Invasive Species

Invasive species impact rangelands with respect to productivity, diversity, value for other rangeland uses, and access to users. Invasive species may be diseases like West Nile virus that stress populations of birds, or invasive plants like cheatgrass that reduce land productivity, diversity of plant communities, and fire return intervals. Invasive species are a persistent and growing threat to the sustainability of Idaho’s rangelands, incurring millions of dollars per year in management costs and economic losses. Stakeholders identified the need for coordination of additional research, continued work on communicating via education and outreach, and increased collaboration related to invasive species management. 

Project list

Aerial herbicide applications for invasive annual grass and rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) control

Project Leads: Tim Prather (UI-Extension), Lisa Jones (UI-CALS), Will Hatler 

Creating a habitat suitability model for Turkish thistle and GIS tools in support of eradication efforts

Project Leads: Tim Prather (UI-Extension) 

Creating strategies for management of invasive perennial grasses to enhance camas survival

Project Leads: Tim Prather (UI-Extension) 

Publications

Visit the University of Idaho VERSO page for a full list of invasive species publications from Rangeland Center Members

  • Harrison, G. R., Jones, L. C., Ellsworth, L. M., Strand, E. K., & Prather, T. S. (2024). Cheatgrass alters flammability of native perennial grasses in laboratory combustion experiments. Fire Ecology, 20(1), . https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-024-00338-z
  • Helmstetter, N. A., Conway, C. J., Roberts, S., Adams, J. R., Makela, P. D., & Waits, L. P. (2024). Predator‐specific mortality of sage‐grouse nests based on predator DNA on eggshells. Ecology and Evolution, 14(10), . https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70213
  • Bradshaw, C. J. A., Hulme, P. E., Hudgins, E. J., Leung, B., Kourantidou, M., Courtois, P., Turbelin, A. J., McDermott, S. M., Lee, K., Ahmed, D. A., Latombe, G., Bang, A., Bodey, T. W., Haubrock, P. J., Saltré, F., & Courchamp, F. (2024). Damage costs from invasive species exceed management expenditure in nations experiencing lower economic activity. Ecological Economics, 220(), . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108166
  • Young, A. C., & Johnson, T. N. (2024). Expanding and invading plant species in sagebrush steppe affect multiple aspects of small‐mammal ecology. The Journal of Wildlife Management, . https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22548
  • De Stefano, A., Mealor, B. A., Jones, L. C., Lehnhoff, E. A., Mangold, J. M., Prather, T., Ransom, C. V., & Rew, L. J. (2024). Plot-Measured Variables Indicate Landscape-Scale Patterns of Annual Grass Invasion in Northwestern US Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 92, 90–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2023.10.003