Abstract
The establishment and invasion of non-native plant species have the ability to alter the composition of native species and functioning of ecological systems with financial costs resulting from mitigation and loss of ecological services. Spatially documenting invasions has applications for management and theory, but the utility of maps is challenged by availability and uncertainty of data, and the reliability of extrapolating mapped data in time and space. The extent and resolution of projections also impact the ability to inform invasive species science and management. Early invasive species maps were coarse-grained representations that underscored the phenomena, but had limited capacity to direct management aside from development of watch lists for priorities for prevention and containment. Integrating mapped data sets with fine-resolution environmental variables in the context of species-distribution models allows a description of species-environment relationships and an understanding of how, why, and where invasions may occur. As with maps, the extent and resolution of models impact the resulting insight. Models of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) across a variety of spatial scales and grain result in divergent species-environment relationships. New data can improve models and efficiently direct further inventories. Mapping can target areas of greater model uncertainty or the bounds of modeled distribution to efficiently refine models and maps. This iterative process results in dynamic, living maps capable of describing the ongoing process of species invasions.
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Acknowledgments
We thank our many co-workers of the past several years, especially Greg Newman, Jim Graham, Sara Simonson, and Jeff Morisette. Logistical and data support were provided by the USGS Fort Collins and Northern Rocky Mountain Science Centers; the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University; and the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee members. This research was supported by USDA CSREES/NRI 2008-35615-04666, the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Upper Snake River Basin Sage-grouse Working Group. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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Barnett, D.T., Jarnevich, C., Chong, G.W., Stohlgren, T.J., Kumar, S., Holcombe, T. (2017). Ecology and Space: A Case Study in Mapping Harmful Invasive Species. In: Brunn, S., Dodge, M. (eds) Mapping Across Academia. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1011-2_4
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