The Eastern Lake Ontario Invasive Species Symposium is hosted by the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM). It is a professional exchange of information that provides applicable and timely ways to support invasive species prevention and management initiatives while also enhancing the health and resiliency of the natural systems that make the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario region so special.
On June 23rd and 24th, you’re invited to attend a FREE two-day virtual experience via Zoom.
You will hear from our regional and state-wide partners and learn of projects and initiatives that are protecting our lands and waters from the impacts of invasive species. Join virtual games and win prizes!
Continuing Education Credits
Continuing education credits for the following organizations will be applied for.
Credits will be given by session, those who wish to receive credits will take a poll during each session to confirm their attendance.
Credits/categories will be announced as they are awarded.
Society of American Foresters- Awarded 6 Credits
- 1.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Wednesday, June 23rd AM Session 10 am – 12pm.
- 1.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Wednesday, June 23rd PM Session 1 pm – 3pm.
- 1.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th AM Session 10 am -12pm.
- 1.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th PM Session 1 pm – 3pm.
International Society of Arboriculture- Awarded 5.5 Credits
- 2 Credits Awarded for Attending Wednesday, June 23rd AM session 10 am-12 pm.
- 1 Credit Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th AM session 10 am-12 pm.
- 2.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th PM session 1 pm-3 pm.
Master Naturalist- Awarded 8 Credits
- 2 Credits Awarded for Attending Wednesday, June 23rd AM session 10 am-12 pm
- 2 Credits Awarded for Attending Wednesday, June 23rd PM session 1 pm-3 pm
- 2 Credits Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th AM Session 10am-12pm
- 2 Credits Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th PM Session 1pm-3 pm
*Master naturalists seeking to be awarded these credits are to submit their hours online at the NY Master Naturalist Program Website.
Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional-
- 3.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Wednesday, June 23rd 10am-3pm
- 3.5 Credits Awarded for Attending Thursday, June 24th 10am-3pm
Virtual Networking Sessions
To enhance networking and engagement throughout the symposium there will be optional virtual networking opportunities for you to get involved in each day between 12 pm-1:55 pm.
You can choose to join one or all break-out rooms freely.
The aquatic, terrestrial, and gathering rooms are informal rooms where attendees can network and have lunch together; these rooms are offered each day and are not hosted. The hosted networking rooms will break out at 12 pm but discussions won’t begin until 12:15 pm to allow time to grab lunch; these sessions will have a brief presentation followed by open discussion.
No continuing education credits are given for the optional break-out sessions
Networking Rooms Available on Both June 23rd & 24th
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Aquatic Networking Room: enter this room to network with those working on aquatic invasive species initiatives or for those who just love water!
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Terrestrial Networking Room: enter this room to network with those working on terrestrial invasive species initiatives or for those who just love plants!
- Gathering Room: enter this room to just hang out and see who else is here.
Wednesday June 23rd Hosted Networking Room
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Hosted Networking Room: Get involved with Save the River, hosted by Lauren Eggleston. Learn how you can help protect the St. Lawrence River from invasive species and pollution.
Thursday June 24th Hosted Networking Room
- What you need to know regarding Part 575 Invasive Species Prohibited and Regulated Lists, an overview of compliance in NYS and an open discussion with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Speaker Showcase
Rob Williams- SLELO PRISM Program Manager
Rob is educated as a freshwater biologist (Brockport State University, Brockport New York) and has extensive knowledge of invasive species, environmental DNA, water quality assessments, natural resource management and strategic planning. Rob is one of the co-founders of the Finger Lakes – Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance and co-founder of the North Coast Initiative, a.k.a. Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative and has several technical publications which can be retrieved from the Brockport Digital Commons. Rob’s professional experience includes work with The Nature Conservancy, New York State Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and New York State Sea Grant Extension. He has received over $6 million in project funding from the US-Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, New York State Environmental Protection Fund, and private funding for work on water resources, nonpoint source pollution, and invasive species. Currently, Rob holds two titles: one as a Conservation Practitioner for The Nature Conservancy and another as the Invasive Species Program Director of the SLELO-PRISM (St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management). Rob also serves on the New York State Invasive Species Advisory Committee, The Nature Conservancy’s North American Invasive Species Advisory Committee, and various other Technical Working Groups.
Wednesday, June 23rd, 10:05 AM-Nature Knows No Boundaries
Scientists predict a 6th extinction crisis, because of habitat loss and, climate change. Protecting our lands and waters from the impacts of invasive species while simultaneously addressing a changing climate go hand-in-hand. To be genuinely effective we should consider the bigger picture of resilient and connected landscapes and New York’s PRISM network is in a unique position to lead the way. If we include invasive species as a type of habitat loss, then we can safely say that invasive species contribute to the climate and extinction crisis. The scale of this dictates that we should deemphasize management at the backyard scale and refocus at the connected landscape scale. The Nature Conservancy’s Science Team along with partners of the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario PRISM, have identified a network of what we call resilient and connected lands, which if protected, will allow these habitats to be more resilient to external stressors. What we do in New York’s Oswego River serves to protect the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, and hundreds of miles of inland waterways. What we do in the core forest of Tug Hill helps to protect the health of the entire Blue Ridge to Boreal (Appalachian) forest system. Through avoided impacts and improved management, we can create and sustain more resilient, climate adaptable connected land and waterscapes at a scale that includes but moves far beyond our backyards. In this session we will discuss concepts, conservation targets and metrics across connected lands and waters.
Emily Sheridan- Eastern Great Lakes Watershed Coordinator; NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/Natural Heritage Trust
Emily Sheridan is the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/Natural Heritage Trust’s Eastern Great Lakes Watershed Coordinator, and for the past 7 years has promoted collaboration among stakeholders to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance NY’s Great Lakes watershed, and managed NY’s Great Lakes Ecosystem Education Exchange program, in partnership with NY Sea Grant. Emily received her Bachelors in Natural Resources Management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and previously worked as a seasonal Ecological Restoration crew member with the Nature Conservancy.
Wednesday, June 23rd, 10:20 am-Protecting Regional Water Resources from Invasive Species Impacts
New York’s Eastern Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence watersheds, including the Black River, Salmon- Sandy Creeks, Oneida Lake, and Oswego River watersheds, provide important ecosystem services that we all benefit from, from freshwater drinking water resources for millions of people, to outdoor recreation that benefits our health and well-being, and fish and wildlife resources including a multibillion-dollar recreational fishing industry, these resources are worth protecting. Unfortunately, they are at risk from the impacts of invasive species, altering food webs, making boating, swimming, and fishing less pleasant, and threatening the forests which shade our coldwater streams. Fortunately, all of us can take action to protect our water resources and the benefits they provide. This presentation will further detail our region’s water resources, how they are threatened by invasive species, and actions we can all take to protect them.
Mike Serviss- Regional Conservation Project Coordinator- Central Region OPRHP
Mike is the Regional Conservation Project Coordinator for the Central Region of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation based out of Clark Reservation State Park in Jamesville, New York. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Conservation Biology at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY with a focus on endangered plant conservation and restoration ecology.
Wednesday, June 23rd 10:40 am- An Integrated Approach to Invasive Plant Management and Habitat Restoration For The Threatened American Hart’s-tongue Fern
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has successfully implemented an adaptive and integrated invasive species management approach at Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville, NY, with a focus on habitat restoration for the Federally and State listed as Threatened (S1, New York Natural Heritage Program) fern species Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum (American hart’s-tongue fern, AHTF). Focused annual management of a variety of herbaceous and woody invasive plants, coupled with additional recovery efforts such as the reintroduction of greenhouse propagated AHTF, have contributed to the species anticipated de-listing from the Federal Endangered Species List. Details of OPRHP’s approach to invasive species management and data related to the reintroduction and recovery of AHTF in New York State Parks will be presented.
Paul Siskind- Master Naturalist
Paul Siskind has been a Master Naturalist since 2017. Besides volunteering for a variety of community projects, his research has focused on the invasive lily leaf beetle. Paul teaches in the First-Year Program at St. Lawrence University. He also works with the New York Healthy Workplace Advocates, fighting against workplace harassment and bullying through legislative action, educational outreach, and career counseling.
Wednesday, June 23rd, 11:00 am- Protecting Native Lilies from an Invasive Pest
Lilium canadense is the only species of lily native to St. Lawrence County. While ranked S5, it is found only in scattered, sparse populations. The lily is the only native food source and breeding site for the invasive lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii), making L. canadense susceptible to infestation and possible extirpation. This presentation will discuss the life cycle of the invasive lily leaf beetle, data from a 3-year monitoring project, and an IPM method for controlling the beetle in ornamental gardens.
Leslie Benedict- St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Leslie works for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in the Environment Division as the Assistant Director. He is a representative of the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment for projects related to black ash trees. He has lead studies and demonstration projects in the Brasher State forests through the NYSDEC Volunteer Stewardship Agreement program to study and improve black ash stands.
Wednesday, June 23rd 11:20 am- Tribal Resource Connection to Landscapes and Ecological Communities
This presentation will highlight the connections between Native American cultural practices, landscapes, and ecological communities using Black Ash as an example. In addition to, connections in the SLELO Region and in the Great Lakes, Northeastern states of the US as well as the Eastern and Maritime Provinces of Canada.
Peter Zimmer- Thousand Island Region NYS Parks
Peter is the Stewardship Specialist for the Thousand Islands region of NYS Parks. In this role, he is responsible for applying ecological and conservation biology principles to stewardship activities throughout the region. This involves implementing on the ground environmental stewardship projects, identifying and managing threats to biodiversity, responding to regional environmental issues and needs, report writing, data management, and budget proposals for these projects. Examples of projects that he has implemented or been directly involved with include: Blanding’s turtle habitat restoration, an earthen dam decommissioning and subsequent stream restoration, grassland bird habitat restoration, and soft shoreline stabilization.
Wednesday, June 23rd 11:35am- Restoring Native Habitats Through Invasive Species Management
Part of the mission of the Office of Parks, Recreations and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources. One way this is being accomplished is through the treatment of invasive Phragmites australis and subsequent revegetation using native plant materials in known state-threatened Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) habitat at Wellesley Island State Park. The site at Wellesley Island State Park is at the northern and eastern edge of the turtle’s range, making this site critical to preserve. A significant component of this project is centered around the partnership with OPRHP’s Plant Material Program (PMP) which has provided a diverse planting list using genetically appropriate plant materials to restore this critical habitat. This presentation will detail the specific management technique chosen for this project, some of the regulatory hurdles that were crossed before implementation, and the current planting plan for revegetation after chemical treatment of invasive Phragmites.
Mitchell O’Neil-New York Natural Heritage Program/iMapInvasives
Mitchell is the End User Support Specialist for the Invasive Species Database Team at the New York Natural Heritage Program. He focuses on providing training, outreach, and user support for the official state invasive species database and mapping system, iMapInvasives. Mitchell received his M.S. in Natural Resources at the University of New Hampshire in 2018, where he studied invasive plant distributions in North America.
Wednesday, June 23rd, 1:05pm- Leveraging iMapInvasives Data to Support State-wide Invasive Species Research Initiatives
This presentation will highlight how records submitted to iMapInvasives are leveraged in a variety of statewide analyses and research initiatives, and what partners can do to support these initiatives. For example, spatial analyses are conducted on presence records to identify high-priority areas for invasive species management and create prioritized species lists. This year, natural resource managers will be using iMap records of water chestnut pulls to track success and identify gaps statewide. Join us to learn how you can support these projects by submitting invasive species presence, not-detected, and treatment records.
Megan Pistolese-SLELO PRISM & Michael Gimbalvo- AGM
Megan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree focused in Ecology, Environmental Education, and Sustainability. She is experienced with aquatic and terrestrial invasive species identification, impacts, modes of introduction, prevention and management methods. She currently acts as the SLELO PRISM Education and Outreach Coordinator.
Michael is an Assistant Horticultural Inspector for the NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets. He has spent the last year inspecting trees on Long Island and in New York City for signs of the invasive Asian Longhorn Beetle. He recently was transferred to the Albany office as the Spotted Lanternfly Program Education and Outreach Coordinator. He has also worked in various gardens, farms, labs, and seedbanks. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts from Warren Wilson College where he studied Environmental Science, Sustainable Agriculture, and Biology. He is currently enrolled in a Master’s program at Stony Brook University where he is studying Geospatial Science.
