Modeling Distribution of High-Priority Exotic Plant Species
Project ID: J9W88040007
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: University of Washington
Fiscal Year: 2004
Initial Funding: $27,484
Total Funding: $82,484
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Biological
National Park: Olympic National Park
Principal Investigator: Halpern, Charles
Agreement Technical Representative: Acker, Steven
Abstract: Invasive, exotic plant species can disrupt ecosystem processes, degrade habitat for native plants and animals, create health and safety hazards, and damage cultural resources. As a first step in developing a program to monitor exotic plants, we will establish a method for identifying potential habitat locations for several high-priority exotic plant species considered to be most likely to cause ecological damage. We will use datasets on plant distribution already in the geographic information system of Olympic National Park, and acquire other datasets collected over the years within the park by agency and academic researchers. We will summarize the distribution of the exotic plant species, and compare those distributions to existing data on areas of human and natural disturbance. For several exotic plant species known to invade relatively undisturbed forests, we will select from the scientific literature appropriate methods to model distribution, and adapt those models to Olympic National Park.
Deliverables: