NERL  Invasion  Biology Research
Objectives:

• Implement novel and emerging
approaches to the study of non-indigenous
species
• Integrate cross-divisional expertise to
develop an invasion biology program
focusing on early detection, monitoring and
vulnerability analysis
Approaches:
       Detect invasive plant species from remotely sensed data; Dr. Ricardo Lopez (LEB, Las
       Vegas)
•      Detect invasive species and characterize invasion events using DNA-based molecular
       techniques; Drs. Michael Blum and Mark Bagley (EERD, Cincinnati)
       Evaluate the ecological, genetic and behavioral mechanisms of invasion through field
       studies and mesocosm experiments; Drs. David M. Walters and Michael Blum (EERD,
       Cincinnati)
       Model invasion dynamics and ecosystem vulnerability from population and landscape
       perspectives; Drs. Brenda Rashleigh (ERD, Athens) David M. Walters (EERD,
       Cincinnati), Betsy Smith (ESD/ReVA, RTP), Daniel Kluza (NCEA/ReVA, DC)

Rationale:

       Biological invasions by non-indigenous species (NIS) constitute one of the leading
       threats to natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Invasion events may result in rapid loss
       of native biodiversity via ecological or genetic replacement of native species. Besides
       having ecological consequences, invasion events also disrupt agricultural, recreational,
       and industrial enterprises, and therefore can impose significant costs on local and
       national economies. Human health may also be threatened by the spread of NIS that are
       infectious agents or that act as vectors of pathogens.
       The Environmental  Protection Agency currently  does not maintain an agency-wide
       policy on invasive species, principally because it is unclear whether NIS can be defined,
       and therefore regulated, as pollutants. However, even a conservative interpretation of
       the Clean Water Act provides the EPA with a mandate to limit the spread of NIS and
       remediate the impact of invasion events if NIS act as biological impairments to aquatic
       ecosystems by disrupting or threatening indigenous communities.
       Invasive species are considered to be one of the two most important environmental
       stressors in aquatic ecosystems. Building on its long experience and nationally
       recognized expertise on evaluating exposure of aquatic ecosystems to environmental
       stressors, NERL recently initiated several research projects with the explicit aim of
       developing integrative approaches for detecting and monitoring invasive species. This
       cross-divisional research directly interfaces with  programs such as ReVA, and therefore
       stands to strengthen and diversify NERL-client relations. By demonstrating a record of
       customer driven research, these efforts may also facilitate an initiative that will provide
       opportunities for building an EPA invasion biology program.

                                     Contacts:

              Michael Blum, David M. Walters, Mark Bagley, Ricardo
                       Lopez,  Brenda Rashleigh, Betsy Smith

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