol-summit/ CATEGORIES:Summit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bio-summit-23.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231220T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231220T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20230313T121354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231215T135525Z UID:120189-1703077200-1703080800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The Dilemma for Control of Invasive Species: Incorrect Terms Limit Our Capacity to Respond DESCRIPTION:REGISTER\n\n\n\n\nPresented by Neil Anderson\, B.S.\, M.S.\, Ph.D. \n\n\n\nIn a perfect world\, definitions of plant responses in the environment are treated as absolutes. Yet we acknowledge the genetic and environmental responses that phenotypes have during evolution\, namely plasticity\, pose difficulties in decision-making for land managers. Our terminology needs to follow suit to avoid presumptive jargon creating misfits in our understanding for land management. We will examine sets of absolutist\, oppositional terminology that obstruct invasive species research\, using a native yet invasive species as a framework (Phalaris arundinacea): native/exotic and invasive/non-invasive\, etc. By refocusing our lenses\, a taxon should be regarded in terms of its capacity to establish and spread and the potential threat(s) it poses to natural and/or managed landscapes. In other words\, view each taxon as a species\, rather than associated labels that divert its potential to drain resources for potential control. Re-examination for potential control (yes/no) requires that each land-holding interest group (federal\, state or provincial; Tribal; local authorities; private landowners) differentially shift their land managers’ perspectives and approaches for control. Regulatory agents will\, likewise\, need to reformulate particular legislation for control of a native invasive species that had been previously assumed as exotic or foreign in origin. \n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio –Dr. Neil Anderson is a Full Professor and J. William Fulbright Scholar\, directing the Herbaceous Ornamental Breeding Program for the University of Minnesota. He assumes the role of Interim Head for the Department of Horticultural Science in February 2023. Neil is an internationally recognized expert in plant reproductive biology\, invasive species biology\, geophytes\, rapid generation cycling crops\, tissue culture\, molecular biology\, plant breeding and genetics. He has developed and released numerous commercial cultivars and is an expert in intellectual property. Neil is also a recognized plant expert in breeding & domestication and a plant explorer\, having collected wild species of ornamental interest across the globe. His research focus is primarily on breeding winter-hardy herbaceous perennials for ornamental value as well as green pesticides (pyrethrum); complementary research / outreach includes hydroponics\, aquaponics\, controlled environments\, and preventing invasiveness of ornamental crops during domestication. His program releases many cultivars with Intellectual Property filings around the world. His research and expertise in controlled environmental agriculture complement outreach activities across Minnesota in the Research and Outreach Centers. Dr. Anderson leads a large team of research scientists\, graduate and undergraduate students. He teaches a wide range of online and live horticulture classes in Floral Design\, Greenhouse Crop Scheduling and Spring Flowering Bulbs. He is also the Coordinator for the Horticulture Minor. URL:https://naisma.org/event/december-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/decland.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240117T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240117T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231117T124154Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T185801Z UID:121324-1705496400-1705500000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Protecting Threatened and Endangered Species from Pesticides DESCRIPTION:When EPA registers a pesticide or reevaluates it in registration review\, the Agency has a responsibility under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ensure that the pesticide registrations do not jeopardize the continued existence of federally threatened or endangered (listed) species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats. Chemical stressors\, such as pesticides\, are one of many factors that can contribute to population declines of listed species. Other factors include habitat loss\, climate change\, invasive species\, and pests/diseases. In April 2022\, EPA released its workplan to address the complexity of meeting its ESA obligations for actions taken under the Federal Insecticide\, Fungicide\, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This comprehensive workplan establishes four overall strategies and dozens of actions that EPA will adopt\, in collaboration with other federal agencies\, to improve protection for federally threatened and endangered (listed) species and meet our ESA obligations. Subsequently\, in November 2022\, EPA issued a workplan update that describes several current and future programmatic initiatives with other federal agencies to prioritize mitigation for listed species that are particularly vulnerable to pesticides and to improve the efficiency and timeliness of the ESA-FIFRA process. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker\n\n\n\nBrian Anderson is the Associate Director of the Environmental Fate and Effects Division in the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs. Brian has worked on a number of exposure\, ecotoxicology\, risk assessment\, and endangered species related issues for the last 20 years. He lives in Virginia where he enjoys hiking\, golf\, and music. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-protecting-threatened-and-endangered-species-from-pesticides/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Professional Development,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sprayer-spray-insecticide-and-chemistry-on-cabbage-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240130T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240131T154500 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231129T183000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T183842Z UID:121367-1706612400-1706715900@naisma.org SUMMARY:International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference DESCRIPTION:Please join us for the INAUGURAL International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference (IISCCC) organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network on January 30 and 31\, 2024. This conference is VIRTUAL allowing for more international attendance while reducing our carbon footprint. \n\n\n\nRegistration: FREE \n\n\n\nConference registration is free and features topics including sessions on: \n\n\n\n\nNew arrivals and emerging invasion pathways\n\n\n\nManaging invasive species in a changing climate\n\n\n\nPractitioner success stories\n\n\n\nLessons learned from island ecosystems\n\n\n\nDownload the full agenda\n\n\n\n\nBecause biological invasions and climate change are global issues that know no boundaries\, the IISCCC strives to create space to share research and management practices\, expand networks\, and promote translational experiences. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDay 1\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDay 2\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFeatured Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\nKeynote Speaker: Jennifer Grenz \n\n\n\nTaking Teachings from our Targets: how storytelling will help shape invasion biology in a changing climate \n\n\n\nJennifer Grenz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of British Columbia. She has a BSc in Agroecology and a PhD in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (both from UBC). Jennifer’s research focuses on applying an Indigenous worldview (she is Nlaka’pamux of mixed ancestry) to invasion biology and ecology and challenges us to think differently about our role in ecosystems management as we face a rapidly changing climate. She is passionate about bridging the practitioner-researcher divide as she worked for nearly two decades providing consulting services and on-the-ground management of invasive species for all levels of government prior to her academic appointment. Her lab\, The Indigenous Ecology Lab\, is currently working on understanding the impacts of invasive plants on soil microbial ecology and the role of these impacts on post eradication restoration activities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlenary Speaker Day 1: Jessica Hellmann \n\n\n\nClimate change adaptation meets the notion of native and invasive species \n\n\n\nDr. Jessica Hellmann is Director and Ecolab Chair at the Institute on the Environment and Distinguished McKnight University Professor of ecology at the University of Minnesota. She studies the impacts of climate change on natural systems and methods for adapting to climate change. She leads the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center for the US Geological Survey\, and in 2018\, she co-founded Geofinancial Analytics\, a private venture that benchmarks methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. She serves several non-profits as a board member\, including the Science Museum of Minnesota\, COMPASS (an NGO advancing societal engagement of scientists) and the National Audubon Society. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlenary Speaker Day 2: Helen Roy and Peter Stoett \n\n\n\nInsights from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Assessment on Invasive Alien Species and their control \n\n\n\nHelen is an Ecologist at the United Kingdom Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and Professor in Ecology at the University of Exeter. Helen co-leads a large research group within the Biodiversity Science Area. Within the Biological Records Centre (part of UKCEH)\, Helen leads programs to develop zoological monitoring and research working in collaboration with the volunteer wildlife recording community. She is leading global collaborations to deliver high impact research to understand and predict the effects of biological invasions (and other drivers of global environmental change) on biodiversity and ecosystem function using large-scale and long-term species distribution and abundance datasets. \n\n\n\nSince 2008 Helen has led a Defra-funded project to compile information on invasive non-native species for Britain and is currently leading a Darwin Plus project to compile information on invasive non-native species for all the UK Overseas Territories. Prevention\, early detection and rapid response are critical to the management of invasive non-native species and the collaborative approaches Helen has developed for horizon scanning to inform prevention have achieved international recognition and application. Her research on biological invasions has gained her international recognition both through informing policy and advancing science including as co-chair of the IPBES Thematic Assessment on Invasive Alien Species and their Control. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Peter Stoett’s main areas of research expertise include international relations and law\, global environmental politics\, and human rights; he is especially interested in critical perspectives on the many nuanced intersections between these themes. Current research focuses on biodiversity conservation policy\, transnational environmental crime\, marine pollution prevention\, climate justice\, and Canadian-American environmental relations. He has also worked extensively on genocide and war crimes prevention and punishment. \n\n\n\nPrior to joining Ontario Tech University\, Dr. Stoett was Director of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre\, and Chair of the Department of Political Science\, at Concordia University in Montreal\, Québec. Currently\, he is co-chairing the first global assessment on invasive alien species conducted by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He has also worked with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) as a Coordinating Lead Author on the sixth flagship Global Environmental Outlook report\, and was a contributing expert on the 2020 IPBES Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPartners URL:https://naisma.org/event/international-invasive-species-climate-change-conference/ CATEGORIES:Professional Development ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/air-pollution-and-global-warming-smoking-chimneys-2022-11-15-05-47-30-utc.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240221T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240221T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240111T185810Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T152858Z UID:121803-1708520400-1708524000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Quagga mussel response in the Snake River\, Idaho DESCRIPTION:In September 2023\, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of quagga mussel in the Mid-Snake River near Twin Falls. These findings marked the first time a rapid response plan had been put into action for quagga mussels in Idaho. This plan has included notifying impacted entities\, implementing containment measures\, conducting delimiting surveys\, applying copper-based treatments\, and conducting post-treatment surveys. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Nic Zurfluh\, Bureau Chief – Invasive Species\, Noxious Weeds\, Range\, Idaho State Department of Agriculture \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-quagga-mussel-response-in-the-snake-river-idahowebinar/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/quagga_mussel.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240226T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231110T133113Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240301T124502Z UID:121310-1708934400-1709312400@naisma.org SUMMARY:National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) DESCRIPTION:Washington D.C.www.nisaw.org \n\n\n\nNational Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is an international event to raise awareness about invasive species\, the threat that they pose\, and what can be done to prevent their spread. NISAW is coordinated by The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). To learn more and participate\, visit www.nisaw.org. URL:https://naisma.org/event/national-invasive-species-awareness-week-nisaw/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/nisaw-news.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240226T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240226T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231222T140757Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T122657Z UID:121696-1708948800-1708956000@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Annual USGS Invasive Species Research Forum - Better Living Through Modern Invasion Science DESCRIPTION:Presented by James English\, Renee Bellinger\, Diane Waller\, Seth Munson\, Amy Yackel Adams\, Kristen Hart\, and Kurt Kowalski with the U.S Geological Survey \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-annual-usgs-invasive-species-research-forum/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nb22e.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240227T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240227T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231120T125213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T130032Z UID:121327-1709037000-1709053200@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: The Invasive Species Language Workshop DESCRIPTION:Communicating about invasive species can get complicated! On February 27-28\, in partnership with NAISMA for National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW)\, Sea Grant is proud to present The Invasive Species Language Workshop\, bringing together invasive species researchers and science communication professionals to share best practices for communicating about biological invasions to scientists\, stakeholders\, and the public. \n\n\n\nDay 1 (February 27) will feature a NISAW webinar on communications issues in invasion biology\, including inclusive language\, effective use of metaphor\, changes to species names\, and more. These hybrid presentations will be available to watch online for free\, and virtual attendees will be able to send in questions for discussion. \n\n\n\nDay 2 (February 28)\, held in-person in Washington\, DC\, will feature in-depth discussion to develop research topics and interventions to improve communication strategies in invasion biology\, including the process for changing species names\, harmonizing communications strategies across agencies and research groups\, tailoring messaging to different stakeholder groups\, and more. Attendance for this portion is limited: reach out to Tim Campbell (tim.campbell@wisc.edu) if interested in participating in person. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor more information\, please contact Tim Campbell at tim.campbell@wisc.edu. URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-the-invasive-species-language-workshop/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Lake.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240228T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240228T160000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231120T125213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T130017Z UID:121332-1709107200-1709136000@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: The Invasive Species Language Workshop DESCRIPTION:Communicating about invasive species can get complicated! On February 27-28\, in partnership with NAISMA for National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW)\, Sea Grant is proud to present The Invasive Species Language Workshop\, bringing together invasive species researchers and science communication professionals to share best practices for communicating about biological invasions to scientists\, stakeholders\, and the public. \n\n\n\nDay 1 (February 27) will feature a NISAW webinar on communications issues in invasion biology\, including inclusive language\, effective use of metaphor\, changes to species names\, and more. These hybrid presentations will be available to watch online for free\, and virtual attendees will be able to send in questions for discussion. \n\n\n\nDay 2 (February 28)\, held in-person in Washington\, DC\, will feature in-depth discussion to develop research topics and interventions to improve communication strategies in invasion biology\, including the process for changing species names\, harmonizing communications strategies across agencies and research groups\, tailoring messaging to different stakeholder groups\, and more. Attendance for this portion is limited: reach out to Tim Campbell (tim.campbell@wisc.edu) if interested in participating in person. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor more information\, please contact Tim Campbell at tim.campbell@wisc.edu. URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-the-invasive-species-language-workshop-2024-02-28/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Lake.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240228T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240228T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231222T141300Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240131T200300Z UID:121699-1709125200-1709128800@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: The Federal Interagency Committee on the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds DESCRIPTION:Please join members of the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW) to learn more about the organization\, hear highlights from 2023\, get a preview of upcoming plans\, and provide input on future federal coordination needs regarding invasive plant research and management. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\nAgenda: \n\n\n\n\nWelcome and introduction to FICMNEW presented by Seth Flanigan\, Bureau of Land Management and Co-Chair of FICMNEW\n\n\n\nBrief history of FICMNEW efforts presented by Vijay Nandula\, National Institute of Food and Agriculture\n\n\n\n2023 highlights presented by Paul Heimowitz\, U.S. Geological Survey\n\n\n\nUpcoming plans presented by Vijay Nandula – NIFA\n\n\n\nFuture needs discussion presented by Terri Hogan\, National Park Service\n\n\n\nWrap-up/Involvement opportunities presented by Chris Taliga\, Natural Resources Conservation Service and co-chair of FICMNEW URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-the-federal-interagency-committee-on-the-management-of-noxious-and-exotic-weeds/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/yellow_toadflax_in_mtn_field-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240229T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240229T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231222T142131Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T122457Z UID:121703-1709211600-1709215200@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Opportunities and Challenges for Preventing the Next Plant Invasion DESCRIPTION:In the past 50 years\, the number of non-native species introduced outside their native range has doubled\, leading to substantial negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts. This is a problem that will persist as species introductions continue to rise and impacts are intensified by climate change and other drivers of change. It is well-established that economic returns on investment in prevention and eradication far outweigh those for containment and maintenance control management strategies\, but investment in prevention is still much less than what is spent on management. Weed risk assessment is a method to preemptively screen species before they are introduced to a new area (or as early as possible). It is based on the idea that species traits can be used to predict the success (or failure) of a species at passing through the stages of invasion and spread. In this presentation\, we will discuss different approaches to risk assessment\, how results are applied\, some of the benefits and costs of this process\, and the future of risk assessment to prevent continued plant invasions. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is sponsored by CAST in partnership with NAISMA. \n\n\n\nPresented by Deah Lieurance\, Assistant Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management at Penn State University\, and Theresa Culley\, Professor of Plant Ecology and past Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDeah Lieurance is currently an Assistant Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at The Pennsylvania State University. Previously\, she worked at University of Florida as an Extension Scientist leading the IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants-a risk assessment program. Her research and extension work centers around invasive species prevention and prioritization using decision support tools and horizon scanning. She is the 2021 recipient of NAISMA’s Rita Beard Visionary Leadership Award. Additionally\, she currently serves on the NAISMA’s board and the chair of the Board Development Committee and Pennsylvania’s Invasive Species Council.   \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTheresa Culley is a Professor of Plant Ecology and past Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on the mechanisms and genetics of plant invasions\, especially for species of ornamental and horticultural use. She is a board member of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)\, a founding co-organizer of Public Gardens as Sentinels of Plant Invasion (PGSIP) in North America\, and a past president of the Ohio Invasive Species Council (OIPC) where she chairs its invasive plant assessment committee. Theresa also serves on the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Invasive Plant Advisory Committee which assists in the commercial regulation of invasive species in Ohio.  URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-opportunities-and-challenges-for-preventing-the-next-plant-invasion/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/nsm-bk-4.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231222T142940Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T130412Z UID:121706-1709298000-1709301600@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Protecting North American Biodiversity from Invasive Species DESCRIPTION:REGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBiodiversity in Focus: A Status Report on North American Species and Ecosystems at Risk presented by Regan Smyth \n\n\n\nBiodiversity loss is recognized by the World Economic Forum as one the greatest global risks\, threatening not just the persistence of at-risk species and health of ecological communities but also the people who depend upon them. In this presentation\, Regan Smyth will report the latest findings from NatureServe’s 2023 report on the status of biodiversity in the United States\, including the role of invasive species as a primary driver of biodiversity loss. \n\n\n\nRegan Smyth is the Vice President for Data and Methods at NatureServe\, where she oversees the development\, management\, and provision of core data resources on North American species and ecosystems. She ensures that the biodiversity information collected by NatureServe’s Network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers meets consistent standards\, resulting in the highest quality data available on the location and conservation status of biodiversity throughout the Americas. This dataset allows us to understand species extinction risk and direct conservation action. Regan has a master’s degree in ecosystem conservation and management from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science\, also from Duke University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCase Study #1 – The Selective Management of Invasive Aquatic Plants presented by Dr. Mark Heilman \n\n\n\nExotic aquatic plants can overwhelm invaded habitat and drastically alter biodiversity and function of aquatic ecosystems.   These invasions severely disrupt ecology\, and for threatened species under pressure from other environmental disturbance\, non-native aquatic plants can pose a dire risk.  Selective management strategies for invasive aquatic plants have demonstrated the ability to protect or restore habitat\, including critical sites for threatened and endangered species of fish\, mussels\, and other taxa.   Several interesting\, aquatic plant management projects from across the US will be highlighted for their success in maintaining and/or enhancing biodiversity and habitat quality. \n\n\n\nDr. Mark Heilman serves on the Board of Directors of NAISMA and Chairs the Legislative Committee. As Director of Aquatic Technology for SePRO (Carmel\, Indiana)\, Dr. Heilman leads the company’s research and development efforts to bring forward new technologies for managing water resources. He also directly assists many public and private natural resource managers in the US and internationally with design and implementation of challenging projects managing aquatic invasive species with an emphasis on aquatic plants. Dr. Heilman received his B.S. in Biology (1992) and his Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Notre Dame (1998). He is a Past President of the Aquatic Plant Management Society. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCase Study #2 – Long Island rare species and invasives management presented by Abby Marino \n\n\n\nLong Island\, NY has more than its fair share of invasive species\, but at the same time this region is one of the most biodiverse in New York State. In this presentation\, Abby B. Marino will share how the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area PRISM approaches rare species conservation alongside invasive species management.  \n\n\n\nAbby B. Marino works as the Conservation Area Manager for the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area. She received her B.S. in environmental science from Cornell University\, where she worked in the Blossey lab studying invasive plant-soil interactions. Her work as the communications coordinator for the NY Invasive Species Research Institute gave her experience in communicating invasive species research for managers and the public. In addition to her work at LIISMA\, she is pursuing a masters degree in Energy & Environmental Management at the University of Connecticut. URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-protecting-north-american-biodiversity-from-invasive-species/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forest-road-in-the-autumn-landscape-2023-11-27-05-16-46-utc2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240311T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240314T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20230918T131207Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240305T171030Z UID:121028-1710144000-1710435600@naisma.org SUMMARY:2024 National Forum on Biological Control DESCRIPTION:The USDA Forest Service is organizing a National Forum on Biological Control in partnership with NAISMA and the National Association of State Foresters. This will be held March 11 – 14\, 2024 in Annapolis\, MD at the Graduate Hotel. The meeting will focus on both weed and arthropod biocontrol and will be a venue for all biocontrol practitioners\, researchers\, and policy makers to come together to address the shared challenges (Ex.\, communication\, capacity\, changing landscapes) and opportunities that exist in this area. The meeting themes are centered around biocontrol research\, management\, and impacts in natural areas. \n\n\n\nMeet & Greet Cocktail hour will occur on Monday\, March 11. The main conference program starts Tuesday\, March 12 and concludes at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday\, March 14. \n\n\n\nRegistration Rates\n\n\n\nEarly Bird Registration (through January 15\, 2024)  Professional Full Conference –  $375NAISMA members $350Student Full Conference –  $225 \n\n\n\nLate Registration (starts January 31\, 2024)\n\n\n\nProfessional Full Conference – $450NAISMA members $425Student Full – $275 \n\n\n\nTravel\n\n\n\nAirports: Baltimore (BWI) – 45 min drive to hotelWashington (DCA) – 45 min drive to hotel \n\n\n\nTransportation OptionsUberSAAB Transportation: 443-995-9728Roberts Transportation: 240-393-7656Blanchard Limousines: 410-224-7222: https://blanchardlimo.com/Towne Transport: 410-266-3392 \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nMember rate is applied during check-out. Join today to enjoy this discount and many other member benefits. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTERHERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFULLAGENDA\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDOWNLOAD PROGRAM\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKeynote Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Mark Hoddle\, University of California RiversideStepping up to the Challenge: Proactive Biological Control of Invasive Pests (abstract) \n\n\n\nMark Hoddle is an Extension Specialist in Biological Control\, Department of Entomology\, University of California Riverside. Hoddle received his B.Sc. (1989)\, M.Sc. (1991)\, and D.Sc. (2018) from the University of Auckland\, New Zealand and his Ph.D. (1997) from the University of Massachusetts\, Amherst. Currently\, Hoddle’s lab is working on the proactive biological control of spotted lantern fly and development of proactive IPM programs for avocado seed feeding weevils prior to the anticipated incursion of these pests into California. Other current projects on invasive insect pests include work on gold spotted oak borer\, South American palm weevil\, cotton seed bug\, Asian citrus psyllid\, and Argentine ant. Hoddle is the director of UCR’s Center for Invasive Species Research. