2021 Invasive Lunch
2021 California Invasive Action Week, June 7th-11th
Join us for a scrumptious line-up focused on things YOU can do! Bring your own lunch!
Want to learn more about how ANR researchers Ted Grosholz, Bea Nobua-Behrman, and Sabrina Drill are working with community scientists to investigate and manage invasive species? Check out our special issue of California Agriculture!
Webinars are free, but registration is required for each day. You can find the link to register just below the presenter information.
Monday, June 7th
Community Science to Manage Green Crabs
For a deep dive into this work, read and follow links in “When ‘Eradicated’ Species Bounce Back with a Vengeance”
Non-native invasive pests threatened coastal ecosystems worldwide. Managing these pests requires considerable effort and resources, and community scientists can be essential for providing the capacity needed. In response to the invasion of a Northern California estuary by the predatory European green crab, listed among the world’s 100 worst invaders, a collaborative team of academic researchers and community scientists initiated a local eradication program. The program dramatically reduced the green crab population over a 5-year period, but it rebounded, which necessitated a switch in project goals from eradication to population suppression. Community scientists were essential to quantify population characteristics and maintain reduced crab populations.
Tuesday June 8th
Weeds After Wildfire and What YOU Can Do to Help!
The Santa Monica Mountains suffered a wildfire in 2018 that burned close to half of the mountain range and 88% of its National Park Service (NPS) land. Joseph Algiers will describe how the NPS has been controlling weeds that threaten native recovery in burn areas in the most demanding and ambitious local invasive plant control project to date. Early Detection / Rapid Response (EDRR) is a critical part of this work.
Wednesday June 9th
Eyes on the Lake – Leveraging the power of citizen science to Keep Tahoe Blue
Millions of people recreating at Lake Tahoe can protect while they play by joining Keep Tahoe Blue’s citizen science programs like Eyes on the Lake. Learn how these efforts by volunteers can complement Tahoe’s Environmental Improvement Program to manage aquatic invasive species and engage a vast range of visitors and locals in shared stewardship.
Thursday, June 10th
Can participatory science help to monitor invasive shothole borers?
To dive deeper into all things invasive shot hole borer click here.
Some pests are easier to observe and recognize than others. Pests that spend most of their lives inside a tree are a special challenge, since we rarely see them and must rely on signs and symptoms to determine if the tree is infested. Such is the case of the invasive shothole borers: tiny invasive beetles that tunnel into trees and vector a tree disease called Fusarium dieback. These beetles are responsible for the decline and death of thousands of trees in Southern California. Detecting infestations early is key for successful management and to prevent the spread of this dangerous pest. Given the challenges of accurately identifying infestations, can participatory science with volunteer observers still be a good tool to monitor for this pest?
Friday June 11th
The Invasive Spartina Project: Restoring Native Tidal Marsh Habitat and Promoting Resilience in a Changing Bay Ecosystem
Nestled at the center of a 5-million-person metropolis, the San Francisco Bay’s saltmarshes and tidal mudflats provide unique habitat for a range of wildlife, from resident shorebirds to migrating waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway. The State Coastal Conservancy established the Invasive Spartina Project as a coordinated regional effort among local, state, and federal organizations to protect these extraordinary biological resources by eliminating introduced species of Spartina (cordgrass) that crowd out native vegetation and change shoreline dynamics.
