Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program Active
Lake Trout
Glacier National Park
New Zealand Mud Snails
Redwood National Park
American Bullfrogs
Yellowstone River Basin
Northern Pike
Southcentral Alaska
Chytrid Fungus
Montana
Researchers at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center's Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program work extensively with federal, state, tribal, regional, and local partners to deliver science to improve early detection and prevention of invasive species and disease; understand complex interactions that promote invasive species and disease, and their impacts (and associated uncertainties); develop robust models to predict invasion risk, spread and vulnerability for planning and mitigation; and deliver decision support tools to help stakeholders prevent, prepare, and manage invasive species and disease across the West. NOROCK has extensive experience collaborating with resource managers across diverse ecosystems ranging from arid lands, to mountainous landscapes, to alpine environments throughout the western United States, including Alaska.
Invasive species can include plants (Eurasian watermilfoil), animals (quagga mussel), and emerging infectious diseases (amphibian chytrid fungus). Identifying factors associated with invasion dynamics and risks to aquatic ecosystems and economies is critical for (1) prevention and early detection; (2) developing effective mitigation strategies to suppress, eradicate, or arrest further spread of invasive species and disease; and (3) identifying habitats and populations that are vulnerable to invasive species and disease. This work is particularly urgent as invasive species can rapidly expand their ranges or increase disease transmission under shifting climatic conditions, such as periodic drought, in the western United States.
Land and water managers are often overwhelmed with persistent threats and impacts of invasive species and disease on ecologically, economically, and socially important natural resources. Despite considerable monitoring and advances in awareness and prevention of the spread of invasive species and disease, there remains a lack of direct applications where data and information are integrated in a common framework to better understand the processes and impacts of to inform mitigation actions. Development and validation of tools to effectively prioritize management actions is imperative for managers to quickly and cost-effectively combat the ecological and economic threats of invasive species and disease.
Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program
NOROCK conducts applied research and monitoring to improve understanding of invasive species and disease risks and impacts on human and natural systems in the West through coordinated and multidisciplinary data collection, synthesis, analysis, predictions and decision-support generated from multi-agency partnerships. NOROCK’s Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program’s Core Capabilities include:
Data collection and integration
- Monitor invasive species and disease through field-based and molecular (e.g., environmental DNA) data observation and monitoring networks that maximize spatial and temporal coverage
- Develop and advance new invasive monitoring tools and technologies
- Facilitate citizen science for crowdsourced data related to invasive detection
Understanding processes and impacts
- Synthesize large datasets and models to understand invasive drivers, ecosystem responses and interactions with human uses and climatic events, such as extreme drought
- Develop robust models to predict invasion risk and vulnerability for decision making
- Examine and synthesize ecological impacts of invasive species and disease for on-the-ground conservation management
Planning and decision-support
- Predict future invasion risk and vulnerability on species and ecosystems with comprehensive understanding of invasion and disease processes, impacts, and recovery times
- Deliver decision-support guides that link research, monitoring, forecasting and early warning with risk planning and management
- Provide technical assistance to address stakeholders’ needs
- Create and deliver multimedia to communicate with stakeholders, policymakers, and the public
These core capabilities allow NOROCK to assist our management partners in creating information-based frameworks for combating invasive species and disease, and mitigating impacts on livelihoods, ecosystems, and the economy. Prioritizing approaches, populations and landscapes for action will ultimately increase the cost-effectiveness of invasive species and disease management and allow for greater capacity of enhancing ecosystems.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
RAD sequencing yields a high success rate for westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout species-diagnostic SNP assays
Seasonal movements of non-native lake trout in a connected lake and river system
Founding population size of an aquatic invasive species
Effects of amphibian chytrid fungus on individual survival probability in wild boreal toads
Low prevalence of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibians of U.S. headwater streams
Distribution limits of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: a case study in the Rocky Mountains, USA
Using bioenergetics modeling to estimate consumption of native juvenile salmonids by nonnative northern pike in the Upper Flathead River System, Montana
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) invasion and the spread of hybridization with native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Overview
Researchers at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center's Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program work extensively with federal, state, tribal, regional, and local partners to deliver science to improve early detection and prevention of invasive species and disease; understand complex interactions that promote invasive species and disease, and their impacts (and associated uncertainties); develop robust models to predict invasion risk, spread and vulnerability for planning and mitigation; and deliver decision support tools to help stakeholders prevent, prepare, and manage invasive species and disease across the West. NOROCK has extensive experience collaborating with resource managers across diverse ecosystems ranging from arid lands, to mountainous landscapes, to alpine environments throughout the western United States, including Alaska.
Invasive species can include plants (Eurasian watermilfoil), animals (quagga mussel), and emerging infectious diseases (amphibian chytrid fungus). Identifying factors associated with invasion dynamics and risks to aquatic ecosystems and economies is critical for (1) prevention and early detection; (2) developing effective mitigation strategies to suppress, eradicate, or arrest further spread of invasive species and disease; and (3) identifying habitats and populations that are vulnerable to invasive species and disease. This work is particularly urgent as invasive species can rapidly expand their ranges or increase disease transmission under shifting climatic conditions, such as periodic drought, in the western United States.
Land and water managers are often overwhelmed with persistent threats and impacts of invasive species and disease on ecologically, economically, and socially important natural resources. Despite considerable monitoring and advances in awareness and prevention of the spread of invasive species and disease, there remains a lack of direct applications where data and information are integrated in a common framework to better understand the processes and impacts of to inform mitigation actions. Development and validation of tools to effectively prioritize management actions is imperative for managers to quickly and cost-effectively combat the ecological and economic threats of invasive species and disease.
Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program
NOROCK conducts applied research and monitoring to improve understanding of invasive species and disease risks and impacts on human and natural systems in the West through coordinated and multidisciplinary data collection, synthesis, analysis, predictions and decision-support generated from multi-agency partnerships. NOROCK’s Western Waters Invasive Species and Disease Research Program’s Core Capabilities include:
Data collection and integration
- Monitor invasive species and disease through field-based and molecular (e.g., environmental DNA) data observation and monitoring networks that maximize spatial and temporal coverage
- Develop and advance new invasive monitoring tools and technologies
- Facilitate citizen science for crowdsourced data related to invasive detection
Understanding processes and impacts
- Synthesize large datasets and models to understand invasive drivers, ecosystem responses and interactions with human uses and climatic events, such as extreme drought
- Develop robust models to predict invasion risk and vulnerability for decision making
- Examine and synthesize ecological impacts of invasive species and disease for on-the-ground conservation management
Planning and decision-support
- Predict future invasion risk and vulnerability on species and ecosystems with comprehensive understanding of invasion and disease processes, impacts, and recovery times
- Deliver decision-support guides that link research, monitoring, forecasting and early warning with risk planning and management
- Provide technical assistance to address stakeholders’ needs
- Create and deliver multimedia to communicate with stakeholders, policymakers, and the public
These core capabilities allow NOROCK to assist our management partners in creating information-based frameworks for combating invasive species and disease, and mitigating impacts on livelihoods, ecosystems, and the economy. Prioritizing approaches, populations and landscapes for action will ultimately increase the cost-effectiveness of invasive species and disease management and allow for greater capacity of enhancing ecosystems.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 13 - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 44RAD sequencing yields a high success rate for westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout species-diagnostic SNP assays
Hybridization with introduced rainbow trout threatens most native westslope cutthroat trout populations. Understanding the genetic effects of hybridization and introgression requires a large set of high-throughput, diagnostic genetic markers to inform conservation and management. Recently, we identified several thousand candidate single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers based on RAD sequencingAuthorsStephen J. Amish, Paul A. Hohenlohe, Sally Painter, Robb F. Leary, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Fred W. Allendorf, Gordon LuikartSeasonal movements of non-native lake trout in a connected lake and river system
Non-native lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), threaten native salmonid populations in the western United States. Effective management of lake trout requires understanding movements within connected lake and river systems. This study determined the seasonal movements of subadult lake trout in the Flathead River upstream of Flathead Lake, Montana, USA using radio telemetry. The spatiotemporAuthorsClint C. Muhlfeld, J. Joseph Giersch, Brian MarotzFounding population size of an aquatic invasive species
Non-native species of fish threaten native fishes throughout North America, and in the Rocky Mountains, introduced populations of lake trout threaten native populations of bull trout. Effective management of lake trout and other exotic species require understanding the dynamics of invasion in order to either suppress non-native populations or to prevent their spread. In this study, we used microsaAuthorsSteven T. Kalinowski, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Christopher S. Guy, Benjamin CoxEffects of amphibian chytrid fungus on individual survival probability in wild boreal toads
Chytridiomycosis is linked to the worldwide decline of amphibians, yet little is known about the demographic effects of the disease. We collected capture-recapture data on three populations of boreal toads (Bufo boreas [Bufo = Anaxyrus]) in the Rocky Mountains (U.S.A.). Two of the populations were infected with chytridiomycosis and one was not. We examined the effect of the presence of amphibian cAuthorsD. S. Pilliod, E. Muths, R. D. Scherer, P.E. Bartelt, P. S. Corn, B. R. Hossack, B.A. Lambert, R. Mccaffery, C. GaughanLow prevalence of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibians of U.S. headwater streams
Many declines of amphibian populations have been associated with chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the aquatic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite the relatively high prevalence of chytridiomycosis in stream amphibians globally, most surveys in North America have focused primarily on wetland-associated species, which are frequently infected. To better understand the distributioAuthorsBlake R. Hossack, M. J. Adams, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Chistopher A. Pearl, James B. Bettaso, William J. Barichivich, Winsor H. Lowe, Kimberly True, Joy L. Ware, Paul Stephen CornDistribution limits of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: a case study in the Rocky Mountains, USA
Knowledge of the environmental constraints on a pathogen is critical to predicting its dynamics and effects on populations. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), an aquatic fungus that has been linked with widespread amphibian declines, is ubiquitous in the Rocky Mountains. As part of assessing the distribution limits of Bd in our study area, we sampled the water column and sediments for Bd zoosporAuthorsBlake R. Hossack, Erin L. Muths, Chauncey W. Anderson, Julie D. Kirshtein, P. Stephen CornUsing bioenergetics modeling to estimate consumption of native juvenile salmonids by nonnative northern pike in the Upper Flathead River System, Montana
Introductions of nonnative northern pike Esox lucius have created recreational fisheries in many waters in the United States and Canada, yet many studies have shown that introduced northern pike may alter the composition and structure of fish communities through predation. We estimated the abundance of nonnative northern pike (2002-2003) and applied food habits data (1999-2003) to estimate their aAuthorsC.C. Muhlfeld, D.H. Bennett, Steinhorst R. Kirk, B. Marotz, M. BoyerRainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) invasion and the spread of hybridization with native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)
We analyzed 13 microsatellite loci to estimate gene flow among westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi, populations and determine the invasion pattern of hybrids between native O. c. lewisi and introduced rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, in streams of the upper Flathead River system, Montana (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Fourteen of 31 sites lacked evidence of O. mykiss inAuthorsM.C. Boyer, C.C. Muhlfeld, F.W. Allendorf - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.