Wanted ASAP: your input for IFAS assessment about observed invasiveness of plants, EDRR list review, Savannah monitors and, as always, MORE!

Hi all,

 

·         First, thank you to everyone who made the Native and Pasture ID Workshop at Archbold Biological Station on Oct. 16^th a success, especially to class and field leaders Nancy Bissett, Pete Deal, Steve Green and Debi Stone. Debi provided an ID quiz and Tabitha Biehl awarded prizes to those who scored highest. It was a beautiful day, much learning occurred and there are some lovely photos.

·         Second, WANTED: website connection! Those lovely workshop photos have been shared with the participants but are not yet up on the Heartland CISMA website. It’s easy to get things on there but I just haven’t had time, so if anyone has an interest in keeping our website updated, contact me. All you have to do is get workshop agendas and photos, send to UGA and let them know where to post them on there. Get lots of gratitude and big credit with a little time!

·         WANTED ASAP: your input for IFAS assessment about observed invasiveness of plants. Deah Lieurance is in the process of re-evaluating 40 plant species for the IFAS assessment of non-native plants (more info at http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/assessment/). This is a great opportunity for CISMA members to assist so that the best on-the-ground information is incorporated. She needs to hear from people that are in the field in various locations in Florida so that she can truly assess the status of these plants. So – please open up the attached document, 2013 Re-evaluations.docx, and take a quick look – it is only 2 pages and in table form. Fill in the questionnaire and return to her at dmlieurance@ufl.edu There are some plants there that you will know and love (hate?), such as: Coral ardisia, Giant Reed, Camphor-tree, Coconut Palm, Glossy privet, Smutgrass, Seaside mahoe…

·          EDRR list update next step: We’ve been hoping to revise our EDRR (Early Detection Rapid Response) plant list since our annual workshop at the beginning of the year. FNAI is working on providing data to all CISMAs to assist with the process. Frank Price with FNAI will be explaining their methods and what’s next. If you’re interested in participating, enter your availability for a phone call on this Doodle poll: http://doodle.com/78vyee2ekp4eh2w8 by next Friday, November 22. See the FNAI EDRR spreadsheet attached for the most current update.

·         Praxelis clematidea, another new species spotted in this area. Attached is an article about it courtesy of Kent Williges of FWC.  He says, “This is a new exotic that has only recently been discovered in Florida.  There are now documented records of occurrences in Orange, Lake, and Manatee counties.   In addition, I have heard of unconfirmed reports of it being found in NE Polk.   It does appear to be encroaching on the Ridge or it may already be present.  Almost nothing is known about this plant in Florida or its threat potential to the rare scrub endemics.  It does seem  to love disturbed sites.  The problem is that it looks so similar to the other species described in the article that it can easily be mistaken for something else!   It may actually have been in Florida for quite some time, yet we’re only just now getting a handle on its distribution.   No reason to suspect it is on the Ridge yet, but please be aware and keep an eye out for it!” Mike Blondin has reported it at Hilochee WMA. For more info, contact Kent Williges at kent.williges@myfwc.com . As Mike Sowinski commented, perhaps we should consider this for our EDRR list.

·         Invasive exotic reptiles in the vicinity: Those of you with EDDMapS Alerts set already know this, but if you don’t, here’s a little update. Savannah monitors have been captured in Bartow and Lake Wales recently (one each). If you look at the reports on EDDMapS, you’ll see them scattered. No evidence of breeding in Florida. Also, this is a little out of our CISMA but I thought you’d like to know Scott Spaulding of Colt Creek State Park found a ball python in Clermont (and has rehomed it)- see here: 1 report of ball python (Python regius) in Lake County, FL observed on October 22, 2013. Keep an eye out, take a photo, and call the 1-888-IVE-GOT-1 hotline if you have a live one in sight or report it at IveGot1.org or with the IveGot1 apps.

·         Finally, WANTED: help coordinating our annual Central Florida Invasive Species Workshop- contact me or Tabitha at Tabithabiehl@polk-county.net. We are looking for speakers, sponsors, break-out sessions… you to help make another fantastic Heartland CISMA workshop this spring!

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Cheryl Millett Biologist cmillett@tnc.org (863) 635-7506, ext. 205 (Office) (863) 604-3352 (Cell)  (863) 635-6456 (Fax) nature.org Download our Nature Conservancy magazine App FREE for exclusive digital content.

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