Fire Effects Information

Invasive Plants

FEIS provides updated scientific and technical information about interactions between fire and plant species that have been identified as invasive in at least some locations. Most of the species on this list are nonnative in the United States. These species reviews include as much information as was available at the time of publication on:

• The role of fire in enabling plant invasions
• Altered fire regimes following plant invasion
• The use of fire to control plant invasions
• Background information on taxonomy, species distribution, basic biology and ecology, and management

Invasive species summaries:

• FEIS Invasive Plants List

Information about fire and nonnative and invasive species is often sparse in the scientific literature. Also, the source of the information given may be unclear, making it difficult to judge the reliability or scope of inference of this information. Two analyses of knowledge gaps regarding fire and invasive species are available in FEIS:

Gucker, Corey; Zouhar, Kris; Stone, Katharine; Smith, Jane Kapler. 2011. Gaps in knowledge about fire and invasive plants in the eastern United States. Joint Fire Science Program: Project 08-1-2-04. Unpublished report on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 14 p.

Zouhar, Kristin; Munger, Gregory T.; Smith, Jane Kapler. 2008. Gaps in scientific knowledge about fire and nonnative invasive plants. In: Zouhar, Kristin; Smith, Jane Kapler; Sutherland, Steve; Brooks, Matthew L., eds. Wildland fire in ecosystems: Fire and nonnative invasive plants. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 6. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 243-260.

Some other sites with information on biology and control of invasive species:

Center for Invasive Plant Management	Provides information and opportunities to promote ecology-based management of weeds in western North America
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health	Archives high-quality images of invasive species to be used for educational purposes also provides links to many other invasive species websites, management guides, and distribution maps
Guide to Natural Enemies in North America	Contains photographs and descriptions of biological control agents in North America
Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System	Delivers up-to-date distributions of invasive plants by soliciting volunteer observations and combining data from other databases and organizations
Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants	Conducts and publishes research on how invasive species can or are impacting native ecosystems and species
Extension Toxicology Network	Gives information about pesticides, developed by extension service toxicologists and chemists
Global Invasive Species Team	Features links to the websites that house species management abstracts, management plans, and photos produced by the Nature Conservancy's invasive species staff
Invaders Database System	Provides and maintains updated distribution information for invasive species occurring in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England	Focuses on gathering and providing data that facilitate early detection and rapid management responses of invasive plants
National Agricultural Pest Information System	Stores and manages pest survey data, publishes pest survey maps, and provides links to pest news and information
National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils	Provides links to regional and state EPPCs, which are designed to connect natural resource managers, scientists, and others interested in sharing tools for the management of invasive plant populations
National Park Service	Focuses on information useful to the management of invasive species occurring in National Parks
Plants Database	Provides standarized information about North American plants that includes images, characteristics, taxonomy, distribution data, legal status, and relevant references
United States Environmental Protection Agency	Describes the actitivity, restrictions, and risks associated with pesticides
United States Fish and Wildlife Service	Provides management and program information about invasive species that do or may impact fish, wildlife, or native plants
Weeds Gone Wild	Provides information on invasive species that affect natural areas; information includes plant descriptions, native and nonnative distributions, and management options
Weed Science	Gathers and provides information about herbicide-resistant weeds to monitor their evolution and assess their global impacts

FEIS Invasive Plants List FEIS Home	Thanks to the Joint Fire Science Program for supporting this web page and to
	The Nature Conservancy for their partnership on this project