***BAER Final Report***

Invasive Plant Monitoring Following 2004 Fires

USFWS National Wildlife Refuges -- Alaska Region

![](media/image1.wmf){width="4.756944444444445in"
height="3.567361111111111in"}

Helen Cortés-Burns and Matt Carlson

![](media/image2.png){width="0.7200787401574803in"
height="0.7145669291338582in"}***Alaska Natural Heritage Program***

Environment and Natural Resources Institute

University of Alaska Anchorage

707 A Street

Anchorage, Alaska 99501

Report funded by and prepared for:

USFWS, Alaska Regional Office

February 2006

[[Abstract]{.smallcaps} - 4 -](#abstract)

[[Acknowledgements]{.smallcaps} - 5 -](#acknowledgements)

[[Introduction]{.smallcaps} - 6 -](#introduction)

[[Treatment Specification]{.smallcaps} - 6 -](#treatment-specification)

[[Logistics, sampling protocols, and data analysis]{.smallcaps} - 7
-](#logistics-sampling-protocols-and-data-analysis)

[Pre-fieldwork: logistics - 7 -](#pre-fieldwork-logistics)

[Fieldwork: methodology - 7 -](#fieldwork-methodology)

[Temporary plots - 8 -](#temporary-plots)

[Permanent plots - 8 -](#permanent-plots)

[Post-fieldwork: data processing - 9 -](#post-fieldwork-data-processing)

[[Fieldwork/Activity Accomplishments]{.smallcaps} - 10
-](#fieldworkactivity-accomplishments)

[Kenai Refuge - 10 -](#kenai-refuge)

[Indian Creek - 10 -](#indian-creek)

[Moose Creek - 11 -](#moose-creek)

[Clear Creek - 12 -](#clear-creek)

[Tetlin Refuge - 12 -](#tetlin-refuge)

[Lakeview Campground - 13 -](#lakeview-campground)

[Deadman's lake Campground - 13 -](#deadmans-lake-campground)

[Roadside campground - 13 -](#roadside-campground)

[Gardiner Creek - 14 -](#gardiner-creek)

[1990, 1996 and 1998 burns - 15 -](#and-1998-burns)

[Kanuti Refuge - 16 -](#kanuti-refuge)

[Fish Creek Lake - 16 -](#fish-creek-lake)

[South Fork of the Koyukuk - 16 -](#south-fork-of-the-koyukuk)

[Clawanmenka, Kaldolyeit and Minnkokut Lakes - 17
-](#clawanmenka-kaldolyeit-and-minnkokut-lakes)

[Bettles - 17 -](#bettles)

[Yukon Flats Refuge - 18 -](#yukon-flats-refuge)

[Winter Trail Fire - 18 -](#winter-trail-fire)

[Lower Mouth Fire - 19 -](#lower-mouth-fire)

[Dall City Fire - 20 -](#dall-city-fire)

[Preacher Creek Fire - 20 -](#preacher-creek-fire)

[Fort Yukon - 20 -](#fort-yukon)

[[Summary of findings]{.smallcaps} - 21 -](#summary-of-findings)

[[Treatment Effectiveness]{.smallcaps} - 22 -](#treatment-effectiveness)

[[Future Directions & Recommendations]{.smallcaps} - 23
-](#future-directions-recommendations)

[[References]{.smallcaps} - 24 -](#references)

[[Appendices]{.smallcaps} - 25 -](#appendices)

[Table 1. List of non-native plant species found in Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge. - 25
-](#table-1.-list-of-non-native-plant-species-found-in-kenai-national-wildlife-refuge.)

[Table 2. List of non-native plant species found in Tetlin National
Wildlife Refuge. - 26
-](#table-2.-list-of-non-native-plant-species-found-in-tetlin-national-wildlife-refuge.)

[Table 3. List of non-native plant species found in Yukon Flats National
Wildlife Refuge. - 28
-](#table-3.-list-of-non-native-plant-species-found-in-yukon-flats-national-wildlife-refuge.)

[Table 4. List of non-native plant species found in/near the Bettles,
near Kanuti refuge. - 29
-](#table-4.-list-of-non-native-plant-species-found-innear-the-bettles-near-kanuti-refuge.)

[Table 5. Kenai waypoints. - 30 -](#table-5.-kenai-waypoints.)

[Table 6. Tetlin waypoints. - 31 -](#table-6.-tetlin-waypoints.)

[Table 7. Kanuti waypoints. - 32 -](#table-7.-kanuti-waypoints.)

[Table 8. Yukon Flats waypoints. - 33
-](#table-8.-yukon-flats-waypoints.)

[Maps of sites visited and surveyed in Kenai. - 34
-](#maps-of-sites-visited-and-surveyed-in-kenai.)

[Maps of sites visited and surveyed in Tetlin. - 36
-](#maps-of-sites-visited-and-surveyed-in-tetlin.)

[Map of sites visited and surveyed in Kanuti. - 38
-](#map-of-sites-visited-and-surveyed-in-kanuti.)

[Maps of sites visited and surveyed in Yukon Flats. - 39
-](#maps-of-sites-visited-and-surveyed-in-yukon-flats.)

[Table 9. Burn severity code matrix - 41
-](#__RefHeading___Toc128642575)

[Table 10. US Forest Service/AKNHP list of "Alaskan Invasive" plant
species. - 46 -](#__RefHeading___Toc128642576)

#   {#section .unnumbered}

# [Abstract]{.smallcaps}

We have completed inventories for specified 2004 fires on Kenai, Tetlin,
Yukon Flats and Kanuti Refuges. Overall, areas burned in 2004 do not
appear to harbor greater numbers of non-native plants than unburned
regions at this time (i.e. first growth season following the fires).
Non-native establishment was recorded in 30 of the 68 sites visited.
Based on the data collected during the 2005 field season, we conclude
that invasive plant infestations are strongly correlated with
high-intensity human use zones (roads, cabins, campgrounds, trails,
allotments), and hold little (or no) relation to burn severity. However,
because there were few signs of revegetation in most of the burned sites
when we conducted the surveys (neither by native nor non-native
species), it is crucial that we continue to monitor these same burned
sites throughout the next 2-5 growth seasons in order to corroborate the
herein hypothesized lack of correlation between burn severity and
non-native plant establishment in Alaska's ecosystems.

# [Acknowledgements]{.smallcaps}

This project was funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI. Karen
Murphy gave helpful comments and direction through this process. We also
thank the staff at each of the refuges visited for providing assistance
with fieldwork logistics.

# [Introduction]{.smallcaps}

Non-native plant species pose a serious threat to native ecosystems:
they alter community composition, successional pathways, and fire
regimes, as well as reduce or eliminate threatened and endangered native
species populations (Busch 1995, Brooks 1999).

While they are a major threat to National Wildlife Refuge Lands (NWR) in
the Lower 48 states (cf. Randall 1996), Alaska has until recently been
considered immune to this problem (Shephard 2004). In the past five
years, however, an increase in commercial and leisure activities
connecting urbanized and developed areas to the backcountry, combined
with the longer growth season and milder winters that result from
climate change, have changed this perception (Shephard 2004). Even so,
invasive plant species in Alaska still do not constitute as great a
threat as they do in the rest of the country, because they are largely
restricted to the few regions of greatest anthropogenic disturbance.
Consequently, land managers in Alaska have a unique opportunity to be
proactive in managing exotic and invasive plants.

Invasive plants are generally opportunistic, early successional species,
and therefore thrive under the types of conditions created by
disturbance activities: increased light and nutrient availability,
reduced interspecific competition, and increased bare soil (Rejmanek
1989). In this context, the 2004 fires that burned over six million
acres in Alaska provided an ideal opportunity for the expansion of
established weeds and invasion of new weed species into the state's
wildlands.

As part of the Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation and Stabilization
plan for Alaska's 2004 fires, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
received funding to investigate fire related sites that may have
introduced invasive plants, and entered into a cooperative agreement
with the Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP), University of Alaska,
to study the interaction of fires and weed invasion in selected sites in
five National Wildlife Refuges (Innoko, Kanuti, Kenai, Tetlin, and Yukon
Flats). (Although we were unable to organize fieldwork with Innoko
Refuge personnel in time for the 2005 field season, we plan to survey
selected sites for this refuge in 2006, using the funds remaining from
the 2005 FWS-AKNHP grant).

The AKNHP agreed to investigate sites where people and equipment were
located on refuge lands, such as helispots, camp sites, staging areas,
dozer lines, hand lines, etc. Potential 'source' locations (where
invasive plants are known or are reasonably expected to occur) were also
investigated within Refuge boundaries or off-refuge if appropriate
landowner permission was obtained. High severity burn sites located
within 1 mile of source sites (communities, cabins, roads, travel
corridors etc...) were monitored since the exposed mineral soil at these
high burn severity sites may be particularly susceptible to the
establishment of non-native plants. The FWS provided local expertise at
each refuge, and participated in one of the field sampling trips. This
final report includes a description of the methods used to conduct the
2005 surveys, an account of the data collected at each site, and a
discussion of most likely determinants underlying the presence/absence
of invasive plant species in the different refuges visited.

# [Treatment Specification]{.smallcaps}

V-2 Noxious and Invasive Plant Monitoring and Control, CESU Agreement \#
10100-0-J001

# [Logistics, sampling protocols, and data analysis]{.smallcaps}

## Pre-fieldwork: logistics

AKNHP and additional UAA staff set up the grant, hired, and assigned
personnel to work on the project. With assistance and guidance from
USFWS staff, we identified priority sites within specific fires from
2004 in four refuges.

In this work, we define "priority sites" as those that are most likely
to be invaded by non-native plants following the 2004 fires, due to a)
their proximity to high human use/high disturbance zones, and/or b)
their proximity to a high severity burn, where the soil burned down to
the mineral layer, thus facilitating non-native plant establishment
(Harrod & Reichard 2001). The priority sites visited included
allotments, cabins, campsites, dozer lines, helispots, rivers, roads,
trails, travel corridors (Winter trails), and associated high severity
burned areas near these locations.

Using a series of GIS shapefiles provided by FWS, AKNHP constructed a
time table and made the logistical arrangements needed to reach all the
priority sites listed by FWS. We contacted the local refuge personnel
from each of the refuges to coordinate our sampling and get more
detailed logistical information. Special use permits were obtained from
refuges requiring them. Transportation arrangements were made for each
of the refuge trips. FWS provided local expertise at each refuge, and
participated in one of the field sampling trips (Merben Cebrian, Tetlin
NWR).

