PROJECTS of the Invasive Species Information Node (ISIN)

This page provides access to projects of the Invasive Species Information Node and its partners.

The NBII's Invasive Species Information Node (ISIN) and its numerous partners are involved in many research projects to create the components of an Early Detection, Rapid Assessment and Rapid Response system for invasive species. They help us to understand, identify, document or report, monitor, predict, control invasive species and restore invaded habitats. These projects involve extensive data synthesis, literature reviews, original university and governmental research, and research conducted by other NBII nodes. To learn more, choose a research project from the list in the yellow column to the right of this text, or scroll down this page using your mouse and keyboard.

The Global Invasive Species Database

The ISIN and its partner, the Conservation Management Institute (CMI), are working together to develop invasive species profiles for the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). The GISD is maintained by the World Conservation Union's Invasive Species Specialist Group and mirrored online in the United States by the ISIN. The invasive species profiles provide descriptive information about each species including photographs, ecology, distribution, management and control information, references and links, and the contact information of information contributors.

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The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) site

The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) site is a product of the Invasive Species Information Node's partnership with the Center for Aquatic Resource Studies of the Florida Integrated Science Center of the  U.S. Geological Survey.

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Cerro Grande Wildfire / Weed Mapping (NIISS)

The ISIN's partner, the National Institute for Invasive Species Science (NIISS) is working with NASA to create spatial models that use remotely sensed data, field-sampled data, and geostatistical modeling to describe landscape-scale patterns of plant diversity and exotic invasions on the Cerro Grande Wildfire Site, Los Alamos, New Mexico. The number of invasive species was found to be correlated with areas of high native species richness. To learn more about this project, please visit the Cerro Grande Wildfire Site - part of NASA's Invasive Species Forecasting System.

Colorado Invasive Species Mapping

The primary objective of this project is to synthesize data from disparate sources into a geodatabase to: (1) illustrate the utility of data synergy; (2) test current modeling methodology; (3) model the probable abundance of non-native species and community vulnerability to invasion in Colorado; and (4) test the same modeling methods for modeling a single species distribution and make this information available to land managers. Read more about this project.

Leafy Spurge Modelling presentation (NIISS)

The Colorado State University's Natural Resources and Ecology Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station Leafy Spurge Modelling presentation (PPT).

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Tamarix Cooperative Mapping Initiative (NIISS)

The Tamarix Cooperative Mapping Iniative (T-Map) is a cooperative partnership designed to combat the invasion of Tamarix species into North American landscapes. The primary mission is to provide real-time accurate locational information on current Tamarix populations / infestations. The aim is to provide a 'bulletin board' like setting in which trusted land managers, scientists, and concerned public may contribute data about known occurrences. T-Map is a sophisticated internet mapping application that allows users to submit data about Tamarix infestations remotely. To learn more, visit the T-Map Web site.

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Discover Life

Invasive Species Page
The ISIN and Discover Life have developed various invasive species tools that can be accessed via the Web page, which is kindly hosted by Discover Life. These tools include information, a reporting system, and database for the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid; a Showcase Community Mapping Project from the Concord Public Works, in Massachusetts; and distribution maps for five species of invasive ant (Yellow Crazy Ant, Argentine Ant, Tropical Fire Ant, Red Imported Fire Ant, and the Little Fire Ant).

Invasive Species List
The ISIN and Discover Life are developing an Invasive Species Identification Guide and Checklist of North American Invasive species. The list includes algae, arachnids (spiders), bacteria, crustaceans, fungi, insects, plants, platyhelminthes (e.g. worms), protists (e.g. slime moulds), and vertebrates (e.g. amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, etc.). The species names in this list are linked to photos, maps, and other descriptive information (where available) that has been gathered from numerous reputable sources like the Global Invasive Species Database, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and many others.

Invasive Species Identification Guide
The ISIN and Discover Life are also developing an interactive online identification guide that helps users to search invasive species lists from various organizations, for information about groups of invasive species such as 'invasive aquatic plants'. The user can select the 'aquatic' checkbox in the Plant Growth Form section of the guide to narrow their search down to just invasive aquatic plants. Use this guide.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Refuge Invasive Species Survey

In 2002-2003 the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Program conducted an electronic survey of all federally designated U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wildlife Refuges to assess the current status and management of invasive non-native plant species, non-indigenous animals and diseases of plants and animals. The ISIN and its partner, the National Institute of Invasive Species Science (NIISS) worked with the U.S. FWS to carry out this survey. The results of the survey are served on the survey's Web site, which provides access to national, regional, state, refuge, and species level data. Read the project description.

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Wild Boar Control in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The ISIN partner University of Tennesse Chattanooga (UTC) geographic information systems (GIS) research laboratory, working in tandem with wildlife management officers from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), has begun to use GIS to examine twenty-six years of park service efforts to control populations of an invasive species, the exotic European wild boar (Sus scrofa Linneaus). View a powerpoint presentation that further details these research efforts.

Hint! To view a larger version of this map, click on the image below.

Southwest Exotic [Plant] Mapping Project (SWEMP)

The Southwest Exotic Mapping Program (SWEMP) is a USGS Colorado Plateau Field Station (CPFS) program that coordinates the compilation of a regional database of non-native invasive plant distributions for the southwest (Arizona, New Mexico and adjacent areas of adjoining states) and creates maps for those distributions. To learn more about this project visit the SWEMP Web site. The SWEMP is a component of the Southwest Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse (SWEPIC).

Invasive Species Experts Database

A database of invasive species experts is in the works. (An example modeled after the ESA/NBII Ecological Information Network's (EIN) Expert Database advanced search option is currently available at http://ein.nbii.gov/advsrch.html). To search for expertise on "Exotic/Introduced Species" use the Advanced Search option of the Ecological Information Network's (EIN) Expertise Database. Search TIP! First select the Ecological Expertise category, then select the Exotic/Introduced Species expertise subject.

Invasive species lists database Invasive species list databases are being developed. Probable species lists will soon become available for counties, states/provinces, regions, management units (e.g. wildlife refuges, nature preserves, national parks etc.) and the United States (see Invasive Species Lists & Watch Lists).

Invasive species glossary of terms. A detailed glossary of terms related to the study and control of invasive species will become available soon.

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