Portland State University Student Invasive Species Projects

Invasive species present a real threat to Oregon’s infrastructure, economy, natural resources, and food & water systems, and can impact outdoor recreation opportunities and tourism. In Fall, 2020 student teams in Dr. Catherine de Rivera’s Ecology & Management of Bioinvasions class at Portland State University worked with OISC members and other invasive species professionals to research and visualize the impacts of invasive species on people and places in Oregon. The goal of these projects were to demonstrate key components of the whole invasion narrative including: 

• How non-native species get here and spread

• The range of resulting short and long-term effects

• The network of people and organizations who are working hard every day to tackle increasing invasive species issues

• The importance of prevention efforts; and 

• The impacts of invasive species such as on people, places, resources, industries, and culture.

Below is a list of the projects that were completed (click the link to learn more about each project):

Abalone Risk Assessment
Elissa Connolly-Randazzo, Tony Lind, and Fawn Lengvenis

How to Move to Oregon
Erica Krygsman, Tobias Oyarzabal, and Teagen Traver

Impacts of Invasive Plants and Aquatic Organisms Storymap
Ashley Newcomb, Ashley Kahl-Placek, Matt Magel, Nick Stockton, Travis Hood, Tyler Chase, and William McDonald

Jumping Worm Educational Materials
Megan Colley, Joaquin Moore, and Rebecca Sinichko

Major Invaders in the Willamette Basin Brochure
Kelli Hackney, Queenaly Tran, Zoey Fabian, and Maura De Lorenzo

Mary S Young State Park Storymap
Kylee Church and Julian Roth

Mud Blister Worm Storymap & Handout
Kimberly Brown, Erin Mcelroy, Allie Tissot, and Danielle Schwantes

Spotted Lanternfly Storymap
Geoff Szafranski and J Barclay Zimmerli

Student Project: How to Move to Oregon

In 2020, as part of Dr. Catherine de Rivera’s Ecology & Management of Bioinvasions class at Portland State University, OISC members and invasive species professionals advised students on various invasive species topics. Erica Krygsman, Tobias Oyarzabal, and Teagen Traver created the How to Move to Oregon webpage for the OISC website and associated lists for movers to utilize. Information and guidance was provided by Jake Bodart (Oregon Department of Agriculture) and Jalene Littlejohn (OISC Coordinator). To learn more about the other student projects that were created in this class, please click here.

The How to Move to Oregon webpages will be linked here once they are finalized.

Student Project: Abalone Risk Assessment

In 2020, as part of Dr. Catherine de Rivera’s Ecology & Management of Bioinvasions class at Portland State University, OISC members and invasive species professionals advised students on various invasive species topics. Elissa Connolly-Randazzo, Tony Lind, and Fawn Lengvenis created an ecological risk assessment of non-native abalone in Oregon. Information and guidance was provided by OISC Member Rick Boatner (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife). To learn more about the other student projects that were created in this class, please click here.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Non-native abalone in Oregon: Tiger, Black Lipped, Green Lipped

*Note: The views and opinions expressed in the attached file(s) or link(s) are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oregon Invasive Species Council.

Student Project: Jumping Worm Educational Materials

In 2020, as part of Dr. Catherine de Rivera’s Ecology & Management of Bioinvasions class at Portland State University, OISC members and invasive species professionals advised students on various invasive species topics. Megan Colley, Joaquin Moore, and Rebecca Sinichko created various Asian jumping worm educational materials. Information and guidance was provided by OISC Member Dr. Samuel Chan (Oregon Sea Grant) & Linda Tucker Serniak (Oregon Sea Grant). To learn more about the other student projects that were created in this class, please click here.

Asian Jumping Worm (Amynthas agrestis): Educational activities, watch card, wanted poster, scientific drawings, and brochure

*Note: The views and opinions expressed in the attached file(s) or link(s) are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oregon Invasive Species Council.

Student Project: Mud Blister Worm Storymap & Handout

In 2020, as part of Dr. Catherine de Rivera’s Ecology & Management of Bioinvasions class at Portland State University, OISC members and invasive species professionals advised students on various invasive species topics. Kimberly Brown, Erin Mcelroy, Allie Tissot, and Danielle Schwantes created a Storymap & handout about mud blister worm. Information and guidance was provided by OISC Member Dr. Samuel (Oregon Sea Grant) & his grad student Megan Considine. To learn more about the other student projects that were created in this class, please click here.

Storymap: A New Look for Oysters & Polydora Handout

*Note: The views and opinions expressed in the attached file(s) or link(s) are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oregon Invasive Species Council.