Wednesday, June 23rd, 1:40pm- Enhancing Early Detection and Outreach for a Top Priority Invasive Pest-Spotted Lanternfly
Infestations of the Spotted lanternfly have been confirmed in NYS. Early detection and enhanced public awareness will be vital to the management of this invasive agricultural forest pest. This session would provide an overview of a state-wide early detection project for spotted lanternfly & Tree of Heaven, as well as how partners and local businesses can enhance outreach across the state.
Caroline Marschner- New York State Hemlock Initiative-Cornell University
Caroline’s background is in general ecology, with experience in forest prairie, riparian, and lacustrine ecosystems. She received her bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Colorado College in 1998 and her master’s degree in environmental science from Miami University in 2003. Carri has been with NYSHI since 2015, where she coordinates NYSHI’s outreach efforts, works with partners to facilitate conservation planning, and assists with program management.
Wednesday, June 23rd 2:15pm- Conserving Hemlocks Through Prioritization
The Hemlock Initiative has developed a decision guidance tool that generates a ranking system to help forest owners & conservation managers prioritize their hemlock stands to make an informed decision on where to focus their hemlock conservation efforts. This webinar demonstrates how to use the Hemlock Initiative’s Prioritization tool to conserve hemlock forests.
Brittney Rogers- SLELO PRISM
Brittney holds a Master of Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from SUNY Oswego and brings with her extensive experience in aquatic invasive species identification and management and is one of the pioneers in New York States Watercraft Inspection Steward Program. Brittney currently acts as the Aquatic Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator for SLELO PRISM. She is leading efforts to protect aquatic priority conservation areas from the impacts of invasive species through early detection and rapid response efforts and is leading multiple initiatives to enhance the health of aquatic ecosystems in the SLELO region.
Thursday, June 24th 10:05 am Sustaining Healthy Waters
This presentation will provide an overview of multiple projects that SLELO PRISM is undergoing to sustain the health of our waters. Highlights will include environmental DNA (eDNA) research which is being used to detect the presence of invasive species such as tench, snakehead, and Asian carp in the Black River and other inland waters throughout the SLELO region; in addition to, aquatic plant nutrient research aimed to determine if the management of water chestnut through hand-pulls or other means is impacting nutrient levels in relation to harmful algal blooms, and best management practices for disposal and an overview of the Watercraft Inspection Steward Program SLELO is co-administering with our partners at the Thousand Islands Land Trust.
Michale Glennon- Paul Smiths ADK Watershed Institute
Michale Glennon serves as the Science Director of the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute. She is interested in the effects of land use management on wildlife populations in the Adirondacks and is engaged in research ranging from issues of residential development to recreation ecology to climate change. She is an ecologist and previously spent 15 years as the Director of Science for the Adirondack Program of the Wildlife Conservation Society. At AWI, Michale works to support and help shape the scientific research program, provide high quality research opportunities for students, and distribute and champion AWI’s work in order to enhance the use of science in the management and stewardship of the natural resources of the Adirondack Park. She also serves as adjunct faculty for the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), and on several technical advisory boards. Michale obtained her B.S. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from Dartmouth College and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental and Forest Biology from SUNY-ESF.
Thursday, June 24th 10:40am: Pathways of Invasion
Aquatic resources are vital to the economy and ecology of the Adirondack Park and require significant investments of time and resources for detection, management, and prevention of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Since 1989, the Adirondack Watershed Institute has worked to protect water quality in northern New York state via water quality monitoring, aquatic invasive species monitoring and management, environmental science and data analysis, and broad public outreach and education. AWI’s Stewardship Program is the primary vehicle for spread prevention, achieved through education, outreach, and direct engagement with recreational boaters, thought to represent the primary means by which aquatic invasive species are dispersed and spread among waterways. Longstanding investment in the region has resulted in a wealth of long-term and broad-scale data that can be used to better understand the factors that influence both the ability of invasive species to reach new areas and those which influence the likelihood of their successful establishment. We have found that a number of factors influence the levels of recreational boating activity (i.e., propagule pressure) among lakes including lake size, access features, and connections to other waterways. We have also found that some of these same factors influence the likelihood of establishment (i.e., invasibility) of AIS including Eurasian watermilfoil. A combined analysis of these two axes of invasion risk is helping us to identify the connections and most likely pathways of the spread between established AIS populations and uninvaded waterways in the Adirondacks and Northern New York and to prioritize spread prevention efforts in the region.
Lauren Eggleston-Save the River
Lauren earned her MSc in Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics at the University of Alberta. She worked as a Park Ranger interpreting geology at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, and as an Environmental Educator at the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center at Wellesley Island State Park. She currently acts as the Program Manager with Save the River.
Thursday, June 24th, 11:00 am- Investigating the Relationship Between Invasive and Native Mussels in the Lower Grasse River
North America has the greatest diversity of native freshwater mussels in the world. The relatively recent invasion of zebra and quagga (dreissenid) mussels have had a profound impact on the populations of native freshwater (unionid) mussels. Our research investigates how river-bottom sediments influence invasive dreissenid mussel colonization on native unionid mussels in the Lower Grasse River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence River. This project is made possible through a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Invasive Species grant awarded to Save the River, in partnership with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment Division and the New York State Museum.
Sarah Trick- Indian River Lakes Watershed Coordinator
Sarah graduated from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a degree in Environmental Studies: Policy, Planning, and Law. She has extensive experience in working with aquatic invasive species in New York State. Formerly a member of Onondaga County Soil and Water District’s invasive species control team, she is now the Watershed Coordinator for the Indian River Lakes Conservancy.
Thursday, June 24th, 11:25 am- Rearing Milfoil Weeviles Through Community Science
The Indian River Lakes Conservancy is focused on protecting the health of the 18 natural Lakes within the Indian River region. The Indian river lakes occupy an extraordinary landscape of rocky, wooded uplands and teeming wetlands, lakes and streams. Sitting astride the rugged, geologic backbone of the Frontenac Arch connecting the Adirondacks to Algonquin Park in Canada, the Indian river lakes and neighboring thousand islands share a vital confluence of pathways for migratory birds and one of the most diverse habitats for wildlife in the northeast. The IRLC hosts “Project WHIRL,” which stands for Protectors of Water and Habitat on the Indian River Lakes. It is a summer program for local high school students to learn about and engage in real world science projects. This summer Project WHIRL will be splitting into two tracts, one will be a for-credit high school biology program engaging with researchers from Clarkson University to explore which of the Indian river lakes are candidates for sustainable biocontrol of Eurasian watermilfoil. The other track will be voluntary and will involve milfoil weevil capture and rearing as a pilot program to study the capability of lake associations to raise their own weevils as a sustainable biocontrol method.
Robert Smith- SLELO PRISM
Robert holds a Master of Science in Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Forest Ecosystem Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and brings with him extensive experience in terrestrial invasive species identification and management including ecosystem restoration and dendrology and is a US Army Veteran. Robert is currently acting as the SLELO PRISM Terrestrial Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator. Robert is leading efforts to protect terrestrial priority conservation areas from the impacts of invasive species through early detection, rapid response, and prevention efforts, and is leading multiple initiatives to enhance the health of terrestrial ecosystems in the SLELO region.
Thursday, June 24th, 1:05 pm- Sustaining Healthy Lands
This presentation will provide an overview of multiple projects that SLELO PRISM is undergoing to sustain the health of our lands. Highlights will include an Urban Forest Sustainability Initiative that is designed to increase urban forest resiliency to invasive pests, pathogens, and climate change. A feasibility study that was conducted in collaboration with NYS Parks on Watertown’s Black River Trail in Watertown, NY to determine the feasibility of controlling and removing invasive plants and restoring sections of the Trail. Along with a brief overview of a biocontrol project that SLELO is aiding in collaboration with the New York State Invasive Species Research Institute.
Carrie Brown-Lima – New York Invasive Species Research Institute-Cornell University
Carrie is a Senior Extension Associate and the Director of the NY Invasive Species Research Institute at Cornell University. In this role, she works closely with research scientists, state and federal agencies, the NY Invasive Species Council and Advisory Committee and regional managers and stakeholders to promote innovation and improve the scientific basis of invasive species management.
Carrie has over 20 years of experience working with natural resource conservation and management across ecosystems and borders. Prior to her position with the Research Institute, Carrie spent 11 years promoting conservation strategies and partnerships in Brazil and throughout Latin America on diverse programs such as sustainable fisheries certifications, agriculture and conservation, and transboundary protected areas.
