Invasive species
Wildfire
Insects & pathogens
Land use change
Climate change
Threat interactionsInvasive Species
Invasive species are a rapidly expanding threat to wildand ecosystems throughout the Western United States. Invasive species are defined as those that are nonnative (or alien) to the invaded ecosystem and whose introduction is likely to result in economic or environmental harm to human health. (Executive Order 13112). Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes). Human activities are the primary spread agent for invasive species.
WWETAC has a number of projects concerning invasive species. These project include:
Detection, monitoring, and mapping of sudden oak death using hyperspectral imagery
Spatial modeling of invasive plant spread on roads and river networks in Alaska
Pathways and risk assessment of emerald ash borer movement into and within the Western United States
Development of GIS-based maps for the "top 10" invasive weeds in Crook County, Oregon
GMWest: A risk assessment system for gypsy moth introductions in the Pacific Northwest
Web Resources
There are extensive Web resources available to learn more about the spread of invasive species. For instance, the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center is a gateway for information on invasive species covering state, federal, and international information sources. This site also has a comprehensive calendar of invasive species meetings.
