South Florida/Caribbean Network early detection protocol for exotic plants: Corridors of invasiveness
Authors: Shamblin Robert , Whelan Kevin , Londono Mario , Patterson Judd 
Published: July 2022

Exotic plant populations can be potentially catastrophic to the natural communities of South Florida. Aggressive exotics such as Brazillian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquinervia) have displaced native habitats and formed monocultures of exotic stands (Dalrymple et al. 2003). Nearby plant nurseries, especially the ones outside the boundaries of Biscayne National Park (BISC) and Everglades National Park (EVER), are a continuous source of new exotic species that may become established within South Florida’s national parks. Early detection and rapid response to these new species of exotic plants is important to maintaining the integrity of the parks’ natural habitats and is a cost-effective approach to management. The South Florida/Caribbean Network (SFCN) developed the South Florida/Caribbean Network Early Detection Protocol for Exotic Plants to target early detection of these potential invaders. Three national parks of South Florida are monitored for invasive, exotic plants using this protocol: Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY), Biscayne National Park (BISC), and Everglades National Park (EVER). These national parks include some 2,411,000 acres (3,767.2 square miles [mi2]) that encompass a variety of habitat types. To monitor the entire area for new species would not be feasible; therefore the basic approach of this protocol is to scan major “corridors of invasiveness,” e.g., paved and unpaved roads, trails, trail heads, off road vehicle (ORV) trails, boat ramps, canals, and campgrounds, for exotic plant species new to the national parks of South Florida. Sampling is optimized using a two- to three-person crew: a trained botanist, a certified herbicide applicator, and optionally a SFCN (or IPMT [Invasive Plant Management Team]) staff member or park staff to take photographs and help with data collection. If infestations are small, they are treated immediately by the herbicide applicator. If large, they are reported to park staff and the Invasive Plant Management Team. The sampling domain is partitioned into five regions, with one region sampled per year. Regions include the terrestrial habitats of Biscayne National Park, the eastern region of Everglades National Park, the western region of Everglades National Park, the northern region of Big Cypress National Preserve, and the southern region of Big Cypress National Preserve. Monitoring of roads, trails, and canals occurs while traveling into and through the parks (i.e., travel at 2–10 mph) using motorized vehicles, airboats, and/or hiking. Campgrounds, boat launches, trailheads, and similar areas, involve complete searches. When an exotic plant is observed, a GPS location is obtained, and coordinates are taken of the plant. Photographs are not taken for every exotic plant encountered, but photographs will be taken for new and unusual species (for example a coastal exotic found in inland habitats). Information recorded at each location includes the species name, size of infestation, abundance, cover class, any treatment/control action taken, and relevant notes. During the surveys, a GPS “track” is also recorded to document the areas surveyed and a field of view is estimated. Field notes, pictures, and GPS data are compiled, entered, and analyzed in a Microsoft Access database. Resource briefs (and optional data summary reports) and associated shapefiles and data are then produced and sent to contacts within the corresponding national parks.