Incorporating climate change into invasive species management: insights from managers

Beaury, E. M., Fusco, E. J., Jackson, M. R., Laginhas, B. B., Morelli, T. L., Allen, J. M., Pasquarella, V. J., Bradley, B. A. (2019). Incorporating climate change into invasive species management: insights from managers. Biol Invasions. PDF.

Summary

Interactions between invasive species and climate change present new challenges for invasive species management. However, it was unclear what the common concerns, management strategies, limitations, and research needs were for managing invasive species in a changing climate. In a survey of invasive species managers from government, non-profit, and private organizations across the U.S., Beaury et al. (2019) found that the majority of managers were very concerned about the influence of climate change on invasive species management but their organizations were significantly less so. Managers reported that lack of funding and personnel limited their effective management, and lack of information on how to manage presented an added challenge when considering the combination of invasive species and climate change. Even so, 65% of managers reported successfully incorporating climate change into their management, which can be further facilitated by connecting managers across regions and by integrating existing research findings into management strategies. This study shows that if addressed collaboratively, climate change might be an opportunity to increase the efficiency and success of current management efforts.

Take home points

  • Invasive species managers across the U.S. reported a high level of concern about climate change. As a result, many managers reported incorporating climate change into management plans. 

  • Lack of funding, personal, and organizational support is a major limitation to effective invasive species management in the face of climate change.

  • Managers identified the following as high priority research needs: identifying communities resilient to invasions + climate change, identifying range shifting invasive species, and assessing changing effectiveness of treatment methods.

Management implications

The following strategies were identified as ways that managers incorporate climate change into invasive species management:

    • Strategic planning - acquiring new land, improving partnerships across boundaries

    • Preventative management - monitoring for range shifting invasive species, planting native species adapted to warmer temperatures

    • Treatment and control - changing timing of treatment to match shifting flowering times

    • Education and outreach - talking to partners in warmer regions about their problem species and management methods, educating self and staff about the effects of climate change on invasive species

    • We need more opportunities for information exchange about treatment techniques, new problem species, and other resources in order to proactively manage invasive species in a changing climate.

Keywords

Management Efficacy; Risk Assessment