## Fieldwork: methodology![](media/image3.png){width="3.277083333333333in" height="4.439583333333333in"}

From early May to mid-June we coordinated with USFWS staff on sampling
protocols and developed datasheets to best address the type of problems
that we were likely to encounter in the field. Two types of datasheets
were created: one for temporary and one for permanent plots (blank
copies of these are provided in the "USFWS AKNHP 05 dtshts" excel file,
included in the "BAER AKNHP FWS Report" folder).

At every site visited temporary plots were read, whether or not they had
non-native plant species. In contrast, permanent plots were only set up
when the following three conditions were met (Fig. 1):

1.  invasive plant species were in/near the site

2.  one or more of these species is listed as "Alaskan Invasive" by the
    US Forest Service/AKNHP (Appendices, Table 10)

3.  the site is not on private land nor in a high-use area where
    permanent plot markers are likely to be removed by people

### [Temporary plots]{.underline}

In the temporary plots we inventoried the plant species diversity
(including percent cover for each species) within a 10m^2^ area (for a
blank sample of this datasheet, *cf*. the "USFWS AKNHP 05 dtshts" excel
file). Information on the amount and type of unvegetated ground within
the plot was also noted. We described the surrounding habitat/landcover
classes, recorded the soil pH, and made soil profiles down to the first
10cm. For non-native taxa, we also collected AKEPIC data: size of the
infestation, age and type of disturbance, and control methods employed,
if any. In burned areas we took note of any vegetation and soil fire
indicators (% ground burned, % trees dead from fire, burned needles,
fire scars, etc.), and also assigned a soil and vegetation severity burn
code to each plot (these codes had been established by FWS fire
ecologists. See Appendices, Table 9, for a description of these codes,
and Appendices, Figs. 28-43, for photographs of sites with different
burn severity codes).![](media/image4.png){width="4.189583333333333in"
height="3.1569444444444446in"}

### [Permanent plots]{.underline}![](media/image5.png){width="4.189583333333333in" height="3.142361111111111in"}

Permanent plots followed protocols developed in coordination with FWS,
and only two were set up, both of which are located in Tetlin refuge
(waypoints #25 and #33) and had *Melilotus alba* infestations (this
species is included in the USFS/AKNHP "Alaskan invasive" list, *cf*.
Appendices, Table 10).

Below we briefly summarize the steps followed to erect a permanent plot:

1.  Plant marker rods at the center of the (white sweetclover)
    infestations

2.  Establish four, 5m long transects that radiate from the infestation
    foci/marker in each of the cardinal directions

3.  Take a total of 80 point-intercept readings along the transects (20
    per transect, at 0.25m distance each)

4.  At each point, count: a) species intercepting between 0-1m, and b)
    species intercepting between 1-2m

5.  Collect soil samples from the plot

6.  Take two photographs of the site. The pictures require that there be
    an observer or object/point of reference. The photographer must
    stand at the end of the 5m transect that runs south of the
    infestation focus, and then takes a photograph centered on the
    observer/point of reference, which must be situated at the end of
    the 5m transect running north of the plot's center. The second
    picture is taken vertically, by moving the camera 20cm to the right
    of the observer/point of reference.

## Post-fieldwork: data processing 

All plant material collected was identified, and herbarium specimens
will be made using the majority of non-native plants collected, as well
as some native taxa. The data collected at each site were compiled into
the database included in this report. GIS shapefiles showing the
location of a) the sites visited in each refuge, and b) the native and
non-native plant species collected at each on of these sites are also
provided. In addition, non-native plant collections data are being
entered into AKEPIC, the statewide non-native plant database.

# [Fieldwork/Activity Accomplishments]{.smallcaps}

## Kenai Refuge

On 27 July 2005 the two principal investigators (M. L. Carlson and K. W.
Boggs) and research associate botanist (Helen Cortes-Burns) traveled to
the Glacier Creek Fire on Tustumena Lake. While waiting for the USFWS at
the upper Kasilof River landing we conducted an AKEPIC plant survey and
observed a number of non-native species (*Taraxacum officinale* ssp.
*officinale, Matricaria discoidea, Trifolium hybridium, Phleum pratense,
Poa annua*, and *Polygonum aviculare*). These species were observed at
the transition from imported fill and the vegetative margin of the boat
launch parking lot, down to the river's edge. We did not observe any
highly invasive species such as *Phalaris arundinacea, Melilotus alba*
or *M. officinale*, or *Hieracium aurantiacum*. However, we did observe
the extremely invasive *Hieracium aurantiacum* along roadsides in a new
development adjacent to Longmere Lake (Mere Circle and Edgington Road),
Soldotna.

Within refuge lands, all our sites were located within the Glacier Creek
burn perimeter, by Tustumena Lake. The vegetation in this area is mixed,
open, white spruce forests (at sections with over 50% mortality due to
bark beetle), with grassy clearings dominated by *Calamagrostis
canadensis, Equisetum arvense* and *Epilobium* *angustifolium*. We read
plots at five cabin sites, the Emma Lake Trail, and lower section of the
Moose Creek Trail. Non-native plants species were observed in four of
the five cabins and in two points along the Emma Lake Trail.

### [Indian Creek]{.underline} 

On 28 July 2005 we found a small population of the non-native *Capsella
bursa-pastoris* in a marsh along the banks of Tustumena Lake, southeast
of Indian Creek (waypoint #1). The plants were growing on the back side
of a beach ridge, submerged in 20 cm of seasonally flooding water, in an
otherwise native community. *Capsella bursa-pastoris* is a weed of
gardens and roadsides, so it was surprising to observe it along the lake
margin far from obvious human activity.

We also surveyed (in addition to establishing and reading a
non-permanent 20 x 20 m vegetation plot) around the nearby Blakely Cabin
(waypoint #2), which is located on a former beach terrace, in a white
spruce forest clearing. No non-native species were observed here.
However, a thick stand of the native grass *Hordeum brachyantherum* was
found adjacent to the cabin entrance. This grass often appears weedy and
establishes in areas of human disturbance.

North of Indian Creek, we tried to retrace Emma Lake trail (waypoint
#3), which starts uphill from the Taylor cabin pasture, and was
obliterated in the 2004 fire (the trail was restored by Kenai refuge
staff later in the summer). The white spruce forest in this area had
been severely burned (severity burn code "1" for both substrate and
vegetation), with more than 95% of the trees completely burned and
downed, and 95% of mineral soil exposed. Although largely unvegetated,
there were trace amounts of *Chamerion* *angustifolium* (= *Epilobium*
*angustifolium*), *Linnaea* *borealis*, *Calamagrostis* *canadensis*,
and *Betula* *papyrifera*. We also found a single *Taraxacum officinale*
ssp. *officinale* here, which we destroyed (Fig. 4). It is most likely
that this plant survived the burn and resprouted. The burned, lower
slope appears to be most susceptible to invasion from the multiple,
nearby sources at Taylor cabin.

We followed the trail as closely as possible and found sections of it in
a number of locations where the fires had been less intense. A second
population of *Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp. *officinale* was observed
along the trail (waypoint #11), approximately 1.5 km west of Emma Lake,
in a well established, open, *Calamagrostis* *canadensis* meadow (Fig.
5).

Approximately 50 plants spaced across 1 acre were pulled, but there were
too many individuals to eradicate the entire population. The meadow was
lightly burned in some areas (burn severity code "4" to "5"), and
untouched by fire in others. It is therefore most likely that this
infestation was there prior to the 2004 fires, and can be attributed to
human use of the trail.

![](media/image6.png){width="2.0652777777777778in"
height="2.754166666666667in"}![](media/image7.png){width="2.3694444444444445in"
height="2.5701388888888888in"}

A large diversity of non-native plants was observed at Emma Lake Cabin
(waypoint #10). This included *Trifolium* *repens*, *Poa* *annua*
(dominant species around cabin), *Matricaria* *discoidea*, and
*Stellaria* *media*. All of these species were clustered on the
compacted soil at the cabin entrance. We pulled most of the pineapple
weed and the clover infestations, but the other species were too
numerous and well established for immediate manual control.

### [Moose Creek]{.underline}

On 29 June 2005 we surveyed the Moose Creek region, including the beach,
cabin, and approximately 1 mile of the Moose Creek Trail. Small
populations of *Matricaria* *discoidea*, *Poa annua, Poa pratensis,* and
*Alopecurus* *pratensis* were located on the beach adjacent to the
confluence of Moose Creek and Tustumena Lake (waypoint #13). We pulled
all individuals of both of these species at this site.

The Moose Creek Cabin site (waypoint #14) was very rich in non-native
plants. The dominant species here were the native *Chamerion*
*angustifolium* and the non-native forage grass *Alopecurus* *pratensis*
(\>60% cover), as well as smaller populations of *Phleum pratense*.
Additionally, numerous non-natives were found in areas of compacted soil
near the cabin and at the beginning of the Moose Creek Trail. These
non-natives included: *Erysimum cheiranthoides* ssp. *cheiranthoides*,
*Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp. *officinale*, *Matricaria* *discoidea*,
and the extremely rarely collected *Asperugo* *decumbens* (no
collections are present in the UA Museum database). We surveyed for
non-natives along the first mile of the trail (waypoint #15) in an
unburned white spruce forest, but found none outside of the immediate
cabin area. The trail was largely overgrown and did not offer disturbed
substrates for the establishment of non-native
species.![](media/image8.png){width="3.0208333333333335in"
height="2.2729166666666667in"}

Taylor Cabin (waypoint #17) also harbors a very large repository of
non-native species (Fig. 6). This includes the lawn grass, *Poa*
*pratensis*, with 70% cover, and forage grasses, *Alopecurus*
*pratensis* and *Phleum* *pratense.* Additional non-natives were:
*Capsella bursa-pastoris, Elymus repens, Erysimum cheiranthoides,
Leucanthemum vulgare, Matricaria discoidea,*

*Poa pratensis, Polygonum aviculare,* *Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp.
*officinale*, and *Trifolium* *repens*. Many of these species are known
to be quite invasive in south-central Alaska.

