Invasive species are a leading threat to conserving biodiversity across the national wildlife refuge system invasive species are the most widespread and serious threats to the resources within the…

Invasive species are a leading threat to conserving biodiversity across the national wildlife refuge system invasive species are the most widespread and serious threats to the resources within the pacific southwest region S 50 national wildlife refuges invasive plant species are considered the biggest threat to the specialized habitats within the guadalupe nipomo dunes complex regional infestation of european beachgrass ammophila arenaria EBG is causing a type conversion of coastal dune scrub habitats to non native, perennial grassland that stabilizes the dynamic and active dune system stabilization of the dunes disrupts the natural ecosystem functions and geomorphic processes, causing a cascade of detrimental effects EBG occupies naturally occurring voids in foredune vegetation and, once established, forms unnaturally steep, parallel dunes in addition, by creating continuous, steep barrier dunes in place of natural lower, discontinuous dunes, IT increases ocean erosion and limits the dunes natural ability to adapt to rising sea level as of 2016, EBG covered 94 53 net acres of the refuge over 511 08 gross acres of infested habitat thanks to recent efforts by the land conservancy of SAN luis obispo county and diverse pest management INC to treat EBG on the refuge, these acres have been greatly reduced this project will update the maps of EBG and treat non native vegetation on the refuge