Optimizing herbicide use : enhancing native species regeneration through invasive plant management in Catoctin Mountain Park

Abstract

Invasive alien plant species are critical threats to ecological integrity in protected natural areas, disrupting native vegetation and altering ecosystem dynamics. Catoctin Mountain Park, located in Frederick County, Maryland exemplifies the ecological and operational challenges of invasive plant management, particularly while integrating effective invasive plant control with native vegetation regeneration. This study evaluates the Park’s current management strategies with a particular focus on herbicide use and how adaptive and integrated approaches may strengthen ecological outcomes. A primarily qualitative research design was executed, relying on a semi-structured interview with a National Park Service (NPS) staff member involved in plant management in Catoctin. The interview was thematically analyzed to assess current practices, limitations, and opportunities for improved management. In addition, secondary literature sources, including NPS documents and peer-reviewed literature, were used to develop a foundation for this study and to contextualize findings within broader ecological and management frameworks. The study found that while herbicide treatments have been effective in reducing key invasive plants like multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), the Park lacks formal monitoring techniques and the collection of standardized data. The absence of formal monitoring of invasive plant management in the Park restricts Park staff from objectively assessing the success of treatments, tracking the recovery of native vegetation, and proactively responding to threats such as herbicide resistance. This study concludes that establishing standardized monitoring plots and developing a strategy for herbicide resistance prior to its establishment in the Park would significantly improve evidence-based decision making. These recommendations may serve as foundational steps towards sustainable invasive alien plant management. While limited by the scope of only one interview, the study offers practical insights for improving Integrated Plant Management efforts at Catoctin Mountain Park and may be used as a framework for other protected areas.