The Andrew Berg Cabin (waypoint #18) had small infestations of *Erysimum
cheiranthoides* ssp*. cheiranthoides* and *Matricaria* *discoidea* at
the cabin entrance, but was otherwise free from non-native plants. We
pulled the larger plants, but were not able to eradicate the entire
population because there were many, small plants growing underneath the
cabin's porch floorboards.

### [Clear Creek]{.underline} 

We also visited the Clear Creek Cabin site (the cabin was destroyed in
the 1960's). Interestingly, there was a healthy population of the forage
grasses *Alopecurus pratensis, Phleum pratense,* and *Poa pratensis*
(30% cover) on a beach ridge that was the likely site of this cabin
(waypoint #20) (Fig. 7). We surveyed the surrounding areas but did not
observe any other non-native infestations. Assuming this was not a more
recent introduction, it appears that once established these grasses can
persist for a considerable length of time, but do not appear to be very
successful in spreading in native vegetation.

To conclude, we found exotic plant species in four of the five cabin
sites (Taylor, Andrew Berg, Blakely, Moose Creek and Indian Creek
cabins) we visited in Kenai NWR, even though none of these had been
burned in 2004. We did locate a small number of non-native plants along
severely and lightly burned sections of the Emma Lake Trail. Non-native
plant infestations seem to be more closely linked to high-use areas than
to fires in the first year following the fire. Nonetheless, it is
important to note that the cabins and remaining section of the Emma Lake
trail are potential sources of non-native propagules. This is especially
the case for the Taylor Cabin site: the proximity of this cabin, with
eight moderately invasive plant species, to a severely burned section of
the Glacier Creek Fire, makes it a likely focus of dispersal for exotic
plant species into the new, yet to be colonized habitats created by the
fires. ![](media/image9.png){width="3.0104166666666665in"
height="2.265277777777778in"}

## Tetlin Refuge 

In early July 2005, two AKNHP botanists (H. Cortes-Burns and M. Sturdy)
coordinated fieldwork with Merben Cebrian (Tetlin NWR biologist), and
visited three campgrounds and the intersection of Gardiner Creek with
the Alaska Highway, all unburned in the 2004 Gardiner Creek fire, but
used in support of the fire suppression efforts -- i.e. they were the
campsites for the firefighters. In addition, we visited a number of
sites along the highway that were burned in one of the following years:
2004, 1998, 1996 and 1990.

This provided us with a unique opportunity to assess: a) the extent to
which wildfires and firefighting activity constitute a vector for the
establishment and spread of non-native plants, and b) the ability of
infestations to persist through the secondary successional sequence.
Even though some of the sites we surveyed were set in white spruce and
alder woodlands, Tetlin is dominated by black spruce forests/bogs.

### [Lakeview Campground]{.underline}

On 6 July 2005 we surveyed Lakeview Campground and took data for three
plots. One plot was located in the campground at Yarger Lake's edge
(waypoint #22); the plot had a low density of *Hordeum jubatum*,
*Matricaria discoidea*, *Taraxacum officinale* ssp. *officinale*,
*Plantago major*, and *Trifolium hybridum*. A permanent plot was not
established since the plants were in the center of an established
campground. We also looked for non-native species in the surrounding
mixed, white spruce-quaking aspen forest, but none were located.

The second plot was set up halfway down the campground road (waypoint
#23), on a path that extended beyond a campsite into the forest. No
exotics were recorded.

The third site was a grassy clearing in the forest, located within 20-30
m of the Alaska Highway (waypoint #24). A number of non-native plants
were found there, including the highly invasive *Melilotus alba*, as
well as *Crepis tectorum*, *Bromus inermis* ssp. *inermis*, and
*Taraxacum officinale* ssp. *officinale*. Given the abundance of
*Melilotus alba* along the highway, it seems most likely that the few
individuals found in the third plot were the result of dispersal from
roadside populations. A permanent plot was erected at this site
(waypoint #25).

### [Deadman's lake Campground]{.underline} 

Deadman\'s Lake campground was surveyed on 6 July 2005 and three
non-permanent plots were read at this location. Unlike Lakeview, this
area is dominated by black spruce forest/bog.

The first site was completed halfway down the Nature Trail boardwalk
that runs through a black spruce forest/fen, from the campground to
Deadman Lake (waypoint #27). We found, and manually removed, clumps of
*Poa pratensis* ssp*. irrigata* (*P. subcoerulea*) and *Hordeum jubatum*
growing next to the boardwalk, in a mound of gravel and pebbles that had
recently been laid on top of the (native) peat/tussock-grass (Fig. 8).
![](media/image10.png){width="3.036111111111111in"
height="2.277083333333333in"}

The second site was by the boat ramp, on imported mineral soils
(waypoint #28). The following exotics were observed: *Crepis tectorum*,
*Hordeum jubatum*, *Matricaria discoidea*, *Poa pratensis*, *Phleum
pratense*, *Plantago major*, and *Taraxacum officinale* ssp.
*officinale*. Permanent monitoring plots were not constructed in either
of these first two sites because both were located in high use areas.

The last site at Deadman's Lake Campground was in a clearing in the
forest, next to the campsites (waypoint #29). This site had a high
density of *Trifolium hybridum* and smaller densities of *Taraxacum
officinale* ssp. *officinale*, *Hordeum jubatum* (pulled), *Poa annua*
and *Plantago major*. No other non-native taxa were observed in
Deadman's Lake Campground.

### [Roadside campground]{.underline}

The crew surveyed a small campground by an RV rest area on the south
side of the highway (waypoint #30). The area, even though surrounded by
mixed, white spruce forest, was largely unvegetated (70%), and had no
exotics. This is somewhat surprising since the campsite is located on
imported, mineral soils and receives a considerable amount of traffic.

### [Gardiner Creek]{.underline} 

On 7 July 2005, Tetlin NWR biologist Merben Cebrian, who is currently
carrying out weed inventories along the section of the Alaska Highway
extending from the Canadian border to Tok, joined us on our fieldwork.
We surveyed the area of the Refuge where the highway intersects Gardiner
Creek, as well as two areas that had burned in years previous to 2004.

We conducted our first plot at the intersection of Gardiner Creek and
the Alaska Highway, on the southwest side of the creek crossing
(waypoint #31). The area was a grassy, partially flooded meadow in a
mixed, white spruce-aspen stand. Small amounts of the non-natives
*Lappula squarrosa*, *Plantago major*, *Hordeum jubatum*, and *Trifolium
hybridum* were observed. We were unable to locate Gardiner Creek
downstream from here, as it almost immediately went underground through
cobbles and gravel into a dense alder shrubland.

On the southeast side of the crossing (waypoint #32), which had a much
greater diversity of non-native species, we set up our second temporary
plot and a permanent plot (waypoint #33) (Fig. 9). The exotics recorded
in this locality were: *Bromus inermis* ssp*. inermis, Hordeum jubatum*,
*Lappula* *squarrosa*, *Lepidium* *densiflorum*, *Matricaria discoidea*,
*Melilotus alba*, *Plantago major*, *Polygonum aviculare*, *Taraxacum
officinale* ssp. *officinale*, and *Trifolium hybridum*.

The area encompassed by the first and second sites had been hydroaxed
within the past year, therefore creating open habitats that were
subsequently colonized by roadside weeds. In addition, the creek had
been dammed up to divert the riverbed, which explains why many
terrestrial plants (including the exotics listed above) were
underwater.![](media/image11.png){width="3.1458333333333335in"
height="2.3631944444444444in"}

The third Gardiner Creek site, located northeast of the crossing
(waypoint #35), did not show signs of recent disturbance and had a much
greater diversity of native plants, as well as the following non-native
plants: *Chenopodium album*, *Hordeum jubatum*, *Lepidium densiflorum*,
*Plantago major*, and *Trifolium repens*, all of which occurred at low
density.

We then moved east ca. 150 m along the highway, where the 2004 fire had
reached the road. Two non-permanent sites were established within the
Gardiner Creek Fire on the north side of the Alaska Highway. The first
plot (waypoint #37) was carried out in a black spruce-deciduous
woodland, which had been severely burned \[USFWS burn severity code "1"
to "2" for both substrate and vegetation\]. The area was largely
unvegetated, and we found no exotics (Fig. 10).

We then surveyed the nearby roadside area that had been driven over with
earth moving equipment the previous year (waypoint #38). This site had a
high percent cover of the taxonomically problematic grass *Bromus
inermis* that has both native and non-native subspecies, which widely
hybridize.

### [1990, 1996 and 1998 burns]{.underline} 

On 7 July 2005 we surveyed the 1996/1998 burned areas (waypoint #39).
The two burns appeared contiguous at their intersection with the
highway. Here we investigated a dirt road that branched off the highway
and extended ca. 1 km into a regenerating alder woodland. We found and
extirpated 3-4 clumps of *Hordeum jubatum* and a single *Taraxacum*
*officinale* ssp. *officinale* plant along the dirt track, but no
exotics were observed in the woodland
itself.![](media/image12.png){width="2.2708333333333335in"
height="3.022222222222222in"}

On 8 July 2005 two plots were read in the 1990 burned area. The first
plot was by the roadside (waypoint #44): *Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp.
*officinale* and *Melilotus alba* were observed here (Fig. 11). We then
did a second plot, approximately 30 m off the roadside (waypoint #47),
within the regenerating black spruce forest (Fig. 12). No exotics were
seen here.

Overall, our findings from Tetlin suggest that non-native plant
infestations are limited to sites that are close to the highway and have
been recently cleared or disturbed by humans. The Gardiner Creek surveys
illustrate this correlation: exotics were found in roadside areas that
had been recently hydroaxed, but not in the nearby burned woodland, even
though the latter is potentially susceptible to colonization from
adjacent, weed populations on the highway. This is further corroborated
by the absence of weeds in older, regenerating, burned areas (1990,
1996, and 1998), all of which intersected the highway.

