Tools - Distribution: data standards and analytical tools

Anatrack Ltd is a spin-out from the United Kingdom’s Natural Environment Research Council’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (NERC-CEH). Founded in 2000, its primary purpose has been to develop and market ecological software designed in NERC-CEH, with a particular interest in the development of specialist GIS software for modelling animal populations in relation to human impacts and especially changing land-use. Anatrack now also conducts research more widely on environmental topics, mostly for the European Commission.

This section of the asparagus weeds manual provides information on asparagus fern (Asparagus scandens), such as distribution, ecology, history of introduction, method of dispersal, legal status, control methods, and life cycle.

This section of the asparagus weeds manual provides information on climbing asparagus (Asparagus africanus), such as distribution, ecology, history of introduction, method of dispersal, legal status, control methods, and life cycle.

Section 1 of this manual outlines the ecology and threat of athel pine, tamarisk and smallflower tamarisk. Section 2 discusses proven control options and talks about how to plan and prioritise work and deliver a program which leads to eradication. Section 3 showcases successful Australian and overseas programs against these weeds. Section 4 gives useful links, contact numbers and ideas about where to find more information on weed and land management.

A range of mobile applications to engage users with invasive species, forest health, natural resource and agricultural management.

EDDMapS is a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species distribution. Requiring no Geographic Information Systems experience to use. Mobile apps are provided along with resources on training, reporting of invasives and use of the data.

This refers to the process of modelling species distribution, and is also known as niche modelling, predictive habitat distribution modelling, and climate envelope modelling. It uses a range of computer algorithms to predict the distribution of species in geographic space on the basis of a mathematical representation of their known distribution in environmental space. Links to different software and techniques are available at the site given.

Executive Summary NatureServe, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. National Park Service, developed this Invasive Species Assessment Protocol as a tool for assessing, categorizing, and listing non-native invasive vascular plants according to their impact on native species and natural biodiversity in a large geographical area such as a nation, state, province, or ecological region. This protocol is designed to make the process of assessing and listing invasive plants objective and systematic, and to incorporate scientific documentation of the information used to determine each species’ rank. NatureServe’s methodology has previously included assessments of the conservation significance of native species; this protocol extends that scope to non-native species as well. The protocol is used to assess species (or infraspecific taxa, as appropriate) individually for a specified “region of interest” and to assign each species an Invasive Species Impact Rank (I-Rank) of High, Medium, Low, or Insignificant to categorize its negative impact on natural biodiversity within that region. The protocol includes 20 questions, each with four scaled responses (A-D, plus U = unknown). The 20 questions are grouped into four sections: Ecological Impact, Current Distribution and Abundance, Trend in Distribution and Abundance, and Management Difficulty. Each species is assessed by considering these questions, with the answers used to calculate a subrank for each of the four sections. An overall I-Rank is then calculated from the subranks. Text comments and citations to information sources should be provided as documentation for each answer selected, along with a concise text summary of the major considerations leading to the overall rank. While designed for use in a specified large, contiguous, biogeographically diverse region, the protocol can be adapted to specified noncontiguous regions (such as the 50 states of the United States), and may also be applied to assess the impact in the non-native range of a species that is also present elsewhere in a region as a native. NatureServe is now using this protocol to assess the biodiversity impact of the approximately 3,500 non-native vascular plant species established outside cultivation in the United States. The protocol is offered here in generalized form for others who might wish to use it to conduct similar assessments and create lists of invasive plants for other nations, states, provinces, ecological regions, or comparable areas. An Invasive Species Assessment Protocol Page 5.

The website contains a searchable database of information for invasive vertebrate species in Australia and New Zealand. Information includes published and unpublished research, technical reports, legislation and management practices and threat mitigation plans. The website also has information on social issues and animal welfare, as well as an image gallery and PestMaps, which are maps of the distributions and abundances of invasive species. The Bureau of Rural Sciences’ Australian Pest Animal Management Program supported the predecessor of the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (the Pest Animal Control CRC) in cooperation with the University of Canberra to develop a comprehensive, interactive and freely-available website on pest animals. The site aims to make information on past and current research related to invasive animal control readily accessible and to interpret and pull together relevant data to assist users of the site in making management decisions.

The site is structured around a searchable database of information on vertebrate invasive animals in Australia and New Zealand.
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This is the 2nd edition of the Gorse National Best Practice Manual. It is a fully integrated best practice document which includes comprehensive instructions for mapping gorse, planning a control program, undertaking the work and following-up. It is the definitive guide for land managers to inform themselves about how to plan gorse control and ultimately eradicate gorse from their properties and the Australian landscape. The manual describes the latest trailed best practice gorse management, with enough detail in easy-to-understand language to allow land managers to confidently take on eradicating gorse and win.

