Data from: Assessing feasibility in invasive plant management: a retrospective analysis of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) control

Given the difficulty that habitat managers face in controlling invasive species, assessing a project's feasibility before implementation can be a useful exercise. We describe efforts to eradicate a population of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) from an area of the Adirondack Park, United States. We applied a retrospective assessment of the feasibility of the project using 2 different decision support tools, the Invasive Plant Management Decision Analysis Tool (IPMDAT) and WeedSearch. We modeled several scenarios in each tool by varying parameters related to the effectiveness of control in order to test the sensitivity of project success to particular assumptions. Except for a small decline between 2007 and 2009, the population increased during the control period. The number of surveyed transects with at least one garlic mustard individual increased, as did plant density within transects. IPMDAT and WeedSearch analysis confirmed that eradication of the garlic mustard population at this site was unlikely. IPMDAT discouraged proceeding with the goal of eradication, and only recommended containment if control of seed production could be effective and subpopulations (e.g. transects) could be eliminated. WeedSearch estimated that time required to achieve eradication would range from 11 years if control was 100% effective to more than 50 years if control was only 90% effective. The application of tools such as IPMDAT or WeedSearch can aid project planning by giving invasive species managers a more realistic picture of the commitment that may be required in order to achieve specific restoration goals.鉴于栖息地管理者在防控外来入侵物种方面面临诸多困难，在项目实施前开展可行性评估是一项颇具实用价值的工作。本文详述了美国阿迪朗达克公园（Adirondack Park）某区域内针对葱芥（garlic mustard，学名Alliaria petiolata）种群开展根除行动的相关研究工作。本研究采用两款不同的决策支持工具——入侵植物管理决策分析工具（Invasive Plant Management Decision Analysis Tool，缩写IPMDAT）与杂草搜索（WeedSearch）——对该项目的可行性进行回顾性评估。研究人员通过调整与防控有效性相关的参数，在两款工具中构建了多种模拟场景，以此检验项目成功与否对特定假设条件的敏感性。在整个防控周期内，该葱芥种群整体呈增长趋势，仅在2007年至2009年间出现小幅下降。至少检出一株葱芥的调查样带数量有所增加，样带内的植株密度亦同步提升。入侵植物管理决策分析工具与杂草搜索的分析结果均证实，该区域内的葱芥种群难以被彻底根除。入侵植物管理决策分析工具不支持将彻底根除作为项目目标，仅在两项条件同时满足的情况下推荐采取围控措施：一是可有效抑制种子产生，二是能够清除亚种群（如样带种群）。杂草搜索的估算结果显示，若防控有效性达到100%，实现种群根除所需时长为11年；若防控有效性仅为90%，则所需时长将超过50年。诸如入侵植物管理决策分析工具与杂草搜索这类工具的应用，可帮助入侵物种管理者更清晰地认识到，为达成特定生态修复目标所需投入的工作强度与资源，从而为项目规划提供有力支撑。