![](media/image13.png){width="1.9895833333333333in"
height="2.479861111111111in"}![](media/image14.png){width="1.9840277777777777in"
height="2.49375in"}

In this context, firefighting activity (places where machinery was used
to create firebreaks, rest areas for firefighters, water recharge zones,
etc.) also constitutes a potential vector for the dispersal of exotic
plants. We learned from USFWS staff that the Yarger, Eliza, and Deadman
Lakes had all been used by firefighting crews as water recharge zones.
However, we did not have detailed locality information on this, so we
limited our surveys to the Lakeview and Deadman campground areas, as
these were the only places around the lakes that could be accessed from
the Highway (we were unable to get to Eliza Lake because both roads
leading to it were private). Although exotics were found at both
campgrounds, they were most likely there prior to the 2004 fires, and
had been brought in by campground visitors and/or weed dispersal from
the road system.

## Kanuti Refuge

From 13 July to 16 July 2005, two AKNHP botanists (M. Carlson and H.
Cortés-Burns) surveyed a total of 16 sites in the area affected by 2004
Clawanmenka fire, in Kanuti NWR. We inventoried the boundary lands of
nine allotments that had been burned, and two unburned ones along the
South Fork of the Koyukuk, as well as approximately 50 river miles of
the South Fork (including the portion of the Winter Trail that
intersects the river south of the Jim River). The dominant vegetation
type encountered was black spruce forest/muskeg. No invasive species
were found in any of the 16 plots read in Kanuti Refuge.

### [Fish Creek Lake]{.underline}![](media/image15.png){width="1.875in" height="2.3201388888888888in"}

On 13 July 2005 we surveyed the boundary of an allotment on the
southeast side of Fish Creek Lake (Fig. 13). One of our plots was set up
in a burned, 50% unvegetated, black spruce forest/bog (burn severity
code for substrate and vegetation "3") (waypoint #50). The other plot
was read in an area that had hardly been burned (vegetation and
substrate burn severity code "4" to "5"), dominated by black spruce,
liverworts (*Marchantia* sp.), and peat moss (*Sphagnum* sp) (waypoint
#53).

On 14 July 2005 we tried to reach Fish Creek and adjacent allotment
boundaries by boat, but were unable to find any navigable sloughs or
streams connecting the lake to the creek (they were all too shallow
and/or obstructed by extensive mats of floating, aquatic plants). We
then carried out three surveys in burned FWS land located between the
allotments on the north shore of Fish Creek Lake and those bisected by
Fish Creek to the north.

The first plot (waypoint #64) was carried out in a burned, black spruce
peatland, dominated by liverworts (*Marchantia* sp.) and mosses (burn
severity code for both substrate and vegetation "3"). We then read a
plot (waypoint #66) by the lakeshore, in a small, very lightly burned
alder-birch woodland (substrate and vegetation code "4"). The last site
we surveyed near Fish Creek Lake (waypoint #68) was set in largely (80%)
unvegetated, burned, shrub-tussock tundra, with only a few dead
alder/birch trees left standing (substrate and vegetation burn severity
code "3").

In the late evening we were moved to a river bar on the South Fork
Koyukuk by fixed-wing.

### [South Fork of the Koyukuk]{.underline}![](media/image16.png){width="2.2708333333333335in" height="1.7104166666666667in"}

On 15 July 2005 we navigated the South Fork of the Koyukuk up to the
confluence with the Jim River (Fig. 14), surveying for non-native
species the entire length. In addition, we read non-permanent plots in
the following seven sites:

1.  Two in open, unburned, riverbank habitats. The first plot (waypoint
    #73) was carried out at a silty-cobbly river bar dominated by
    cottonwoods. The second one (waypoint #74), located at the
    confluence of the Jim River and the South Fork of the Koyukuk, was a
    largely (95%) unvegated, sandy-cobbly area surrounded by mixed, open
    white spruce forests. Even though these sites were not affected by
    the 2004 fires, they could still, potentially, harbor exotics if the
    river is being used as a dispersal vector by weeds growing along the
    Dalton Highway.

2.  FWS land near two private cabins, about 5 miles down river from our
    camp, which was located at waypoint #70. As we did not have
    landowner permission to access the cabins, we took notes on the
    plant species found in the surrounding area.

3.  Three in burned areas along the South Fork (waypoint #75, #77, and
    #79). All three were in black spruce forests/bogs that were largely
    (\>50%) unvegetated, and with both substrate and vegetation burn
    severity codes of "3" (Fig. 15).

4.  The unburned intersection of the Winter Trail with the South Fork
    (waypoint #76). The vegetation at this site was a dry to mesic,
    mixed white spruce woodland (white spruce-cottonwood-alder) (Fig.
    16).

Unlike the sections of winter trail we saw in the Yukon Flats (see
below) no exotics were found along this portion of the Kanuti winter
trail. It is likely that it is not used in the summer, unlike the Yukon
Flats winter trail, as is suggested by the fact that the vegetation
along the trail was largely overgrown at its intersection with the
river. Additionally, much of the Kanuti winter trail runs through vast
expanses of muskeg, which is unlikely to support the establishment of
non-native species.

### [Clawanmenka, Kaldolyeit and Minnkokut Lakes]{.underline}

On 16 July 2005 we surveyed a total of four plots in Clawanmenka,
Kaldolyeit and Minnkokut lakes. The first one was read in a burned,
largely (90%) unvegegated, mixed white spruce forest by Clawanmenka Lake
(waypoint #81). The site surveyed at Kaldolyeit Lake (waypoint #82) was
also set in a burned, mixed white spruce forest. Lastly, we set up two
plots at Minnkokut Lake. The first one (waypoint #83) was burned and
almost completely unvegetated (burn severity code "3"); while the second
one (waypoint #85), just approx. 150m away, was in an unburned, mixed
deciduous forest. As in all the previous localities, no non-native plant
species were found. We were unable to land at a small lake with a parcel
southeast of Minnkokut Lake since it was too shallow for the
plane.![](media/image17.png){width="2.6458333333333335in"
height="1.9916666666666667in"}

![](media/image18.png){width="2.6458333333333335in"
height="1.9881944444444444in"}

### [Bettles]{.underline}

Non-native plant species growing along the shores of the Bettles
floatplane pond (waypoint #86) and in the airfield were recorded. These
included: *Chenopodium album*, *Hordeum jubatum*, *Matricaria*
*discoidea*, *Plantago* *major*, *Poa* *pratensis* ssp. *irrigata* (*P*.
*subcoerulea*), and *Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp. *officinale*. These
plants may facilitate the establishment of non-natives in remote sites
in Kanuti Refuge, since Bettles is heavily used by eco-tourists and big
game hunters.

## Yukon Flats Refuge

AKNHP botanists Anna Jansen, Michelle Sturdy, and Helen Cortes-Burns
surveyed the Yukon Flats NWR in collaboration with two foresters from
the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC). The dominant type of vegetation
encountered was mixed, open, white-spruce forest. We flew by helicopter
to four burns (Winter Trail, Lower Mouth, Preacher Creek and Dall City),
and inventoried the boundary lands for a total of nine allotments, three
cabins, three helispots, and a section of a winter trail. Non-native
species were found in three allotments, one FWS cabin, and along the
Lower Mouth section of the Winter Trail.

It must be noted that, although our initial goal was to walk the entire
perimeter of each allotment surveying for invasive plants, we were
unable to do so due to logistical (time/cost) constraints. Hiking the
contour of each parcel would have required that we spend much more time
per site, which not only would have made sharing helicopter time with
the TCC foresters hard to coordinate, but would have also greatly
increased: a) the duration of the entire trip, and b) the budget for the
trip, as the TCC workers left on July 25^th^, and any flight time we
incurred on after that was charged solely to us.

However, if we work under the premise that the main paths of entry for
non-native plants into these areas coincide with the points of access to
the allotments used by landowners and firefighting crews, we believe
that we adequately sampled the possible 'invasion routes' for each land
parcel. We achieved this by inventorying: 1) sections of each
allotment's perimeter, 2) the area around each helispot we landed at,
and 3) possible boat pull-in sites, which often coincided with lakeshore
clearings used by our pilot as a landing zone.

### [Winter Trail Fire]{.underline}

On 22-23 July 2005 we visited a total of seven allotments, two cabins
and four helispots in the Winter Trail Fire region.

We first inventoried an allotment by Tivehaun Lake, where we read a
total of four plots (waypoint #88, #90, #91, and #92), all of which were
burned and located within 40m of the allotment boundary.

![](media/image19.jpeg){width="2.3506944444444446in"
height="3.0659722222222223in"}

The presence of felled trees and of a well-defined firebreak surrounding
the entire allotment (clearly visible both when flying over it, as well
as at waypoints #88 and #90, *cf*. Fig. 17) indicates that significant
fire fighting work took place here, leaving the parcel itself unburned.
In contrast, the land immediately outside the allotment was moderately
to severely burned (Fig. 17).

Non-native species were found in two of the four plots: one had
*Chenopodium album* and *Erysimum cheiranthoides* spp*. cheiranthoides*
(waypoint #88), while the other had *Chenopodium album* and *Descurainia
sophia* (waypoint #90). We removed all the *Chenopodium album*
individuals we saw, and most of the *D. sophia*. Lastly, we surveyed the
landing zone used by our pilot (waypoint #87), a grassy clearing in the
forest just inside the allotment's boundary, but found no invasives
here.

We then surveyed two sites along the perimeter of an allotment located
south of Tivehaun Lake, close to Twentymile Lake. In flying over the
area, no signs of firefighting activities were detected (unlike the
Tivehaun parcel), and we noted that the fire here had been less intense.
We only found one place where the helicopter could land safely, and set
up two plots in its vicinity: one on the margin of a moderately burned
(vegetation severity burn code "2"; substrate code "3"), white spruce
forest (waypoint #93), and another one in a lightly burned area
(vegetation and substrate burn code "3") by the lake's edge (waypoint
#94). No exotics were recorded at these sites.

Further south, we inventoried the portion of another allotment's
perimeter that coincided with one of the FWS priority helispots. The
landing zone (waypoint #95) was a grassy meadow by the lake's edge,
surrounded by an unburned, mixed, white spruce forest. A single
*Chenopodium album* was found and pulled. We flew west of here over
another "target" helispot, but did not land because: a) the helispot was
in the middle of the parcel; b) it was not burned, and c) there seemed
to be no signs of human disturbance.

On 23 July 2005, a section of the perimeter of an allotment that lies
northwest of Shotuih Hill was investigated. Two plots were set up here:
one in a moderately burned (substrate and vegetation burn code "3")
white spruce/quaking aspen forest (waypoint #96); and the other
(waypoint #97), only 20 meters away, was in an unburned grassland by the
lake's edge that we used as a landing zone. Although we found no exotics
here, the TCC foresters collected a single *Chenopodium album* inside
the allotment, close to the cabin.