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStas Burgiel\, Executive Director of the National Invasive Species CouncilAdvancing a Biocontrol National Agenda \n\n\n\nStanley W. Burgiel (“Stas”) serves as the Executive Director of the National Invasive Species Council (NISC)\, where he facilitates high-level policy dialogue across federal departments and White House offices on invasive species. He is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NISC work plan activities in areas such as wildland fire\, climate change\, and early detection and rapid response. Stas has worked and consulted for a range of nongovernmental\, governmental\, and intergovernmental organizations\, including the Global Invasive Species Programme\, the Nature Conservancy\, the UNEP/World Conservation Monitoring Centre\, and the International Institute for Sustainable Development. He received his Ph.D. in international service from the American University and a B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDean Brookes\, Australia Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL)Perspectives\, opportunities\, and challenges for native range research (abstract) \n\n\n\nDean Brookes’ research background is in ecological genetics and insect-plant interactions in agriculture and biological control. For two years Dean has been working for the Australia Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL)\, a USDA-ARS overseas laboratory that is partnered with the Australian federal Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Dean is currently team leader within ABCL\, overseeing the team’s research projects\, conducting surveys for potential agents throughout Asia and Australia\, and building molecular capacity within the team. Dean’s current research focus is the broader integration of molecular techniques into biological control to fast-track agent discovery and evaluation\, and to better understand the host associations of potential biological control agents across the native and introduced distributions of invasive weeds. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nConference/hotel booking information\n\n\n\nHotel/ conference venue booked at the Graduate Hotel in Annapolis\, MD (Graduate Annapolis | Hotel Near Naval Academy (graduatehotels.com)). Attendees may also call our reservations line at 844-888-4723. Reservations will be accepted through the group cutoff date of Monday 2/23/24. Booking Code: 1095362 \n\n\n\nIf you need to extend your stay\, make your reservations and then reach out to Brandon at bdrakeford@graduateannapolis.com and he will make necessary adjustments for room rates. \n\n\n\n\nRESERVE A ROOM\n\n\n\n\nPartners\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAgenda\n\n\n\nLive Agenda Below. Additional tabs with speakers and poster information located at the bottom. URL:https://naisma.org/event/2023-usdafs-national-forum-for-biological-control/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/biocontrol-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240320T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240320T150000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240201T180458Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240301T151228Z UID:121989-1710939600-1710946800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Collaboration and Innovation: Working at Multiple Scales at the Department of the Interior to Manage Invasive Species DESCRIPTION:The Department of the Interior plays a central role in how the United States stewards its public lands. Interior manages one-fifth of the country’s land area\, thousands of miles of coastline\, hundreds of dams and reservoirs\, and 1.76 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf. It also upholds the federal government’s trust responsibilities to 574 Federally recognized tribes and honors its special commitments to Alaska Natives\, Native Hawaiians\, and affiliated Island Communities. Additionally\, Interior supplies water to tens of millions of people; provides diverse recreational opportunities; protects the icons of the country’s national heritage; conserves fish\, wildlife\, and their habitats; and provides scientific and other information about these resources. Invasive species pose substantial threats to fulfilling these diverse responsibilities. To reduce those threats\, Interior leads extensive efforts to manage invasive species\, working closely with other federal agencies\, states\, tribes\, territories\, and other partners. This panel session will involve experts from across Interior who will feature signature Departmental invasive species initiatives underway\, provide an overview of Interior bureau missions\, roles\, and responsibilities as it pertains to invasive species management\, and highlight on-the-ground projects underway across the nation. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://naisma.org/event/collaboration-and-innovation-working-at-multiple-scales-at-the-department-of-the-interior-to-manage-invasive-species/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/colin-maynard-U-o-x0FSIWM-unsplash2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240403T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240403T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240222T125247Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240319T165304Z UID:122101-1712138400-1712152800@naisma.org SUMMARY:EDDMapS Summit 2024 DESCRIPTION:Hosted by the North American Invasive Species Management AssociationOrganized by University of Georgia – Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health  \n\n\n\nEDDMapS (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System) is a web-based mapping system for reporting invasive species and pest distribution with features including data queries and downloads\, interactive maps\, and management tracking. The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health\, in collaboration with partner organizations\, is providing a comprehensive EDDMapS training and update.  \n\n\n\nThis free summit is open to everyone from beginners to experienced users. Topics for the 2024 EDDMapS Summit include:  \n\n\n\n\nState of EDDMapS 2024\n\n\n\nEDDMapS Tools & Functionality\n\n\n\nEDDMapS Partners Projects\n\n\n\nEDDMapS on the Desktop\n\n\n\nUsing the EDDMapS App\n\n\n\nEDDMapS Pro\n\n\n\nIntroducing the EDDMapS Brand\n\n\n\nArcGIS Dashboards\n\n\n\n\nFor more information on EDDMapS visit www.eddmaps.org. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSponsors URL:https://naisma.org/event/eddmaps-summit-2024/ CATEGORIES:Summit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EDDMapS-Summit-Logo2024_Transparent.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240417T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240417T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240124T182234Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240415T224028Z UID:121937-1713358800-1713362400@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Field mapping protocols- What to consider when mapping for invasive plant species DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jennifer Hillmer and Mark Daluge \n\n\n\nJoin representatives from the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Standards and Technology Committee in a webinar that will explore the NAISMA Mapping Standards and Field Mapping Protocols. Many managers understand the value of data collection and sharing. However\, guidance on data collection practices is not easily accessible. The Standards and Technology Committee has worked to aggregate existing field mapping protocols and have identified the commonalities on general structure of these protocols. In this webinar\, learn what components are commonly included in field mapping protocols\, how they vary\, and what it looks like to create a field mapping protocol for your organization. Representatives from Teton County Weed and Pest District in Jackson\, Wyoming will present field mapping protocols that were created by utilizing the results/guidance from the Standards and Technology Committee. This webinar is sure to be beneficial whether you have a Field Mapping Protocol in place for your organization\, or if you are looking to create your own. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMark Daluge \n\n\n\nMark is the Assistant Supervisor for the Teton County Weed and Pest District located in Jackson\, Wyoming.  Following the receipt of a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business Management from the University of Wisconsin in 2003\, he moved to Jackson and has been working in the invasive species industry ever since.  He received the Rita Beard Visionary Leadership Award from NAISMA in 2019\, given annually in recognition of an early-career individual who has shown exceptional dedication and accomplishments regarding invasive species management or educational activities.  He is a State of Wyoming Certified Weed & Pest Control District Supervisor\, is Past-President of the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA)\, is the chair of the NAISMA Standards and Technology Committee\, and an active member on the NAISMA Weed Free Products committee.  He oversees Teton County Weed and Pest’s yearly treatment operations\, is a licensed drone pilot\, and coordinates their GIS program. Mark takes pride in having a “can do” attitude and likes a challenge.  In his free time\, he enjoys rafting\, skiing\, and camping with his wife and two children.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJennifer HillmerJennifer Hillmer has over twenty-five years of experience in natural areas stewardship and invasive plant control. Her primary areas of interest are field crew development\, building capacity for invasive plant management\, and land stewardship. As the Invasive Plant Management Coordinator at Cleveland Metroparks\, Jennifer helped establish and directs a district-wide management program to find\,evaluate\, prioritize\, and remove invasive plants from the 25\,000-acre park district. She has worked for the Ohio DNR\, The Nature Conservancy\, and The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland\, Ohio. She is a founding member of the Ohio Invasive Plants Council and the Crooked River Cooperative Weed Management Area (Ohio)\, a former board member of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network\, and a tireless advocate for good recordkeeping. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-field-mapping-protocols-what-to-consider-when-mapping-for-invasive-plant-species/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/loosestrife-6508514_19201.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240515T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240515T150000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240125T181001Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240709T115559Z UID:121947-1715778000-1715785200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The Trouble with Lionfish: Perspectives from across North America DESCRIPTION:Webinar Highlight: The Trouble with Lionfish: Perspectives from across North AmericaWe hosted a very unique\, bilingual monthly webinar on May 15 with Dr. Steve Gittings from NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries Program and Mateo Sabido from the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of the State of Quintana Roo (IBANQROO). Here’s what we learned: \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nWe learned about the history and evolution of the lionfish invasion\, scientific approaches to managing the species\, and stories of local innovation and action to manage this species in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Mexican Caribbean. Recordings of this webinar are available in both English and Spanish on our YouTube channel. \n\n\n\nYou can also purchase merchandise from our Know Your Invasives: Lionfish Collection from the NAISMA Shop! \n\n\n\n“If their beauty or their arsenal of venomous spines aren’t enough to get your attention\, then their ecological impact might be. Lionfish have\, in some places\, reduced native fish populations by up to 60 percent.” – Dr. Steve Gittings\, NOAA \n\n\n\n“From an environmental standpoint\, clearly the invasion has undeniably been a disaster. But it has been inspiring to watch how people from so many walks of life have joined forces in response to the invasion in the Western Atlantic\, all hoping to do their part to control the outbreak and protect the places that they love.” – Dr. Steve Gittings\, NOAA \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMixed signals: The maturation of the lionfish invasionNearly 40 years after the first lionfish was spotted in the Atlantic Ocean\, and almost 25 years after the invasion exploded across the region\, a case can be made that a fortuitous combination of science and local action has controlled the impact to native ecosystems. Some of the people\, approaches\, and successes of the response will be highlighted. But is that the whole story? What don’t we know? Should Nature be given some credit? And with ecosystems experiencing faster and more severe changes than anything any of us have ever seen\, how can we know what the impacts of lionfish have been? As the battle for control presses on\, and we look ahead to other invasions\, we should ask: Why did Indo-Pacific lionfish invade the Atlantic\, and some Atlantic fish not invade the Pacific? What will the future Atlantic tropical ocean look like? And what have lionfish taught us about ourselves\, our relationship with Nature\, and our role in conservation? Finally\, can we learn from thousands of years of human history in the Mediterranean? Why is that sea so heavily invaded? And why is there a one-way invasion of Red Sea species\, including lionfish\, through the 150 year old Suez Canal? \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Steve Gittings is Chief Scientist for NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program. Before that\, he was manager of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and a research scientist at Texas A&M University. Dr. Gittings has worked in the field of conservation science his entire career\, characterizing and monitoring marine ecosystems\, assessing damage and recovery following ship groundings and oil spills\, and applying science to management. He led a team that developed a process for system-wide reporting on the status and trends of resources and ecosystems in national marine sanctuaries. The reports are now used as critical elements of management planning for the sanctuaries. He has been a diver for over 50 years and has worked for over 40 years as a scientific diver\, doing four saturation missions in the Aquarius habitat\, operating ROVs\, and as a submarine pilot and scientist. Recently\, Dr. Gittings has been developing traps designed to catch lionfish in waters beyond scuba depth. The traps minimize by-catch\, eliminate ghost-fishing\, and are being tested for their potential to help fishermen provide lionfish to seafood and other developing markets\, supplementing their income while also doing conservation. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA 15 años del pez león: Lecciones aprendidas de la participación comunitaria para el monitoreo y control en el Caribe Mexicano. \n\n\n\nLa invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans/miles)\, es considerada como una de las principales amenazas a la biodiversidad marina; a 15 años de su primer registro en México\, el pez león ha logrado establecerse en diferentes ecosistemas y profundidades del Caribe mexicano y Golfo de México. Considerando que su erradicación\, es poco probable; el sector comunitario y pesquero en coordinación con instituciones como la Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) y Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil\, han tenido una participación importante en la estrategia de control\, aprovechamiento y monitoreo para atender la problemática del pez león. \n\n\n\nAquí abordaremos como eje central el involucramiento de las comunidades y las experiencias de mujeres y hombres que viven en las localidades costeras de Cozumel\, Banco Chichorro\, Xcalak y Mahahual\, y como de ser una amenaza se volvió en una oportunidad para la conservación de la biodiversidad y aprovechamiento del pez león. Por último\, abordaremos como éstas iniciativas contribuyen a la Estrategia Nacional de control y monitoreo del pez león en México. \n\n\n\n\n\nMiguel Mateo Sabido Itzá. Biólogo y Maestro en Manejo de Zona Costera es el jefe de departamento de Áreas Naturales Protegidas zona Sur del Instituto de Biodiversidad y Áreas Naturales Protegidas del estado de Quintana Roo (IBANQROO) en México. El Mtro. Sabido es buceador científico y lleva 14 años trabajando en la investigación\, conservación de los ecosistemas costeros y fortalecimiento comunitario en el Caribe Mexicano. Durante este tiempo\, ha colaborado en 30 proyectos enfocándose en temáticas como pez león\, pesquerías artesanales de caracol rosado\, langosta espinosa\, peces arrecifales\, restauración coralina\, manejo de Áreas Naturales Protegidas\, zonas de refugio pesquero\, monitoreo de fauna silvestre\, ciencia ciudadana y fortalecimiento de las comunidades costeras; Todo ello se traduce en más de 60 presentaciones y conferencias en congresos nacionales e internacionales. Es autor principal de 6 artículos científicos publicados en revistas internacionales\, el Mtro. Sabido\, ha tenido la oportunidad de trabajar y colaborar con las Áreas Naturales Protegidas “Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro” y “Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak” enfocándose en el monitoreo\, control\, educación ambiental y promover opciones de aprovechamiento local del pez león siempre desde la perspectiva de involucramiento comunitario. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-invasive-lionfish/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-jeffry-surianto-8856049-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240601T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240608T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231215T134755Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240301T150534Z UID:121525-1717228800-1717866000@naisma.org SUMMARY:PlayCleanGo Awareness Week DESCRIPTION:Show outdoor enthusiasts how to stop spreading invasive plants and pests — while enjoying the great outdoors. The goal of the campaign is to show outdoor enthusiasts how to stop spreading invasive plants and pests — while enjoying the great outdoors. Dozens of free materials are available on this webpage to help you spread the word and Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks™! \n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://naisma.org/event/playcleango-awareness-week/ CATEGORIES:Summit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PCG_BrandMarkSig_Endorsement_CMYK.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240619T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240619T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240326T121450Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240703T114346Z UID:122673-1718802000-1718805600@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Live Long and Prosper: Protecting Ash Trees and the Ash Resource from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Dr. Deborah McCullough\, Professor\, Department of Entomology and Department of Forestry\, Michigan State University \n\n\n\nThis webinar will address options for protecting valuable ash trees in landscapes from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) with systemic insecticides. Tactics to integrate systemic insecticides with other EAB management tactics in forested areas\, as well as landscapes\, will be included. We’ll cover some myths about treating ash trees that just won’t go away and talk about trunk injection and potential wounding. Factors related to the economics of treating vs removing ash trees will be included. Questions will be welcome! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDeborah G. McCullough is a Professor at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in the Dept. of Entomology and Dept. of Forestry\, with research\, extension and teaching responsibilities. McCullough’s research focuses on the ecology\, impacts and management of forest insects\, particularly invasive species including emerald ash borer\, beech bark disease\, and hemlock woolly adelgid. She works with forest managers\, regulatory officials\, arborists and landowners to develop sustainable management strategies to protect forest health. McCullough also assists chestnut growers and Christmas tree producers with insect management issues. McCullough teaches a 4 credit course on Forest Insects and Diseases annually and has served as the major advisor for more than 35 graduate students\, many of whom work in forest health and related positions. McCullough has authored or co-authored more than 135 papers about forest insect ecology and management in scientific journals\, approximately 250 extension bulletins\, websites\, videos or articles in trade publications and given more than 600 presentations on forest insects. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-insecticide-options-for-emerald-ash-borer-control-and-ash-tree-protection/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EAB.