Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST), Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST),

USDA-APHIS-PPQUSDA-APHIS-PPQ

Integrating Technology to Integrating Technology to Assist the Weed Risk Assist the Weed Risk Assessment ProcessAssessment Process

Larry Fowler, Anthony Koop, Brian Larry Fowler, Anthony Koop, Brian Spears, and Spears, and Barney CatonBarney Caton

OverviewOverview

PERAL Weed TeamPERAL Weed Team

Technologies to support Technologies to support the WRA processthe WRA process

Caveat: Caveat: Invasive Invasive plant = weedplant = weed

Mission statement:Mission statement:

To provide scientific and To provide scientific and analytical support for PPQ analytical support for PPQ regulatory programs regulatory programs requiring decisions requiring decisions associated with invasive associated with invasive plants.plants.

PERAL Weed TeamPERAL Weed Team

Importation:Importation: Help complete WRAs to Help complete WRAs to support decision making related to imports support decision making related to imports

Exportation: Exportation: Provide technical assistance to Provide technical assistance to guard against US exports being unduly guard against US exports being unduly restricted by trading partnersrestricted by trading partners

Domestic:Domestic: Support surveying, monitoring, Support surveying, monitoring, and managementand management

Activity areasActivity areas

1.1. Identify invasive plant Identify invasive plant problems/issuesproblems/issues

2. Set priorities2. Set priorities3. Gather data (not research)3. Gather data (not research)4. Perform weed risk assessments 4. Perform weed risk assessments

(WRAs) (WRAs) 5. Recommend risk management 5. Recommend risk management

strategiesstrategies

Weed Team activitiesWeed Team activities

We work cooperatively withWe work cooperatively with● Other CPHST labs● Other CPHST labs● National APHIS Weed Team● National APHIS Weed Team

Technologies to assist WRAs Technologies to assist WRAs

PrioritizationPrioritization

Pathway monitoring/verificationPathway monitoring/verification

Potential for geographic spreadPotential for geographic spread

1. Prioritization1. Prioritization Project with Weed Science Society AmericaProject with Weed Science Society America Model ranking of global weeds not known to Model ranking of global weeds not known to

occur in U.S.occur in U.S. 550+ weeds scored comprehensively550+ weeds scored comprehensively Includes spp. Includes spp.

present but present but

not naturalizednot naturalized

## Scientific nameScientific name Common nameCommon name

11 Echinochloa pyramidalisEchinochloa pyramidalis antelope grassantelope grass

22 Ludwigia hyssopifoliaLudwigia hyssopifolia seedbox, primrose willowseedbox, primrose willow

33 Rubus alceifoliusRubus alceifolius giant bramblegiant bramble

44 Lygodium flexuosumLygodium flexuosum maidenhair creepermaidenhair creeper

55 Actinoscirpus grossusActinoscirpus grossus giant bulrushgiant bulrush

66 Sagittaria pygmaeaSagittaria pygmaea pygmy arrowheadpygmy arrowhead

77 Hakea salicifoliaHakea salicifolia willow-leaved hakeawillow-leaved hakea

88 Ligustrum robustumLigustrum robustum tree privettree privet

99 Wikstroemia indicaWikstroemia indica tiebush, Indian stringbushtiebush, Indian stringbush

1010 Senecio inaequidensSenecio inaequidens narrow-leaved ragwortnarrow-leaved ragwort

Prioritization: applicationsPrioritization: applications

Choose best candidates for possible listing as Choose best candidates for possible listing as noxious weeds (WRAs)noxious weeds (WRAs)

Rapid scoring (relatively) for newly Rapid scoring (relatively) for newly emerging/introduced speciesemerging/introduced species

Identify likely target species for surveying, Identify likely target species for surveying, especially species in cultivationespecially species in cultivation

2. Pathway monitoring/verification2. Pathway monitoring/verification

Problem: Problem:

Pathway monitoring/verificationPathway monitoring/verification AIMS: Agricultural Internet Monitoring AIMS: Agricultural Internet Monitoring

SystemSystem• NC State: Center for Integrated Pest Mgt.NC State: Center for Integrated Pest Mgt.• Identify regulated species of interest Identify regulated species of interest • Secure web applicationSecure web application

Semi-automates:Semi-automates:• Webcrawling Webcrawling • Evaluating sites for riskEvaluating sites for risk• Sending information lettersSending information letters• Archiving and retrieving informationArchiving and retrieving information

Pathway monitoring/verificationPathway monitoring/verification

Monitored organismsMonitored organisms• APHIS-regulatedAPHIS-regulated

Insects/mollusks/weeds/fruits and vegetablesInsects/mollusks/weeds/fruits and vegetables Animal products & byproductsAnimal products & byproducts

• APHIS-nonregulated organisms (esp. invasive APHIS-nonregulated organisms (esp. invasive plants)plants)

Application to WRAsApplication to WRAs• Identify presence in the U.S.Identify presence in the U.S.• Identify trade pathways from overseasIdentify trade pathways from overseas

AIMS and FAST technologyAIMS and FAST technology 1496 names = 599 species + 897 common/syns1496 names = 599 species + 897 common/syns Manual searchManual search

• 2 min 2 min × × 10 hits10 hits × × 2 min processing2 min processing = 549 person hr= 549 person hr FASTFAST

• 3 d to search the net and build index (software)3 d to search the net and build index (software)• 12.5 min12.5 min to process index list to process index list• Simultaneous search for Simultaneous search for commerce keywordscommerce keywords• Thus, person hr only for processing very likely hitsThus, person hr only for processing very likely hits

3. Potential geographic spread3. Potential geographic spread Model to predict extent of plant invasions in U.S.Model to predict extent of plant invasions in U.S.

• NAPPFAST: NAPPFAST: NNCSU/CSU/AAPHIS PHIS PPlant lant PPest est FForecorecASTAST• 10 year climate database (1994-2004)10 year climate database (1994-2004)

Typical parametersTypical parameters• Optimal growing daysOptimal growing days• High T growth inhibitionHigh T growth inhibition• Cold T exclusion areaCold T exclusion area

Output = Probability mapOutput = Probability map

Example applicationExample application Preliminary assessment for kikuyugrass Preliminary assessment for kikuyugrass

((Pennisetum clandestinumPennisetum clandestinum))D. Borchert, B. Nietschke, C. Thayer and L. FowlerD. Borchert, B. Nietschke, C. Thayer and L. Fowler

YOU AREHERE

Potential spread: applicationsPotential spread: applications Assess consequences of introductionAssess consequences of introduction

• Higher risk = greater, contiguous, or special areasHigher risk = greater, contiguous, or special areas• Lower risk = lesser or non-contiguous areasLower risk = lesser or non-contiguous areas

Factor in invasiveness scoringFactor in invasiveness scoring Survey targeting (if WRA-related)Survey targeting (if WRA-related) Identification of weed-free areasIdentification of weed-free areas

But, often lack relevant biological dataBut, often lack relevant biological data

Technologies to assist WRAsTechnologies to assist WRAs

Prioritization – Prioritization –

Plant invasiveness Plant invasiveness

ranking modelranking model Pathway monitoring – Pathway monitoring –

AIMS searchesAIMS searches Potential spread – Potential spread –

NAPPFAST geographic NAPPFAST geographic

modelmodel