Another two parcels adjacent to Shovun Lake were visited. One of them
had two cabins sites and we obtained permission from TCC to survey them.
The first cabin (waypoint #98) was situated in a portion of the parcel
that had not been burned in 2004 (Fig. 18). The *Calamagrostis
canadensis-Artemisia frigida* meadow surrounding the cabin also had well
established populations of *Chenopodium album, Erysimum cheiranthoides*
ssp*. cheiranthoides, Hordeum jubatum,* and *Lepidium densiflorum*
(especially in the area surrounding the fire pit).

![](media/image20.png){width="2.9541666666666666in" height="2.13125in"}

We then read two plots at the second cabin site (waypoint #101 and
#103), even though the cabin itself had been completely burned down
(substrate and vegetation burn code 3-4). In the clearcut where the
cabin formerly stood (waypoint #101) we recorded low densities of
*Chenopodium album, Erysimum cheiranthoides* spp*. cheiranthoides,
Hordeum jubatum,* and *Lepidium densiflorum*. However, less than 10 m
away (waypoint #103), in a part of the white spruce forest that had been
severely burned, no exotics were observed.

The second allotment (waypoint #104), set in a mixed, white
spruce/quaking aspen forest, had hardly been affected by the 2004 fire,
and no exotic species were found along its perimeter.

Finally, we flew to the Veteran's allotment, and landed at one of the
two FWS priority site helispots (we did not find the second one). The
area (waypoint #106) was not burned, and no exotics were recorded.

### [Lower Mouth Fire]{.underline}

On 24 July 2005 we surveyed the Lower Mouth Fire. We did not find
invasive plant species in the first three allotments visited: one west
of Tlozhavun Lake (waypoint #108), partially burned, another south of
Chissovun Lake (waypoint #109 and #110), moderately burned (vegetation
and substrate code 3-4), and the third west of Canvasback Lake (waypoint
#112), also moderately burned. However, *Erysimum* *cheiranthoides* ssp.
*cheiranthoides* and *Hordeum jubatum* were recorded at the USFWS cabin
by Canvasback Lake (waypoint #114), which had not been affected by the
fires.

Another three plots were read along the FWS portion of the winter trail
that traverses the northeast corner of the Lower Mouth fire (waypoint
#115, #116, and #117) (Fig. 19). Although non-native species were found
growing along the trail (*Bromus* *inermis* ssp. *inermis*, *Chenopodium
album, Erysimum cheiranthoides* ssp. *cheiranthoides,* and *Hordeum
jubatum*), these small infestations did not extend into the surrounding,
lightly burned forest (vegetation and substrate burn code
'4').![](media/image21.png){width="2.2583333333333333in"
height="3.03125in"}

[]{.mark}

### [Dall City Fire]{.underline} 

On 25 July 2005 we flew out to the Dall City Burn. Although we were able
to fly over the FWS target allotments, there were no safe places near
them in which to land the helicopter in (the ground was saturated in
water). We finally decided to do a plot in a burned (substrate and
vegetation code '4'), regenerating, marshy meadow that was close to but
not adjacent to the priority sites (waypoint #118). No exotics were
observed. We also tried landing along the section of the winter trail
that runs through the Dall City Burn, but the trail was too narrow for
the helicopter to land in safely.

### [Preacher Creek Fire]{.underline}

Two cabins were listed as FWS priority in this burn (coordinates: N
66.00, W -145.63 and N 65.99, W -144.81). However, as we flew over the
areas where they were supposed to be (we had coordinates for one of them
in our GPS unit) we were not able to find neither them nor any signs of
old cabin sites within the burned forest.

### [Fort Yukon]{.underline}

In Fort Yukon, we surveyed the section of the riverbank at the boat
launch (waypoint #120) and the airport runway (no waypoint taken here).
The following exotics were recorded: *Chenopodium album,* *Descurainia
sophia*, *Hordeum jubatum, Lappula squarrosa, Lepidium densiflorum,
Matricharia discoidea,* *Polygonum aviculare,* and *Taraxacum
officinale* ssp*. officinale*.

Despite a series of logistical problems in Yukon Flats, we were still
able to survey three burned areas and four types of sites (cabins,
allotments, winter trails, and landing zones). Successful establishment
of non-native plant species is most strongly correlated with areas of
high human activity. Exotics in this refuge were found near cabins, in
helispots, in firefighting activity zones and along the winter trail.
Unlike the Kanuti Refuge winter trail, this one was well maintained and
clearly delineated. Also, gathering from the volume of cultural debris
that we found along the 2-4 km of trail surveyed, it is very likely that
it is more heavily used than the trail in Kanuti.

# [Summary of findings]{.smallcaps}

Both Tetlin and Kenai refuges have non-native species in 90% or more of
the sites surveyed, and also harbor the most aggressively invasive taxa
collected from all four refuges (*Bromus* *inermis* var. *inermis*,
*Melilotus* *alba*, and *Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp. *officinale* in
Tetlin; *Alopecurus* *pratensis*, *Leucanthemum* *vulgare*, and
*Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp. *officinale* in Kenai). All infestations
were found at or near high human use areas (the highway, campgrounds,
cabins, trails). Also worth noting is that in both these refuges less
than 20% of the plots inventoried were burned, and only one site
(beginning of Lake Emma trail, Kenai NWR) was severely burned.
Nonetheless, and particularly in the case of the area around Taylor
Cabin (Kenai Refuge), the high human use sites visited in 2005 should be
monitored again in the coming growth seasons, as they could act as
source areas for the dispersal of invasive plants into the surrounding,
(moderate to high intensity) burned land, especially where the soil had
burned to the mineral layer.

The non-natives found in Yukon Flats refuge rank low in terms of their
degree of invasiveness, and were also consistently associated with
either human use areas and/or with sites in which firefighting
activities had taken place. Finally, no invasives were found in the
sites visited in Kanuti Refuge (and yet one must note that more than 50%
of the plots were located in lightly to moderately burned land). We
reiterate, however, that the presence of invasives on the shores of the
Bettles float-plane pond, which is used by aircraft flying out to the
refuge (including firefighting planes), constitutes an important
(potential) means of dispersal for these plants into refuge lands.

# [Treatment Effectiveness]{.smallcaps}

In both Kenai and Tetlin NWR we were able to visit 100% of the priority
sites listed, and also did additional plots in areas of special interest
(e.g.: Indian creek marsh, Tetlin's 1990 and 1998 burned areas). In the
case of the Kanuti and Yukon Flats refuges, most but not all priority
sites were targeted. The primary reason for not covering all priority
sites listed for Kanuti and Yukon Flats was not the methodology used,
but rather a series of logistical problems we encountered once we were
in the field (non-navigable sloughs and marshes, Trimble units not
working, etc.). In this context, it is unlikely that changes in the
methodology or in the pre-fieldwork plans could have improved locating
the remaining sites. Also, as stated earlier in the report, we were
unable to organize fieldwork with Innoko Refuge personnel in time for
the 2005 field season. However, we plan to survey selected sites (burned
and unburned) located in this refuge, in the proximity of the town of
Galena (with known non-native plant populations), and along the Yukon
River in the 2006 field season, using the funds remaining from the 2005
FWS-AKNHP grant.

Although we did not systematically survey high severity burn sites
within a 1mile radius from priority sites, we did walk around the
targeted source area trying to see how far the infestation (when there
was one) extended. In all cases, we found that non-natives were centered
strictly on the high use zones (trails, campsites, etc.), and that only
liverworts, mosses and fireweed grew in severely burned areas in the
first growth season following the fires (the one exception to this is
the *Taraxacum* *officinale* ssp. *officinale* individual we found at
the beginning of the Lake Emma Trail, which most likely survived the
burn and resprouted).

During our trips to the refuges we set up both temporary and permanent
plots. However, we found that we were often unable to establish
permanent plots for future monitoring in sites with invasive species
because they were either in high-use zones (e.g. winter trails,
campground clearings), or near/in private parcels. We suggest that only
temporary plots be used in future field seasons, as they provide all the
key information needed to revisit an infestation site at a later stage,
such as the extent of the infestation, age of disturbance and control
method (through the AKEPIC data table), severity of the surrounding
burn, and GPS coordinates to relocate the plot.

However, a more thorough and permanent plot approach is necessitated if
we want to gain more detailed information on the spatial patterns of
non-native plant invasion, the interaction of native and non-native
species, and the impact of non-native plants on community and ecosystem
function. For this purpose, we suggest developing a more consistent and
accurate way of measuring the size and shape of invasive plant
populations (e.g. GPS the perimeter), and also focusing future survey
work on areas affected by different age burns and that are relatively
easy to access (e.g. Tetlin infestations), to guarantee that they will
be monitored over at least the next three to five years.

# [Future Directions & Recommendations]{.smallcaps}

This report presents the data and conclusions derived from the 2005
non-native plant surveys that were carried out in selected refuge sites
affected by the 2004 fires. The taxonomy of a small number of plants
collected (\<10 grass/sedge specimens) still remains questionable, and
these will be sent to the UAF Herbarium for final determination.

During the month of October we visited biologists at the Kanuti, Yukon
Flats and Kenai refuges to give brief presentations on our findings.
These meetings allowed us to exchange opinions with the three refuges'
staff on the possible reasons for the presence/absence of non-natives in
the sites visited, and provided us with greater insight into the causes
underlying the establishment of invasive plant species in the areas
surveyed (although we did not give a presentation at Tetlin NWR, the
conclusions reached following our fieldwork there were adequately
discussed with biologist Merben Cebrian both in the field and in
subsequent communications). We also gave the talk \"Summary of Burned
Area Emergency response, Invasive Plant Surveys\" at the 2005 CNIPM
(Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plants Management) conference
held in Fairbanks, in collaboration with Ruth Gronquist from BLM.

