Climate Change Websites

Climate change and global change in general raise serious questions for national park managers. Research in these areas helps generate information that will prove useful in addressing management concerns. Visit these websites to learn more about current and recent global and climate change research.

U.S. Global Change Research Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Climate Change Website

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Society of Wetland Scientists 
Annual Meeting, 2009

Madison, Wisconsin
SYMPOSIUM 5 Genetics and Ecology of Cattail Invasions: Implications for Wetland Management

For abstract details see: http://www.birenheide.com/sws/2009/program/singlesession.php3?sessionid=5

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Western Great Lakes Research Conference

The Western Great Lakes Research Conference provides a forum for information and idea sharing between researchers, managers, and interpreters of national parks and other public lands throughout the Western Great Lakes area. This conference provides an opportunity for participants to share current research, monitoring, and management issues affecting parks and protected areas.

 

For proceedings from 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009, visit:

http://www.cesu.umn.edu/conferences/WGLC/wglc2009/Index_2009.html

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Key to Invasive Bittersweet Now Available

One of the best ways to combat invasive species is by identifying small infestations and removing them. One invader threatening Midwestern ecosystems is oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Unfortunately, this invasive plant can be easily confused with American bittersweet, a native and non-invasive plant.  After studying both species,  Dr. Noel Pavlovic, Dr. Stacey Leicht Young, Dr. Ralph Grundel, and Krystalynn  Frohnapple, all of the U.S.G.S. Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, have developed a key that will prove helpful to managers trying to distinguish the two plants. The bittersweet key is available on the U.S.G.S.  Great Lakes Science Center’s publication website.

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Thinking Differently About E.coli

Scientists and managers improve their ability to protect the health of swimmers through better science-based management and an increased understanding of contaminants and local conditions. This article highlights lessons learned from research on bacteria monitoring and summarizes research findings that may be of interest to public beach managers and swimmers alike.

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Purple Loosestrife Volunteer Program Report
Dr. Beth Middleton, U.S.G.S. National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, Louisiana

February 17, 2005

As a follow-up to the GLREC-USGS purple loosestrife workshop in 2003, I wanted to inform you that a number of people have volunteered to help collect data on purple loosestrife for the program. More than 25 people volunteered during the workshop. As part of a cascade effect, after the workshop at least 5 additional people were recruited by people from the workshop to help with the research. Several inquiries have been made by school groups and others to help with the research in 2005. The data collected by volunteers have been tremendously useful to my research program. As an added benefit, volunteers who become involved in the program become better informed about the purple loosestrife problem, so that the program is of benefit in creating a well informed public. Volunteers also have the satisfaction of knowing that they have contributed to a worldwide research program involving people from many countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America (including Canada).

For more information, see the purple loosestrife volunteer website.

 

Latitudinal Variation in Height and Seed Set of Purple Loosestrife Volunteer Program
Beth Middleton, U.S.G.S. National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA USA
Poster (239k pdf)

 

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Purple Loosestrife Workshop
Portage, Indiana
April 19, 2004

The GLREC sponsored a purple loosestrife management and education workshop in Portage, Indiana. The event was designed to provide information and educational tools to assisting mangers in control of this highly invasive species. The following presentations were shared:

USGS Purple Loosestrife Research and Data Collection
by Noel Pavlovic

Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife
USDA APHIS PPQ CHPST
by Amy Roda & Marjorie Guilford

Purple Loosestrife Control
Galerucella Beetle Rearing Project
Save the Dunes Conservation Fund
NiSource

Progress Update: Indiana Purple Loosestrife Biological Control
Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Purple Loosestrife
Wisconsin Wetlands Association

Wetland Restoration Following Purple Loosestrife Removal
Dan Mason

Legislation and Prohibited Plants
Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Purple Loosestrife
Control Coffee Creek Watershed
Conversancy and JFNew

United States Steel Corporation
Purple Loosestrife Management Program
Margaret A. Zak

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Purple Loosestrife Workshop Report and Summary
August 29-30, 2003

The GLREC held a purple loosestrife management and education workshop in Spooner, Wisconsin. Six federal, state, and nonprofit organizations presented pertinent information and educational tools for assisting mangers in control of this highly invasive species. The workshop summary is presented in pdf format.

View the following slide show on purple loosestrife: "Purple Loosestrife: Purple Scourge of North America" (2.41mb pdf).

 

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