Southcentral alaska was identified as a geographic hotspot for terrestrial freshwater and marine invasions given that nonnative species often arrive through ports of entry with high human population…

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) was awarded a $650,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (CFDA 15.608) federal grant program. The goal of this 4-year project is to implement early detection monitoring and surveillance programs for invasive species in southcentral Alaska, which has been identified as a geographic hotspot for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine invasions. Key objectives include conducting field surveys, validating environmental DNA methods, providing identification services, and improving data management and reporting. UAA will coordinate these activities through a range of collaborators, including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and two local soil and water conservation districts that will receive subawards. Project deliverables include surveillance plans, field surveys, early detection trainings, species diagnostic services, and an economic benefits analysis.

Southcentral alaska was identified as a geographic hotspot for terrestrial freshwater and marine invasions given that nonnative species often arrive through ports of entry with high human population density or activity. This region contains alaskas largest city (anchorage) busiest port (port of alaska) busiest airport (TED sevens international airport and fastest growing borough (the matanuska susitna borough). The goal of this work is to fill a GAP in early detection surveillance in an area increasingly vulnerable to invasive species using existing decision support tools and standing partnerships. Ultimately this should benefit all the partners as well as the local and state governments and the public by limiting and or preventing invasive species expansion into southcentral alaska.specific objectives to achieve this broader goal INCLUDE1) implementing early detection monitoring programs for specific TAXA2) surveillance of priority waterbodies or LANDSCAPES3) field validation of environmental DNA METHODS4) intensive bioblitzes of primary invasion PATHWAYS5) trainings for invasive species identification or sampling TECHNIQUES6) species identification SERVICES7) data management for presence or absence RECORDS8) database IMPROVEMENTS9) data reporting interface ENHANCEMENTS10) social science about changing habits or ideas to improve detection rates and reduce invasion RISK11) collation of existing data into reports or manuscripts to share information to enhance invasive species surveillance across the state and country.university of alaska anchorage (UAA) alaska center for conservation science (accs) will conduct activities or coordinate them through a range of collaborators that includealaska department of fish and game (adfg)alaska department of natural resources (adnr)university of alaska fairbanks (UAF)homer soil and water conservation district (will receive subaward)tyonek tribal soil and water conservation district (will receive subaward)U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS) alaska regionproject deliverables includedata management plansurveillance planfield surveys implemented with undergraduate students and with the two soil and water conservation districts receiving subawardsa laboratory startup at uaaearly detection trainingsspecies diagnostic servicesvoucher curation servicesevaluation metricseconomic benefits analysispublication strategyfinal report