Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS)

The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) is a project of the Geosystems Research Institute (GRI), Mississippi State University. The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) will provide information on the biology, distribution, and best management practices for forty weedy plant species. Outreach and extension activities include developing training programs for volunteers to identify and report invasive species using IPAMS, developing an efficient Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) system for invasive plants, developing best management practices workshops, and developing an online mapping system. Research activities include conducting systematic regional vegetation surveys to assess the distribution of key invasive plants, developing models for predicting the occurrence of target species based on land use and cover, and evaluate the relative effectiveness of professional versus volunteer surveys. IPAMS is a unique tool for early detection and rapid response. Trained volunteers regularly check areas for invasive species. When they encounter an invasive species, they record the location by GPS, the plant and other information about the plant population. On the IPAMS Web site, they input this information and alert researchers and government officials of the new infestation. This gives those decision-makers more time in taking appropriate steps and treating an infestation early, before it spreads further.