We strongly recommend revisiting the Kenai and Tetlin sites, given that:
a) these had a wider range of burned/unburned habitat types infested by
exotics (cabins, unburned marshes, trails, campgrounds, etc.), b) they
are more easily accessible, and therefore more likely to be monitored in
the following years, and c) in the case of Tetlin, there are burns of
different ages that should be further investigated for the presence of
non-native plants (priority areas would be those known to have been used
by firefighters). Although we did not find any invasive species in the
sites surveyed in Kanuti, we want to emphasize that floatplanes and
firefighting aircraft that use the Bettles pond as a base pose a
potential risk for successful weed introduction in refuge lands, given
the number of non-native species that grow by the pond's margin. Lastly,
in the case of Yukon Flats refuges, we would like to highlight the
important role that Winter Trails, in addition to cabins and helispots,
play as routes for the expansion of invasive species into refuge lands.

To conclude, we emphasize that the observations made in this work on the
relationship (or lack thereof) between burns and non-native plant
infestations are preliminary, especially given that most burned sites
visited this summer were still largely unvegetated and could become
colonized by exotics in the next growing season. It is therefore central
to the success of this project that some of the sites surveyed this year
be revisited over the following growing seasons. In this context,
biologists from Kenai, Tetlin and Yukon Flats refuges will be revisiting
2004 burn sites on which invasive plants were found, and will be doing
so in collaboration with one of the AKNHP botanists that carried out the
2005 surveys. In addition to this, all four refuges will be carrying out
BAER non-native plant surveys in selected sites affected by the 2005
fires.

Finally, we propose that experimental plots be set up in burned/unburned
areas that are readily accessible and can be carefully and regularly
monitored over time. This could be done in an area such as Tetlin NWR,
where there are different age burns, various kinds of habitats infested
(roadside areas, campgrounds, etc.), and refuge biologists that are
already carrying out weed inventories. It would also be worthwhile to
seek collaboration with other landowners in selected areas (e.g. BLM),
as this would give us access to study sites in and around refuge lands.

# [References]{.smallcaps}

Brooks, M.L. 1999. Alien annual grasses and fire in the Mojave Desert.
Madrono, 46:13--19.

Busch, D.E. 1995. Effects of fire on southwestern riparian plant
community structure. Southwestern Naturalist, 40:259--267.

Harrod, R. J. and S. Reichard. 2001. Fire and invasive species within
temperate and boreal coniferous forests of western North America. Pages
95-101 in K. E. M. Galley and T. P. Wilson (eds.). Proceedings of the
Invasive Species Workshop: the Role of Fire in the Control and Spread of
Invasive Species. Fire Conference 2000: the First National Congress on
Fire Ecology, Prevention and Management. Miscellaneous Publication
No.11, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.

Randall, J. M. 1996. Weed control for the preservation of biological
diversity. Weed technology, 10: 370-383.

Rejmanek, M. 1989. Invasibility of plant communities. Pages 369-388 in
J. A. Drake, H. A. Mooney, F. di Castri, R. H. Groves, F. J. Kruger, M.
Rejmanek, and M. Williamson (eds.). Biological invasions: a global
perspective. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane, Australia.

Shephard, M. 2004. [Status of Exotic Invasive Organisms in Alaska. USDA
Forest Service](http://www.cnipm.org/statusofinvasivesak04.pdf).
Anchorage, AK. http://www.cnipm.org/statusofinvasivesak04.pdf

# [Appendices]{.smallcaps}

## Table 1. List of non-native plant species found in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. 

  ------------ ---------------- ------------------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------
  Collection   Genus            Species            Veg.   Soil   \%      Rank   Control
  locality                                         code   code   cover          action

  Indian Creek *Capsella*       *bursa-pastoris*   5      5      \<10           none
  marsh                                                                         

  Emma Lake    *Taraxacum*      *officinale ssp.   1      1      \<10    64     pulled
  trail (1)                     officinale*                                     

  Emma Lake    *Matricaria*     *discoidea*        5      5      trace   34     pulled most
  cabin                                                                         of it

               *Poa*            *annua*            5      5      \<10    51     none

               *Stellaria*      *media*                          \<10           none

               *Trifolium*      *repens*                         trace   59     pulled most
                                                                                of it

  Emma Lake    *Poa*            *annua*            4 to 5 4      trace   51     none
  trail (2)                                                                     

               *Taraxacum*      *officinale ssp.                 \<10    64     pulled some
                                officinale*                                     of it

  Moose Creek  *Alopecurus*     *pratensis*        5      5      trace   70     pulled
  cabin                                                                         

               *Matricaria*     *discoidea*                      trace   34     pulled

               *Poa*            *annua*                          trace   51     none

               *Poa*            *pratensis*                      trace   57     none

               *Alopecurus*     *pratensis*                      60      70     none

               *Asperugo*       *procumbens*                     trace          none

               *Erysimum*       *cheiranthoides                  trace          
                                ssp.                                            
                                cheiranthoides*                                 

               *Phleum*         *pratense*                       \<10    56     none

               *Taraxacum*      *officinale ssp.                 \<10    64     none
                                officinale*                                     

  Taylor cabin *Alopecurus*     *pratensis*        5      5      trace   70     none

               *Capsella*       *bursa-pastoris*                 trace          none

               *Elymus*         *repens*                         \<10    59     none

               *Erysimum*       *cheiranthoides                  trace          
                                ssp.                                            
                                cheiranthoides*                                 

               *Leucanthemum*   *vulgare*                        trace   61     none

               *Matricaria*     *discoidea*                      trace   34     none

               *Phleum*         *pratense*                       trace   56     none

               *Poa*            *pratensis ssp.                  5       57     none
                                irrigata*                                       

               *Poa*            *pratensis*                      70      57     none

               *Polygonum*      *aviculare*                      trace          none

               *Taraxacum*      *officinale ssp.                 \<10    64     none
                                officinale*                                     

               *Trifolium*      *repens*                         20      59     none

  Andrew berg  *Erysimum*       *cheiranthoides    5      5      trace          
  cabin                         ssp.                                            
                                cheiranthoides*                                 

               *Matricaria*     *discoidea*                      trace   34     none

  Clear Creek  *Alopecurus*     *pratensis*        5      5      trace   70     none
  cabin                                                                         

               *Phleum*         *pratense*                       trace   56     none

               *Poa*            *pratensis*                      30      57     none
  ------------ ---------------- ------------------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------

##  Table 2. List of non-native plant species found in Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. 

  ------------ -------------- -------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------
  Collection   Genus          Species        Veg.   Soil   \%      Rank   Control
  locality                                   code   code   cover          action

  Deadman      *Hordeum*      *jubatum*      5      5      \<10    63     pulled
  Campground 1                                                            

               *Poa*          *pratensis                   \<10    57     pulled
                              ssp. irrigata*                              

  Deadman      *Argentina*    *anserina*     5      5      \<10           none
  Campground 2                                                            

               *Crepis*       *tectorum*                   \<10    43     none

               *Hordeum*      *jubatum*                    trace   63     none

               *Matricaria*   *discoidea*                  \<10    34     none

               *Plantago*     *major*                      \<10    44     none

               *Poa*          *pratensis*                  \<10    57     none

               *Taraxacum*    *officinale                  \<10    64     none
                              ssp.                                        
                              officinale*                                 

  Deadman      *Hordeum*      *jubatum*      5      5      trace   63     pulled
  Campground 3                                                            

               *Plantago*     *major*                      \<10    44     none

               *Poa*          *annua*                      \<10    51     none

               *Taraxacum*    *officinale                  \<10    64     none
                              ssp.                                        
                              officinale*                                 

               *Trifolium*    *hybridum*                   \<10    57     none

  Lakeview     *Hordeum*      *jubatum*      5      5      \<10    63     none
  Campground 1                                                            

               *Matricaria*   *discoidea*                  \<10    34     none

               *Plantago*     *major*                      \<10    44     none

               *Poa*          *annua*                      \<10    51     

               *Taraxacum*    *officinale                  \<10    64     none
                              ssp.                                        
                              officinale*                                 

               *Trifolium*    *hybridum*                   \<10    57     none

  Lakeview     *Bromus*       *inermis var.  5      5      60      62     
  Campground 3                inermis*                                    

               *Crepis*       *tectorum*                   \<10    43     none

               *Melilotus*    *alba*                       trace   80     none

               *Taraxacum*    *officinale                  \<10    64     none
                              ssp.                                        
                              officinale*                                 
  ------------ -------------- -------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------

  ------------ --------------- --------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------
  Collection   *Genus*         *Species*       Veg.   Soil   \%      Rank   Control
  locality                                     code   code   cover          action
  (contd.)                                                                  

  Gardiner     *Hordeum*       *jubatum*       5      5      \<10    63     none
  Creek area:                                                               
  Tetlin 2                                                                  

               *Lappula*       *squarrosa*                   \<10    43     none

               *Plantago*      *major*                       \<10    44     none

               *Trifolium*     *hybridum*                    \<10    57     none

  Gardiner     *Bromus*        *inermis var.   5      5      \<10    62     
  Creek area:                  inermis*                                     
  Tetlin 3                                                                  

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                     \<10    63     none

               *Lappula*       *squarrosa*                   trace   43     none

               *Lepidium*      *densiflorum*                 \<10           none

               *Matricaria*    *discoidea*                   \<10    34     none

               *Melilotus*     *alba*                        \<10    80     none

               *Plantago*      *major*                       \<10    44     none

               *Polygonum*     *aviculare*                   trace          none

               *Taraxacum*     *officinale                   \<10    64     none
                               ssp.                                         
                               officinale*                                  

               *Trifolium*     *hybridum*                    \<10    57     none

  Gardiner     *Chenopodium*   *album*         5      5      \<10    35     none
  Creek area:                                                               
  Tetlin 4                                                                  

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                     \<10    63     none

               *Lepidium*      *densiflorum*                 \<10           none

               *Plantago*      *major*                       \<10    44     none

               *Trifolium*     *repens*                      \<10    59     none

  Gardiner     *Bromus*        *inermis var.   5      5      30      62     
  Creek area:                  inermis*                                     
  Tetlin 6                                                                  

  1990 burn    *Melilotus*     *alba*          5      5      \<10    80     none
  (roadside                                                                 
  plot)                                                                     

               *Taraxacum*     *officinale                   \<10    64     none
                               ssp.                                         
                               officinale*                                  
  ------------ --------------- --------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------

## Table 3. List of non-native plant species found in Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. 

  ------------ --------------- ----------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------
  Collection   Genus           Species           Veg.   Soil   \%      Rank   Control
  locality                                       code   code   cover          action

