Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Project Number: 6032-22000-013-070-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2020
End Date: Aug 1, 2025
Objective:
1. Mass produce biological control agents for Old world climbing fern (lygodium) for release on USF&W refuges.
2. Release agents in pre-approved locations.
3. Monitor agents for establishment, spread, and impacts.
Approach:
Depending on the level of funding, IPRL proposes an expansion of existing biological control implementation where permitted agents are mass reared in the IPRL annex facility, then deployed to sites within USF&W refuges throughout Florida and monitored. This approach will build upon the successful model of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) partnership created by IPRL, the South Florida Water Management, and the US Army Corps of Engineers in the Jacksonville District that has produced and released more than six million approved natural enemies on public and private lands following technical assistance from IPRL. This agreement will result in IPRL hiring a technician to increase production of two natural enemies of lygodium. The position will be located at IPRL.