Thursday, June 24th 1:40pm- Biocontrol in NYS and What’s Being Released in the SLELO region
Biological control, or biocontrol as it’s often termed, is a method of utilizing one species to control another. Most often applied in the worlds of agriculture and natural resource management, this strategy offers a more targeted approach to reducing pest populations and mitigating negative impacts than traditional methods. This session will provide a brief overview of the approval process of biocontrol and what is currently approved for release in NYS; in addition to research projects underway in our region.
Patricia Shulenburg- An Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Foundation Board Director
Patricia earned her Interdisciplinary M.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior from the University at Buffalo focusing her graduate studies on Great Lakes ecology and stream restoration. She has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the WNY PRISM in invasive species management and education and was the Program Manager with Save The River. She also worked with the NYS Office of Parks as the GLRI Dunes and Wetlands Restoration Project Coordinator managing projects at Sandy Island Beach State Park where she founded the region’s first volunteer monitoring and stewardship program for the federally endangered Great Lakes piping plover. Patricia is an executive member of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes Coalition and acts as the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Foundation Board Director. She is currently working as a Restoration Project Manager with Cardno.
Thursday, June 24th, 2pm- Developing a Plan to Protect the Dunes
The eastern Lake Ontario region holds the largest dune system in New York state. This dune system provides natural protection against coastal flooding and vital habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife. Invasive plants outcompete and displace vital native beach grasses and other vegetation necessary to maintain the dune system. This presentation will provide an overview of a feasibility study that is being developed to identify invasive species that are threatening the dunes that will result in recommendations for management and restoration.
Mike Rawitch-Ramboll Management Consulting
Mike is a geologist and geographer specializing in the implementation of geospatial technologies to optimize environmental problem solving. At Ramboll, his focus is on innovation with remotely sensed data analysis, collection and visualization applied to natural resource management.
Thursday, June 24th 2:15pm- Leveraging Aerial Imagery & Artificial Intelligence to Aid Invasive Species Detection Efforts
Traditional invasive species mapping relies on manually intensive methods that are sometimes qualitative in nature and offer only a snapshot of the population at a given time. Challenges associated with the current methodology include the ability to understand the distribution of species over time at a site-wide or regional scale, to identify invasive species absence in addition to presence, to safely and efficiently collect data in difficult to access areas, and to perform these tasks economically. Recent technological advances in small unmanned aerial systems, or drones, high-resolution aerial mapping, and artificial intelligence allow us to tackle these challenges in an efficient and economically feasible manner.
This presentation will showcase cutting-edge technology that can be leveraged to aid invasive species detection by cutting time spent performing field surveys by more than fifty percent! An overview of a pilot project underway with the NYS DEC using this technology to enhance giant hogweed survey efforts will also be shared.
Thomas Allgaier-NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM)
Thom Allgaier is the Invasive Species Coordinator for the NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets. With over 20 years of public service between federal and state positions dealing with invasive plant pests. Prior to his public service, he worked in various landscape construction, garden center, and greenhouse positions. Thom holds an associate’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Farmingdale State University, a Bachelor’s of Science from Empire State College where he studied Environmental Biology, and a Master’s of Science degree from the University of North Carolina – Wilmington where he studied Environmental Science
Thursday, June 24th, 2:30 pm- Invasive Species Impacting Agriculture in the SLELO region
Bringing awareness to the invasive species known to be in the SLELO region and those that could soon be in the region. The SLELO region is best known for its many recreation opportunities, but there is a wide variety of agriculture that takes place in the region as well. Some of these IS can be introduced or spread and negatively impact the region’s agriculture as well as the ecology of the region. With Canada bordering a good portion of the SLELO border, international introductions are a concern as well as the interstate movement of IS. Many of the IS that negatively impact New York’s agriculture have originated from our northern neighbor. Some of the species I would highlight would be Spotted Lanternfly, Plum Pox Virus, European Cherry Fruit Fly, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and others. I would also like to draw attention to the IS work that our AGM staff and other partner agencies conduct in the region that may often be overlooked by many as much of it goes on out of sight of the general public.