  Tivehaun     *Chenopodium*   *album*           1      1      \<10    35     none
  lake parcel                                                                 

               *Erysimum*      *cheiranthoides                 \<10           
                               ssp.                                           
                               cheiranthoides*                                

  Tivehaun     *Chenopodium*   *album*           1 to 2 1 to 2 \<10    35     pulled
  lake parcel                                                                 

               *Descurainia*   *sophia*                        \<10    47     none

  Winter Trail *Chenopodium*   *album*           5      5      \<10    35     pulled
  burn:                                                                       
  allotment 1                                                                 

  Winter Trail *Chenopodium*   *album*           5      5      \<10    35     none
  burn:                                                                       
  allotment 2                                                                 

  Shovun Lake  *Chenopodium*   *album*           5      5      \<10    35     none
  cabin                                                                       

               *Erysimum*      *cheiranthoides                 \<10           
                               ssp.                                           
                               cheiranthoides*                                

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                       \<10    63     none

               *Lepidium*      *densiflorum*                   \<10           none

  Shovun Lake  *Chenopodium*   *album*           4      3 to 4 \<10    35     none
  old cabin                                                                   
  site                                                                        

               *Erysimum*      *cheiranthoides                 trace          
                               ssp.                                           
                               cheiranthoides*                                

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                       \<10    63     none

               *Lepidium*      *densiflorum*                   \<10           none

  Canvasback   *Erysimum*      *cheiranthoides   5      5      \<10           
  Lake FWS                     ssp.                                           
  cabin                        cheiranthoides*                                

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                       10      63     none

  Lower Mouth  *Erysimum*      *cheiranthoides   4 to 5 4 to 5 \<10           
  fire: Winter                 ssp.                                           
  Trail                        cheiranthoides*                                
  section                                                                     

               *Bromus*        *inermis var.                   \<10    62     
                               inermis*                                       

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                       \<10    63     none

               *Elymus*        *trachycaulus                   \<10           none
                               ssp.                                           
                               trachycaulus*                                  

  Fort Yukon   *Argentina*     *anserina*        5      5      \<10           none
  boat put-in                                                                 

               *Chenopodium*   *album*                         15      35     none

               *Descurainia*   *sophia*                        15      47     none

               *Elymus*        *trachycaulus                   \<10           none
                               ssp.                                           
                               trachycaulus*                                  

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                       \<10    63     none

               *Lappula*       *squarrosa*                     10      43     none

               *Lepidium*      *densiflorum*                   \<10           none

               *Polygonum*     *aviculare*                     \<10           none

               *Taraxacum*     *officinale ssp.                10      64     
                               officinale*                                    

  Fort Yukon   *Matricaria*    *discoidea*       5      5              34     none
  airport                                                                     

               *Hordeum*       *jubatum*                               63     none
  ------------ --------------- ----------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------------

## 

## Table 4. List of non-native plant species found in/near the Bettles, near Kanuti refuge.

  ------------ -------------- ------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ -------------
  Collection   Genus          Species       Veg.   Soil   \%      Rank   Control
  locality                                  code   code   cover          action

  Bettles      *Hordeum*      *jubatum*     5      5              63     none
  Float Plane                                                            
  Pond                                                                   

               *Matricaria*   *discoidea*                         34     none

               *Poa*          *pratensis                          57     none
                              ssp.                                       
                              irrigata*                                  

               *Plantago*     *major*                             44     none
  ------------ -------------- ------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ -------------

##  

## Table 5. Kenai waypoints.

  ----------- -------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------
  Refuge Name Collection     Waypoint   Latitude    Longitude     Elevation
              Locality       ID         (dd)        (dd)          (m)

  KENAI       Tustumena 01   001        60.110616   -150.613441   172

  KENAI       Tustumena 02   002        60.112526   -150.615260   145

  KENAI       Tustumena 03   003        60.122554   -150.629343   192

  KENAI       Tustumena      005        60.123014   -150.628262   229
              track                                               

  KENAI       Tustumena      007        60.123594   -150.626779   319
              track                                               

  KENAI       Tustumena      009        60.124581   -150.626113   419
              track                                               

  KENAI       Tustumena 04   010        60.123709   -150.557051   1065

  KENAI       Tustumena 05   011        60.130592   -150.575739   1061

  KENAI       Tustumena 06   013        60.152569   -150.706353   119

  KENAI       Tustumena 07   014        60.153205   -150.705977   141

  KENAI       Tustumena 08   015        60.155771   -150.700139   177

  KENAI       Tustumena 09   017        60.121414   -150.631301   136

  KENAI       Tustumena 10   018        60.117445   -150.630067   128

  KENAI       Tustumena 11   020        60.046429   -150.644081   123
  ----------- -------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------

## Table 6. Tetlin waypoints.

  ---------- ------------------ ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------
  Refuge     Collection         Waypoint   Latitude    Longitude     Elevation
  Name       Locality           ID         (dd)        (dd)          (m)

  TETLIN     Lakeview           022        62.964227   -141.640693   1728
             Campground 1                                            

  TETLIN     Lakeview           023        62.964553   -141.639937   1773
             Campground 2                                            

  TETLIN     Lakeview           024        62.964171   -141.637651   1791
             Campground 3                                            

  TETLIN     Permanent plot #1  025        62.964255   -141.637527   1748

  TETLIN     Deadman\'s         027        62.888864   -141.542787   1769
             Campground 1                                            

  TETLIN     Deadman\'s         028        62.888088   -141.543226   1743
             Campground 2                                            

  TETLIN     Deadman\'s         029        62.889002   -141.541128   1741
             Campground 3                                            

  TETLIN     Tetlin 1           030        62.893718   -141.516401   1891

  TETLIN     Tetlin 2           031        62.853731   -141.461235   1794

  TETLIN     Tetlin 3           032        62.853350   -141.459563   1803

  TETLIN     Permanent plot #2  033        62.853288   -141.459498   1759

  TETLIN     Tetlin 4           035        62.853673   -141.459144   1785

  TETLIN     Tetlin 5           037        62.853053   -141.456505   1780

  TETLIN     Tetlin 6           038        62.852954   -141.456681   1798

  TETLIN     Tetlin             039        63.237805   -142.355231   1819

  TETLIN     Tetlin 7           044        63.327699   -142.874222   1685

  TETLIN     Tetlin 8           047        63.327216   -142.874966   1677
  ---------- ------------------ ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------

## Table 7. Kanuti waypoints.

  ---------- --------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------
  Refuge     Collection      Waypoint   Latitude    Longitude     Elevation
  Name       Locality        ID         (dd)        (dd)          (m)

  KANUTI     Kanuti 01       050        66.584022   -151.450979   566

  KANUTI     Kanuti 02       053        66.588325   -151.454953   558

  KANUTI     Kanuti 03       064        66.604153   -151.476975   534

  KANUTI     Kanuti 04       066        66.605500   -151.472322   553

  KANUTI     Kanuti 05       068        66.599536   -151.506343   539

  KANUTI     South Fork of   070        66.605509   -151.600116   0
             the Koyukuk                                          
             camp                                                 

  KANUTI     Kanuti 10       073        66.673160   -151.470817   556

  KANUTI     Kanuti 06       074        66.791088   -151.201009   675

  KANUTI     Kanuti 06       074        66.791088   -151.201009   675

  KANUTI     Kanuti 06       074        66.791088   -151.201009   675

  KANUTI     Kanuti 06       074        66.791088   -151.201009   675

  KANUTI     Kanuti 06       074        66.791088   -151.201009   675

  KANUTI     Kanuti 06       074        66.791088   -151.201009   675

  KANUTI     Kanuti 07       075        66.772146   -151.308411   641

  KANUTI     Kanuti 08       076        66.771350   -151.314144   648

  KANUTI     Kanuti 09a      077        66.729977   -151.388022   594

  KANUTI     Kanuti 09b      079        66.670735   -151.411884   564

  KANUTI     Kanuti 11       081        66.511130   -151.363258   823

  KANUTI     Kanuti 12       082        66.532857   -151.303040   787

  KANUTI     Kanuti 13       083        66.569818   -151.681928   541

  KANUTI     Kanuti 14       085        66.569841   -151.677758   540
  ---------- --------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------

  ---------- --------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- -------------
  **Refuge   **Collection    **Waypoint   **Latitude   **Longitude   **Elevation
  Name**     Locality**      ID**         (dd)**       (dd)**        (m)**

  KANUTI     Bettles Float   086          66.884672    -151.497188   677
             Plane Pond                                              
  ---------- --------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- -------------

## Table 8. Yukon Flats waypoints.

  ---------- -------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------
  Refuge     Collection     Waypoint   Latitude    Longitude     Elevation
  Name       Locality       ID         (dd)        (dd)          (m)

  YK FLATS   Helispot nr.   087        66.836660   -145.382920   485
             YK 01, at WP                                        
             87                                                  

  YK FLATS   YK 01          088        66.837251   -145.386512   477

  YK FLATS   YK 02          090        66.837050   -145.386666   480

  YK FLATS   YK 04          092        66.835313   -145.381121   471

  YK FLATS   YK 05          093        66.819417   -145.431395   455

  YK FLATS   WP 94          094        66.818750   -145.430281   404

  YK FLATS   YK 06a         095        66.808558   -145.455594   441

  YK FLATS   YK 06b         096        66.802418   -145.426812   488

  YK FLATS   YK 07          097        66.802561   -145.425840   458

  YK FLATS   YK 08          098        66.793119   -145.407457   469

  YK FLATS   YK 09          101        66.799761   -145.406710   481

  YK FLATS   YK 10          103        66.799955   -145.407449   488

  YK FLATS   YK 11          104        66.795726   -145.389070   469

  YK FLATS   YK 12          106        66.777724   -145.312048   483

  YK FLATS   YK 13          108        66.404656   -145.790784   433

  YK FLATS   YK 14          109        66.362130   -145.753811   454

  YK FLATS   YK 15          110        66.361816   -145.753572   442

  YK FLATS   YK 16          112        66.387301   -146.434294   419

  YK FLATS   YK 17          114        66.385922   -146.387203   430

  YK FLATS   YK 18          115        66.344699   -145.716939   451

  YK FLATS   YK 19          116        66.344378   -145.717198   492

  YK FLATS   b/w YK19 - YK  117        66.336057   -145.732134   458
             20                                                  

  YK FLATS   YK 20          117        66.336057   -145.732134   458

  YK FLATS   YK 21          118        66.216215   -149.598732   362
  ---------- -------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- -----------