ID Source is a special collection of over 1,500 identification-themed websites that cover plant pests, diseases, and weeds, a set of links to these 'ID Aids' and a powerful search tool. These web-based ID Aids are selected, thoroughly reviewed and categorized so that users can search for them by pest name, commodity focus, geographic region, and more.

A web-enabled tool to create Simulations for Predicting Colonization of Aquatic Invasive Species.

"Predicting and averting the spread of invasive species is a core focus of resource managers in all ecosystems. Patterns of invasion are difficult to forecast, compounded by a lack of user-friendly species distribution model (SDM) tools to help managers focus control efforts. This paper presents a web-based cellular automata hybrid modeling tool developed to study the invasion pattern of lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) in the western Atlantic and is a natural extension our previous lionfish study. Our goal is to make publically available this hybrid SDM tool and demonstrate both a test case (P. volitans/miles) and a use case (Caulerpa taxifolia). The software derived from the model, titled Invasionsoft, is unique in its ability to examine multiple default or user-defined parameters, their relation to invasion patterns, and is presented in a rich web browser-based GUI with integrated results viewer. The beta version is not species-specific and includes a default parameter set that is tailored to the marine habitat. Invasionsoft is provided as copyright protected freeware at http://www.invasionsoft.com.!

The website offers maps of several invasive species, as well as a list of links to other invasive species sites and resources.

This book describes parthenium weed and provides basic information about its ecology and biology, reproduction and
spread, current distribution, and potential threat. It also provides information on management and control aspects including spread minimisation, pasture management, herbicide use, biological control and health aspects.

This site provides an extensive list of publicly accessible resources that may assist risk assessment procedures.

The database provides information on invasive alien plants in Swaziland, including taxonomical and botanical information, original range, a measure of invasiveness, invasive plant maps and photos. A project was carried out in 2003/2004 by Kate Braun, Sikhumbuzo Dlamini and Titus Dlamini, under the auspices of the Swaziland Environmental Authority, to compile existing data on alien invasive plants of Swaziland. One product of this project was the creation of an online database of Swaziland's alien/non-indigenous plants, with distribution maps and photographs or illustrations.

This report covers guidelines in risk assessments and socioeconomic impacts and analyses of invasive aquatic species in Canada, Mexico and the United States. There are several case studies of armoured catfish included in the document. Also available in the appendices are: an organism risk assessment form, an inferential estimation of organism risk and pathway risk, and a glossary of relevant terms and definitions.

Gateway to invasive species information; covering Federal, State, local, and international sources.

This is a guide to managing Madeira Vine. It contains information on the species' ecology, history and methods of spread, distribution, management strategies and control methods (including biocontrol), and legislation.

This section of the asparagus weeds manual provides information on asparagus fern (Asparagus scandens), such as distribution, ecology, history of introduction, method of dispersal, legal status, control methods, and life cycle.

This page provides information on the identification of Bridal Veil (Asparagus declinatus). Photographs and a distribution map are also available.

This page provides information on identifying ground asparagus (Asparagus aethiopicus). A distribution map along with photographs are included.

This page provides information on the identification of ornamental asparagus (Asparagus africanus). Photographs and a distribution map are also available.

This site provides extensive information on the spread, distribution and management of Athel Pine (Tamarix aphylla) in Australia. Included on this site are links to resources such as the national priority framework, a potential distribution map, a management map, a best practice management manual, a review of progress strategic plan, and links to other relevant documents and resources.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.) in Australia. This includes funding priorities information, management and distribution maps, a control manual, a control brochure, a list of state contacts, and other resources e.g. national strategy plans.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of broom species (Cytisus scoparius, Genista monspessulana, Genista linifolia) in Australia. This includes strategic plans, identification aids, management and distribution maps, and a brooms weed management guide.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana)) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework, a best practice management manual, management and potential distribution maps, and national strategies.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulus) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework, management and potential distribution maps, a national management manual, GIS data (shapefiles and metadata) and links to national strategies.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework for the species, national strategies, management and potential distribution maps, and a best practice management manual.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework, a best practice management manual, and management and distribution maps as well as links to national strategies

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of pond apple (Annona glabra) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework, a national management manual, a list of state contacts, and management and distribution maps as well as links to national strategies.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework, a management manual, management and distribution maps as well as links to national strategies.

This page provides information and links to useful resources on the management of willows (Salix spp.) in Australia. This includes a national priority action framework, research priorities and other resources, a management guide, management and distribution maps as well as links to national strategies.