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240717T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240717T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240126T134439Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240701T163406Z UID:121952-1721221200-1721224800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The cryptogenic macroalgal invader Chondria tumulosa overgrows entire coral reefs in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument\, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Dr. Heather L. Spalding\, Associate Professor\, College of Charleston \n\n\n\nCo-Authors: Taylor Williams\, Brian Hauk\, Andrea Kealoha\, and Randall Kosaki. \n\n\n\nThe Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world and supports a high diversity and abundance of native marine flora and fauna. In 2019\, a new cryptogenic red alga\, Chondria tumulosa\, was observed forming dense mats that rapidly overgrew native corals and algae at Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll). By 2023\, up to 40% of sites surveyed at Manawai contained Chondria mats in the lagoon\, back reef\, and fore reef from 1 to 21 m depths. Chondria percent cover was up to 95% over a 25 x 1 m area\, with a canopy height of 21 cm. Stable isotope analyses of Chondria tissue δ15N ranged from 2.2-3.4‰\, suggesting its distribution was not influenced by anthropogenic or shore-based processes (like seabird guano). However\, the %N in algal tissue ranged from 0.95-2.75%\, suggesting enrichment by other processes is occurring. Additional studies on this alga’s ecophysiology and microbiome are needed to determine its mechanism(s) of success in oligotrophic waters with intact top down processes. This alga poses a serious threat to coral reefs in the Pacific because of its mat-forming morphology\, fragmentation\, attachment to nets and other algae\, and high abundance in nearly pristine\, nutrient-poor environments. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Heather Spalding grew up on a small cattle farm in Kentucky but was usually found underwater in the murky depths of the farm pond exploring the mud and “moss”. She received her undergraduate degree in marine science from Southampton College at Long Island University under the tutelage of Dr. Larry Liddle. This led to an internship on kelp forest ecology at Moss Landing Marine Labs (MLML) with Dr. Mike Foster\, where she discovered that being comfortable underwater in low light was a useful skill for a phycologist. After completing her master’s degree in marine science at MLML\, she was lured to the University of Hawaiʻi to study macroalgae with Dr. Isabella Abbott and Dr. Celia Smith for her doctoral degree in marine botany\, with an emphasis on ecology\, evolution\, and conservation biology. This research led to studies on mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago using technical diving and submersibles\, and the discovery of new macroalgal species and deep water coral reefs. After several years of post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument on algal biodiversity and ecophysiology\, Dr. Spalding accepted a tenure-track position in marine biology at the College of Charleston in 2019. She is now an Associate Professor at the College of Charleston and has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and 10 book chapters on macroalgae and corals. URL:https://naisma.org/event/chondria-tumulosa-impacts-to-coral-reefs-in-hawaii/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/algae-identified-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240821T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240821T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240208T125957Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240927T161522Z UID:122008-1724245200-1724248800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Dutch Elm Disease and Resistance DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Benjamin Held\, Senior Scientist\, and Ryan Murphy\, Researcher\, Department of Plant Pathology\, University of Minnesota \n\n\n\nFor nearly 10 decades\, the invasive DED pathogen Ophiostoma novo-ulmi has been decimating American elms (Ulmus americana) and other native elm species in Minnesota and across the country. The American elm once lined streets across Minnesota\, and for good reason. Its elegant form and tolerance to the harsh urban environment made it one of two premier canopy species. American\, along with red (U. rubra) and rock (U. thomasii) elm\, also provide critical benefits to ecosystem functioning\, wildlife\, and insects. Control measures so far have relied on sanitation and chemical control\, both of which are expensive methods considering the large numbers of trees affected. Varied disease resistance has been identified in a small number of elms; however\, additional genetic diversity is needed to combat a pathogen that has a changing virulence. Our elm selection program is aimed at identifying\, propagating\, and screening survivor elms for DED tolerance from across the state of Minnesota. In addition\, our reintroduction planting program will also return much needed DED resistant genotypes back into the landscape in both urban and natural forested landscapes. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRyan Murphy is a researcher and educator in the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota. In addition to working on the UMN Elm Selection Program\, he manages the Urban Forestry Outreach & Research Lab which provides education about trees to communities around the state. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBenjamin Held is a researcher in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota where his work focuses on the control and detection of various invasive forest pathogens in addition to wood microbiology and fungal diversity in extreme environments. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-dutch-elm-disease-and-resistance/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/american-elms-in-central-park-2023-11-27-05-32-26-utc-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240918T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240918T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240209T143833Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240930T163850Z UID:122020-1726664400-1726668000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease – An Overview DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Dr. Nicholas Rosenau\, U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands\, Oceans\, and Watersheds \n\n\n\nStony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first reported in September 2014 off the coast of southeast Florida and has since become the most lethal coral disease ever recorded due to its swift spread\, extensive tissue necrosis\, and high mortality rates. \n\n\n\nThe etiological agent(s) and the mechanisms(s) of spread remain under investigation. Research has shown that SCTLD can be transmitted via seawater and direct contact with sick corals and sediments. Ocean currents are believed to play a role in transmitting the disease over relatively short distances (e.g.\, Florida’s Coral Reef) but cannot explain the pattern of spread across the wider Caribbean. Recent attention has focused on the roles vessels (specifically\, ballast water and biofouling) may play in transmitting SCTLD and the implications these potential modes of transport could have for SCTLD spread to coral reefs around the globe. This presentation provides an overview of SCTLD and discusses the hypothesized short- and long-range mechanisms of SCTLD transmission including ocean currents\, sediments\, ballast water and biofouling. Ongoing and planned efforts in the U.S. to understand the cause\, mechanisms of spread\, and impacts of SCTLD will also be presented. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNick Rosenau (U.S. EPA)Nick Rosenau is a Biologist at the U.S. EPA in the Office of Wetlands\, Oceans & Watersheds | Ocean & Coastal Management Branch (OCMB) in Washington\, DC. He is the staff lead for the branch’s Coral Reef Protection Program and coordinates EPA’s National Coral Reef Team. He also serves as the Biofouling lead for EPA’s rulemaking under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). \n\n\n\nNick received his Ph.D. in Earth Science from Southern Methodist University (2013) and Bachelors’ degrees in Geology and Chemistry from the University of Arkansas\, Little Rock (2007). Before moving to the DC area in 2016\, he worked as a Geologist for several energy & environmental consulting firms in Colorado\, and as a Staff Geochemist for oil and gas operators (Pioneer Natural Resources; Sklar Exploration) in Texas and Colorado. Prior to joining EPA full time in 2020\, he was an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow in EPA’s Office of Water where he supported a number of coastal management programs and worked on coastal acidification\, coral disease\, water quality\, vessel discharges\, and vessel sewage no discharge zones projects. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-stony-coral-tissue-loss-disease/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/stonycoral2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240930T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241003T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231215T135140Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T171519Z UID:121528-1727683200-1727974800@naisma.org SUMMARY:The 32nd North American Invasive Species Management Association NAISMA Annual Conference DESCRIPTION:Mark your calendars for our next NAISMA annual conference on September 30 – October 3\, 2024 in Missoula\, MT. Co-hosted with the Montana Invasive Species Council. As a member\, you get a 10% discount. \n\n\n\nThe 32nd NAISMA Annual Conference will be co-hosted with the Montana Invasive Species Council. We expect 350+ attendees from a broad range of backgrounds\, invasive species\, and natural resource professions to attend from across North America and beyond. This year’s theme will highlight the foundations needed to implement management strategies that work\, partnerships that impact diverse geographies\, and policy and funding successes that can be tailored to fit your landscape. \n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE URL:https://naisma.org/event/north-american-invasive-species-management-association-32nd-annual-conference/ CATEGORIES:Professional Development,Summit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1707413324791-emailbanne2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241016T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241016T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240213T194716Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240814T190041Z UID:122034-1729083600-1729087200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: White-Nose Syndrome and Bats DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jonathan Reichard and Jeremy Coleman\, White-Nose Syndrome Response Team\, USFWS \n\n\n\nWhite-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease that affects hibernating bats\, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). This fungus thrives in cold\, dark\, and damp environments\, attacking the bare skin of bats during their hibernation. As it grows\, it disrupts their hibernation patterns\, causing them to burn through the fat reserves needed to survive the winter. The result is often fatal\, with millions of bats in North America already lost to this disease. WNS is especially concerning because bats play a critical role in ecosystems\, particularly in controlling insect populations. Additionally\, people can unknowingly spread the Pd fungus when they move from one location to another without properly cleaning their gear. This makes it crucial to clean and disinfect shoes\, clothing\, and equipment between trips to help prevent the spread of WNS. In this webinar\, we’ll explore the impact of White-Nose Syndrome and learn more about the efforts of the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team to combat this deadly disease. