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February 2, 2005
NASA RESEARCH TO AID FEDERAL INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL EFFORTS
NASA recently accepted an invitation to join the National Invasive Species Council (NISC). NASA, in a research capacity, will assist 12 other
federal agencies’ efforts to combat invasive species across the country.
An invasive species is an organism, such as a microbe, plant or animal, which entered America through natural processes or with human assistance
and whose presence poses a threat to public health or the economy. One example, Salt Cedar, is an invasive plant widespread in the western United
States. It replaced native species and may have significant negative effects on water resources.
“NASA is pleased with this invitation from NISC. The agency is eager to continue our active engagement in applied research projects whose
results advance management of invasive species,” said Edwin Sheffner, manager of the invasive species program element in the Applied Sciences
Program at NASA Headquarters. “Efforts to manage invasive species annually cost the country tens of billions of dollars,” he said.
NASA will enhance partner’s abilities to respond effectively and efficiently to invasive species’ challenges. NASA provides Earth
observations and predictive models resulting from space research and systems engineering expertise. NASA’s track record of achievement in
invasive species monitoring led to the invitation to join the Council.
An example of NASA’s impact is work completed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on invasive species in Utah’s Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The USGS improved the accuracy and timeliness of predictive maps of invasive species in the Monument with
enhancements to decision support tools from NASA data, predictive models and systems engineering.
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from NASA’s Terra satellite provides daily information about vegetation
conditions. Statistical models applied by USGS, with NASA’s assistance, convert MODIS and other data sources into predictive maps of plant
species distribution. The USGS is incorporating NASA’s research capabilities to improve the national response to invasive species through the
National Invasive Species Forecasting System (NISFS).
The NISC coordinates federal responses to harmful invasive species. NISC is a cabinet level council established by Executive Order in 1999. The
NISC provides leadership and ensures complementary, cost-efficient, effective federal activities regarding invasive species. NISC depends on
cooperation from local, state, tribal, private and public partners to perform its mission.
The NISC Web site is the gateway to federal efforts concerning invasive species. Users can learn about the impact of invasive species, and the
government’s response; read profiles about specific species; find links to agencies and organizations that handle invasive species issues. To
access the NISC gateway on the Web, visit:
http://www.invasivespecies.gov
The NISFS is an on-line tool for users to combine information about the local presence of an invasive species with observations and predictive
model output from NASA and other sources. The model can generate a regional view of the distribution of the species and predict where it is likely to
spread. The NISFS will provide on-demand, regional-scale assessments of invasive species patterns and vulnerable habitats. The information is vital
for detection, remediation, and management of invasive species.
For more information and resources about this story on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/ invasive_agreement.html
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
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Contacts:
Gretchen Cook-Anderson
Headquarters, Washington
Phone: 202/358-0836
Anna Cherry
National Invasive Species Council, Washington
Phone: 202/354-1891
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Tamarisk Invades the Western U.S.
One example of an invasive species that is damaging our natural areas and resources in the Western United States is the tamarisk plant, also known
as “salt cedar.” This video shows a stream-side area that has been infested by tamarisk. All the light green vegetation you see in this
drainage is salt cedar. Credit: NASA.
Tamarisk Invading Stream Beds
Some invasive species pose an immediate threat to our natural resources because of the speed with which they are spreading. This animation
highlights some estimates that the invasive plant tamarisk is spreading down stream beds as fast as 12 miles a year. Credit: NPS
Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed or Cartwheel-Flower is a relative of the carrot and parsley family. It can reach a height of 15 to 20 feet when flowering. The plant
has hollow stems, 2 to 4 inches around with dark reddish-purple spots and bristles. The growing season starts in late March, with full height and
flowering being reached in late June and July. The umbrella-shaped flower heads of giant hogweed can measure up to 2.5 feet in diameter across a flat
top. Click on image to enlarge. Credit: InvasiveSpecies.gov and Donna R. Ellis, U of CT
Sudden Oak Death
The Fungus that Causes It: Phytophthora ramorum is a fungus that causes the disease known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD). Depending on the plant
species, its infection may occur on the trunk, branches, and/or leaves of a tree. Infections on the woody portions of a tree are referred to as
cankers. Cankers on the trunk of oak and tanoak trees are the most damaging, and often lead to death. This fungus thrives in cool, wet climates.
Click on image to enlarge. Credit: Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service
Gypsy Moth
The Gypsy moth is highly destructive to trees. Pictured here are the adult European/North American female (top) and male (bottom). Introduced in
Massachusetts in 1869, the Gypsy moth is a plain-looking insect, usually noticeable in its caterpillar stage. A female moth lays a cluster of eggs on
and near trees, and each cluster can hatch up to a thousand tiny caterpillars. They are one of the most destructive leaf eaters of hard and softwood
trees, and feed on over 500 species of trees and shrubs. Click on image to enlarge. Credit: USDA APHIS PPQ
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