  ---------- -------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ----- -------------
  **Refuge   **Collection   **Waypoint               **Latitude                 **Longitude         **Elevation
  Name**     Locality**     ID**                     (dd)**                     (dd)**              (m)**

  YK FLATS   YK 22          120          66.568806                -145.284220                 491   
  ---------- -------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ----- -------------

##  Maps of sites visited and surveyed in Kenai. 

![](media/image22.png){width="4.385416666666667in"
height="5.686805555555556in"}

## Maps of sites visited and surveyed in Tetlin. 

![](media/image23.png){width="4.649305555555555in"
height="6.027777777777778in"}

![](media/image24.png){width="4.819444444444445in"
height="6.225694444444445in"}

## Map of sites visited and surveyed in Kanuti. 

![](media/image25.png){width="4.147916666666666in"
height="5.356944444444444in"}

## Maps of sites visited and surveyed in Yukon Flats.

![](media/image26.png){width="4.411111111111111in"
height="5.719444444444444in"}

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc128642575 .anchor}Table 9. Burn severity code
matrix -- FWS Alaska modifications to NPS Fire Monitoring Handbook
(2003) June 23, 2005

+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
|       | Forest Types   |            | Shrub types      |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
|       | Substrate (S)  | Vegetation | Substrate (S)    | Vegetation |
|       |                | (V)        |                  | (V)        |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
| \(5\) | Not burned     | Not burned | Not burned       | Not burned |
|       |                |            |                  |            |
| Unb   |                |            |                  |            |
| urned |                |            |                  |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
| \(4\) | Litter         | Foliage    | Litter partially | Foliage    |
|       | partially      | scorched   | blackened; duff  | scorched   |
| Sco   | blackened;     | and        | nearly           | and        |
| rched | duff nearly    | attached   | unchanged;       | attached   |
|       | unchanged;     | to         | wood/leaf        | to         |
|       | wood/leaf      | supporting | structures       | supporting |
|       | structures     | twigs (red | unchanged.       | twigs      |
|       | unchanged.     | needles    | Mosses and       |            |
|       | Mosses and     | may have   | lichens clearly  |            |
|       | lichens        | dropped    | visible, though  |            |
|       | clearly        | and be     | scorched.        |            |
|       | visible,       | found at   |                  |            |
|       | though         | base of    |                  |            |
|       | scorched.      | trunks)    |                  |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
| \(3\) | Litter charred | Foliage    | Litter charred   | Foliage    |
|       | to partially   | and        | to partially     | and        |
| Li    | consumed;      | smaller    | consumed, some   | smaller    |
| ghtly | upper duff     | twigs      | leaf structure   | twigs      |
| B     | layer may be   | partially  | undamaged;       | partially  |
| urned | but the duff   | to         | surface is       | to         |
|       | layer is not   | completely | predominately    | completely |
|       | altered over   | consumed;  | black; some gray | consumed;  |
|       | the entire     | branches   | ash may be       | branches   |
|       | depth; surface | mostly     | present          | mostly     |
|       | appears black; | intact     | immediately post | intact;    |
|       | woody debris   |            | burn; charring   | less than  |
|       | is partially   |            | may extend       | 60% of the |
|       | burned; logs   |            | slightly into    | shrub      |
|       | are scorched   |            | the duff         | canopy is  |
|       | or blackened   |            | exposing dead    | commonly   |
|       | but not        |            | moss or upper    | consumed   |
|       | charred;       |            | duff, otherwise  |            |
|       | rotten wood is |            | soil is not      |            |
|       | scorched to    |            | altered          |            |
|       | partially      |            |                  |            |
|       | burned         |            |                  |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
| \(2\) | Litter mostly  | Foliage,   | Leaf litter      | Foliage,   |
| Moder | to entirely    | twigs, and | consumed,        | twigs, and |
| ately | consumed,      | small      | leaving coarse,  | small      |
| B     | leaving        | stems      | light colored    | stems      |
| urned | coarse, light  | consumed;  | ash; duff deeply | consumed;  |
|       | colored ash;   | some       | charred to lower | some       |
|       | duff deeply    | branches   | duff or          | branches   |
|       | charred to     | still      | upper/lower duff | (\>.6-1 cm |
|       | lower duff or  | present    | interface, but   | in         |
|       | upper/lower    |            | underlying       | diameter)  |
|       | duff           |            | mineral soil is  | (0.25-0.50 |
|       | interface, but |            | not visibly      | in) still  |
|       | underlying     |            | altered; woody   | present;   |
|       | mineral soil   |            | debris is mostly | 40-80% of  |
|       | is not visibly |            | consumed; logs   | the shrub  |
|       | altered; woody |            | are deeply       | canopy is  |
|       | debris is      |            | charred,         | commonly   |
|       | mostly         |            | burned-out stump | consumed   |
|       | consumed; logs |            | holes are common |            |
|       | are deeply     |            |                  |            |
|       | charred,       |            |                  |            |
|       | burned-out     |            |                  |            |
|       | stump holes    |            |                  |            |
|       | are common     |            |                  |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
| \(1\) | Litter and     | All plant  | Leaf litter      | All plant  |
|       | duff           | parts      | completely       | parts      |
| He    | completely     | consumed,  | consumed,        | consumed   |
| avily | consumed, or   | leaving    | leaving a fluffy | leaving    |
| B     | within 1 cm of | some or no | fine white ash;  | only stubs |
| urned | mineral soil,  | major      | all organic      | greater    |
|       | sometimes      | stems or   | material is      | than 1 cm  |
|       | leaving fine   | trunks;    | consumed;        | (0.5 in)   |
|       | white ash;     | any left   | colloidal        | in         |
|       | mineral soil   | are deeply | structure of the | diameter   |
|       | may be visibly | charred    | surface mineral  |            |
|       | altered, often |            | soil may be      |            |
|       | reddish; sound | This code  | altered          |            |
|       | logs are       | generally  |                  |            |
|       | deeply         | applies to |                  |            |
|       | charred, and   | less than  |                  |            |
|       | rotten logs    | 10% of     |                  |            |
|       | are completely | natural or |                  |            |
|       | consumed. .    | slash      |                  |            |
|       | Marchantia and | burned     |                  |            |
|       | fire mosses    | areas      |                  |            |
|       | may be         |            |                  |            |
|       | present.       |            |                  |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+
| (N/A) | Inorganic      | None       | Inorganic        | None       |
|       | preburn        | present    | preburn          | present    |
| Not   |                | preburn    |                  | preburn    |
| appli |                |            |                  |            |
| cable |                |            |                  |            |
+-------+----------------+------------+------------------+------------+

![](media/image27.jpeg){width="2.1555555555555554in"
height="2.879861111111111in"}![](media/image28.jpeg){width="2.1819444444444445in"
height="2.915277777777778in"}

\
![](media/image29.jpeg){width="2.1951388888888888in"
height="2.9381944444444446in"}![](media/image30.jpeg){width="2.2020833333333334in"
height="2.9381944444444446in"}

![](media/image31.jpeg){width="2.9381944444444446in"
height="2.20625in"}![](media/image32.jpeg){width="2.95625in"
height="2.222916666666667in"}![](media/image33.jpeg){width="2.95625in"
height="2.232638888888889in"}![](media/image34.jpeg){width="2.942361111111111in"
height="2.222916666666667in"}

![](media/image35.jpeg){width="2.9180555555555556in"
height="2.191666666666667in"}![](media/image36.jpeg){width="2.9583333333333335in"
height="2.2180555555555554in"}![](media/image37.jpeg){width="3.0215277777777776in"
height="2.2493055555555554in"}![](media/image38.jpeg){width="2.64375in"
height="3.536111111111111in"}

![](media/image39.jpeg){width="2.2270833333333333in"
height="2.957638888888889in"}![](media/image40.jpeg){width="3.0555555555555554in"
height="2.292361111111111in"}![](media/image41.jpeg){width="3.001388888888889in"
height="2.290277777777778in"}![](media/image42.jpeg){width="2.2131944444444445in"
height="2.95625in"}

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc128642576 .anchor}Table 10. US Forest
Service/AKNHP list of "Alaskan Invasive" plant species.

In this work, permanent plots were set up when we encountered any of the
taxa included in this list, except for Hordeum jubatum.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  Scientific name                     Common name

  *Alliaria petiolata*                Garlic mustard

  *Bromus tectorum*                   Cheatgrass

  *Centaurea biebersteinii*           Spotted knapweed

  *Cirsium arvense*                   Canada thistle

  *Cirsium vulgare*                   Bull thistle

  *Cotula coronopifolia*              Common brassbuttons

  *Crepis tectorum*                   Narrowleaf hawksbeard

  *Cytisus scoparius*                 Scotchbroom

  *Dactylis glomerata*                Orchardgrass

  *Elymus repens*                     Quackgrass

  *Galeopsis tetrahit*                Brittelestem hempnettle

  *Hieracium aurantiacum*             Orange hawkweed

  *Hieracium umbellatum*              Narrowleaf hawkweed

  *\*Hordeum jubatum*                 Foxtail barley

  *Hypochaeris radicata*              Hairy catsear

  *Leucanthemum vulgare*              Oxeye daisy

  *Linaria vulgaris*                  Butter and eggs

  *Lythrum salicaria*                 Purple loosestrife

  *Medicago lupulina*                 Black medick

  *Melilotus alba*                    White sweetclover

  *Melilotus officinalis*             Yellow sweetclover

  *Phalaris arundinacea*              Reed canarygrass

  *Polygonum cuspidatum*              Japanese knotweed

  *Prunus padus*                      European bird cherry

  *Saponaria officinalis*             Bouncingbet

  *Senecio jacobaea*                  Stinking willie

  *Sonchus arvensis*                  Field sowthistle

  *Tanacetum vulgare*                 Common tansy

  *Tragopogon dubius*                 Yellow salsify

  *Vicia cracca*                      Bird vetch

  *Vicia villosa*                     Winter vetch
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

\* Species names preceded by asterisk may be native but have adventive
characteristics or are of ambiguous origin (e.g. both native and
introduced populations).