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-white-nose-syndrome-and-bats/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/orca_wns_RyanvonLinden.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241120T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241120T160000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20240816T135240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241030T192627Z UID:123990-1732113000-1732118400@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Stop the Spread: Essential Campaigns for Preventing Invasive Species DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jennifer Riddle (ISAN – Don’t Let It Loose)\, Laurel Downs (TNC – Don’t Move Firewood)\, Tim Campbell (Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers)\, Jeanine Neskey (MRP-APHIS\, Squeal on Pigs)\, Christie Trifone Millhouse (NAISMA\, PlayCleanGo). \n\n\n\nJoin us for an informative webinar featuring a panel of experts presenting key invasive species education campaigns. This webinar will cover four critical initiatives designed to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species across various ecosystems. \n\n\n\n\nDon’t Let It Loose: Learn about responsible pet ownership and why it’s important to prevent the release of pets into the wild.\n\n\n\nDon’t Move Firewood: Discover the importance of using local firewood to avoid spreading harmful forest pests.\n\n\n\nStop Aquatic Hitchhikers: is a national campaign that helps recreational water users be part of the solution to help prevent and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species.\n\n\n\nSqueal on Pigs: Understand the role of reporting and managing feral swine populations to protect natural habitats.\n\n\n\nPlayCleanGo: learn how to protect valuable natural resources by instilling an ethic of stewardship in recreationists as they enjoy the places they love in the great outdoors.\n\n\n\n\nThis panel will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for all taxa\, helping you to play a part in safeguarding our natural spaces. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-stop-the-spread-essential-campaigns-for-preventing-invasive-species/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/big-November-Webinar-12.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241205T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241205T150000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20231215T135430Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241125T140622Z UID:121530-1733396400-1733410800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Annual Biocontrol Summit: Aquatic Weed Biocontrol – Project Progress and Innovative Tools DESCRIPTION:The North American Invasive Species Management Association’s 5th Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit will be held virtually on December 5\, 2024\, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CST. The Biocontrol Summit communicates the latest in classical weed biocontrol research to North American invasive plant managers and educators and aims to connect researchers and on-the-ground practitioners. This year\, the NAISMA Classical Biocontrol Committee is highlighting the role weed biocontrol can play in managing invasive aquatic plant species throughout North America. Our invited aquatic weed management and biocontrol experts will share updates in biocontrol development and innovative tools for improving integrated weed management. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAgenda11:00 -11:05WelcomeChristie Trifone Millhouse\, NAISMA Executive Director11:05-11:30Sixty Years of Aquatic Weed Biological ControlAl Cofrancesco\, US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center11:30-12:15Floating Aquatic Species11:30-11:45Inundative biological control is the key to successful control of water hyacinthJulie Coetzee\, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity11:45-12:00Innovations and developments for biological control of water hyacinthMelissa Smith\, USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Laboratory12:00-12:15Opportunities for improving biological control of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in subtropical and temperate regions Rodrigo Diaz\, Dane Shackelford\, and Victoria Ayala\, Department of Entomology\, Louisiana State University12:15-12:25Question/Answer Period12:15-1:10Rooted Aquatic Species12:25-12:40Implementation of biological control for introduced Phragmites in CanadaRob Bourchier\, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada12:40-12:55Biological control of flowering rush: a new management approach on the horizonJennifer Andreas\, Washington State University12:55-1:10It was the best of times\, it was the worst of times: an update of the USDA’s alligator weed and exotic Ludwigia biological control programs in CaliforniaPaul Pratt\, USDA-ARS Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit1:10-1:20Question/Answer Period1:20-1:35Break1:35-2:20Post release monitoring1:35-1:50Mapping Floating Aquatic Vegetation with Remote Sensing PlatformsChristiana Ade\, NASA JPL1:50-2:05Using drones to assess natural enemy impacts in aquatic systemsUsman Mohammed\, University of Florida Indian River Research & Education Center2:05-2:20eNAS: a new database for eDNA surveillance data of non-native aquatic speciesDr. Wesley M. Daniel\, USGS’s Wetland and Aquatic Research Center2:20-2:50New Targets2:20-2:30Parrots feather\, yellow floating heart\, European frogbit and water soliderPhilip Weyl\, CABINathan Harms\, Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch\, USACE2:30-2:40Update on water chestnut biocontrolWade Simmons\, Cornell University2:40-2:50Biological control of duckweeds: host specificity and impact of selected insectherbivores from Louisiana and CaliforniaDr. Flaminia Mariani\, Louisiana State University2:50-3:00Questions/Answer and Closing\n\n\n\nAgenda Details\n\n\n\nSixty Years of Aquatic Weed Biological ControlBiological control of aquatic weeds started sixty years ago and has achieved significant milestones. As new applications and approaches have emerged\, the research community has used these methods to improve results and outcomes. Moving forward\, maintaining host specificity should continue to be a primary focus of all biological control research.Alfred Cofrancesco\, Advisor To The Technical Director For Environmental Engineering and Sciences\, US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center \n\n\n\nInundative biological control is the key to successful control of water hyacinthImplementing biological control in systems with a history of chemical and mechanical control can be challenging. We implemented inundative biological control on a nutrient-enriched impoundment by fostering a community of practice. More than half a million biological control agents were released between 2018 and 2024 through the collective efforts of professional and private stakeholders. We show that bridging the boundaries between the research and public sector can strengthen biological control efforts\, enabling successful and sustainable management of water hyacinthJulie Coetzee\, Professor\, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. \n\n\n\nInnovations and developments for biological control of water hyacinthDespite nearly five decades (or more) of dedicated efforts to control water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes)\, it continues to expand its range and negatively impact freshwater ecosystems throughout the tropics and subtropics. While several biological control agents have been released and cause significant harm in terms of biomass reductions\, in all invaded regions\, this impact is insufficient for control. Herein we present new research on changing paradigms (e.g.\, using planthoppers inundatively)\, and development of integrated methods in Florida.Melissa Smith\, Research Ecologist\, USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Laboratory \n\n\n\nOpportunities for improving biological control of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in subtropical and temperate regionsThe salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) has been used in the United States as a management tool for several decades. Releases of weevils have led to successful control during the summer months. However\, its effectiveness varies significantly even across short distances\, limiting its overall impact. This presentation explores new strategies to enhance the management of salvinia. We will discuss new remote sensing technologies for early detection and monitoring of salvinia infestations\, as well as opportunities for using mass-rearing weevils in augmentative biocontrol. We hope to motivate a discussion on improving the consistency of giant salvinia management across diverse climatic regions.Rodrigo Diaz\, Dane Shackelford\, and Victoria Ayala\, Associate Professor\, Department of Entomology\, Louisiana State University \n\n\n\nImplementation of biological control for introduced Phragmites in CanadaTwo European stem boring moths\, Archanara neurica and Lenisa geminipuncta\, were approved for biological control of introduced Phragmites in Canada in 2019. To date the focus has been on development of operational protocols to rear\, release\, and monitor the biological control agents and more than 30\,000 insects have been released at 50 sites in Ontario. Insect damage has been detected at over 90% of the release locations with negative impacts on introduced Phragmites at release points. For sites that are two- or three-years post-release\, damage has been observed each year\, indicating initial biocontrol agent overwintering and reproduction. This talk will review the current status of the Phragmites biological control program in Canada and outline ongoing experimental work to scale up the release program.Rob Bourchier\, Research Scientist\, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada \n\n\n\nBiological control of flowering rush: a new management approach on the horizon.Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) is an aggressive freshwater invasive plant that rapidly colonizes and infests wetlands\, lakes\, rivers\, and irrigation ditches across temperate North America. Three potential biocontrol agents have been identified and are under study. The highly host-specific leaf/rhizome weevil\, Bagous nodulosus\, was petitioned for field release in Canada and the United States in 2022. It was approved for release in Canada and was approved in the U.S. in October 2024. Pre-release monitoring\, rearing\, and release strategies are underway in Ontario\, British Columbia\, Montana\, and Washington. Moving into the implementation phase of the biocontrol project offers exciting future opportunities for flowering rush management.Jennifer Andreas\, Professor\, Washington State University \n\n\n\nIt was the best of times\, it was the worst of times: an update of the USDA’s alligator weed and exotic Ludwigia biological control programs in CaliforniaAlligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeriodes) and exotic Ludwigia species invade similar habitats in California. Biological control results in complete control of alligator weed in much of the southeastern US but multiple attempts to establish agents in California have failed. A combination of new cold-adapted biotypes of existing agents and testing new agents is expected to expand control of alligator weed in the weed’s northern distribution. In contrast\, the most promising insects associated with Ludwigia species were imported and tested but none are sufficiently host specific for release in the US. Alternative options are being considered (inundation of native herbivores) but classical biological control does not appear to be well suited for the management of exotic Ludwigia species in western US.Paul Pratt\, Research Leader\, USDA-ARS Invasive Species & Pollinator Health Research Unit \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nMapping floating aquatic vegetation with remote sensing platformsRemote sensing plays a crucial role in managing aquatic invasive species by facilitating ongoing monitoring and offering valuable scientific insights into the mechanisms of invasion. These components are essential for making informed\, evidence-based management decisions\, which ultimately improve the effectiveness of control strategies. This presentation showcases studies focused mapping invasive floating aquatic vegetation and understanding invasion mechanisms using remote sensing at different scales and sensor types.Christiana Ade\, Postdoctoral Researcher\, NASA JPL \n\n\n\nUsing drones to assess natural enemy impacts in aquatic systemsAssessing the impact of biological control agents in aquatic systems is expensive\, time consuming\, and often dangerous. Drone-based remote sensing has potential to collect post-release impact data over a large area quickly\, safely\, and cost-effectively. We will demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool in the water hyacinth system.Usman Mohammed\, Master’s Student\, University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center \n\n\n\neNAS: a new database for eDNA surveillance data of non-native aquatic speciesThe US Geological Survey’s Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database is the leading resource for tracking non-native aquatic species occurrences. Integrating environmental DNA (eDNA) data with traditional sighting records will create a more comprehensive dataset\, offering a clearer understanding of invasive species spread. This presentation will cover the development of community standards for incorporating eDNA data into the database\, as well as the implementation of this innovative surveillance tool for early detection of invasive species nationwide.Dr. Wesley M. Daniel\, Supervisory Fish Biologist\, USGS’s Wetland and Aquatic Research Center \n\n\n\nNew targets: Parrots feather\, yellow floating heart\, European frogbit and water soldierAquatic weeds continue to invade water systems in North America\, having negative socio-economic impacts as well as negatively impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This presentation aims to raise awareness and give a brief update on the progress of the biological control programs on four new targets. These include\, parrots feather\, Myriophyllum aquaticum\, yellow floating heart\, Nymphoides peltata\, European frogbit\, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and water soldier\, Stratiotes aloides.Philip Weyl\, Team Leader Weed Biological Control\, CABI & Nathan Harms\, Research Biologist\, Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch\, USACE \n\n\n\nUpdate on water chestnut biocontrolWe will summarize the results of pre-release studies of Galerucella birmanica\, the leaf feeding beetle being evaluated for biocontrol of water chestnut. In addition to reviewing the host-specificity of this specialist herbivore\, we will touch on broader ecological relationships that we have investigating with this species.Wade Simmons\, PhD Candidate\, Cornell University \n\n\n\nBiological control of duckweeds: host specificity and impact of selected insect herbivores from Louisiana and CaliforniaLemna minuta\, native to North America but invasive in Europe\, threatens freshwater ecosystems. Investigations in its native range identified two potential biocontrol agents: the weevil Tanysphyrus lemnae and the fly Lemnaphila scotlandae. Host-specificity tests revealed that their host range includes duckweed species native to Europe\, rendering them unsuitable as biological control agents for L. minuta.Dr. Flaminia Mariani\, Louisiana State University URL:https://naisma.org/event/annual-biocontrol-summit-2/ CATEGORIES:Summit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/summitnew2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250115T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250115T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T072010 CREATED:20241016T134545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250107T175606Z UID:124132-1736946000-1736949600@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Progress Towards a Model Legal Package for NAISMA’s Weed Free Products Program DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Stephanie Showalter Otts\, Director of the National Sea Grant Law Center and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law.As the North American Invasive Species Management Association’s Weed Free Products (WFP) program expands across the country\, legal and policy barriers have emerged that limit implementation. To advance the WFP standards\, the National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) at the University of Mississippi School of Law is collaborating with NAISMA to create a model legal package for state noxious weed programs focused on pathway prevention through certified weed free forage\, gravel\, and mulch. The three-year project\, which launched in January 2023\, is supported by the U.S. Department of Interior with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. During the first phase of the project\, the NSGLC compiled an inventory of state invasive plant statutes\, regulations\, and policies nationwide and conducted an analysis of six priority policy attributes. In the next phase\, the NSGLC will be conducting a gap analysis to assess state authority to implement WFP programs. The inventory and findings from the gap analysis will provide the foundation for the development of the model legal package in the third phase of the project. In this special session\, the NSGLC will provide an overview of the project and present findings from the inventory and gap analysis. In addition\, the NSGLC will solicit participant input on research findings and the proposed approach to development of the model legal framework through interactive polling or similar technology. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStephanie Showalter Otts is the Director of the National Sea Grant Law Center and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Stephanie graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in History and received a joint J.D./Masters of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 2001. Stephanie began her career at the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2002 as the National Sea Grant Law Center’s first staff attorney (research counsel). Prior to joining the University of Mississippi\, Stephanie served as a Law Clerk for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in Wilkes-Barre\, Pennsylvania. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Mississippi. As Director\, Stephanie oversees a variety of legal education\, research\, and outreach activities addressing ocean and coastal law issues. She conducts legal research and provides technical assistance to organizations and governmental agencies on a variety of topics\, including aquaculture\, fisheries\, invasive species\, and coastal development. Stephanie also teaches a foundational course on ocean and coastal law at the University of Mississippi School of Law and serves as the co-coach of the Pace Environmental Law Moot Court team. Her research on natural resources\, marine\, and environmental law issues has been published in a variety of publications. Stephanie has conducted extensive research on marine and freshwater invasive species. Recent relevant publications include “Confronting the Marine Invasive Species Threat: Practical and Legal Challenges” in Climate Change Impacts on Ocean and Coastal Law: U.S. and International Perspectives (2014) and “Legislative and Regulatory Efforts to Minimize Expansion of Invasive Mussels through Watercraft Movements” in the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy (Summer 2013). URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-progress-towards-a-model-legal-package-for-naismas-weed-free-products-program/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/webinar23232323.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR