Natural resource managers overseeing large regions are often challenged by an overwhelmingly long list of invasive species to prioritize for management and surveys. Often, managers determine priorities through subjective experience and not regional data, contributing to a lack of objectivity, consistency, and transparency. Using the invasion curve as a guiding principle, we developed a data-driven process to guide expert input in creating regionally speci c invasive species lists based on management priorities. The invasive species tiers framework uses a standardized set of de nitions, data from locational databases and impact assessments, and expert review to categorize high-impact invasive species present in and surrounding the target regions. The analysis process was evaluated and improved by feedback from the structured network of invasive species managers in New York State. Changes between the rst and second version of the data tiers analysis increased total number of species represented in the tier lists, accounting for 40% of the differences between the versions. Results of the invasive species tiers process for eight management regions and at the state-scale were made publicly available, and demonstrated variation in invasive species diversity across the management landscape. The approach developed here can be replicated in and scaled to other regions of the U.S. or other countries with comparable data, and it can provide a common management language to better coordinate invasive species management efforts.

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Natural resource managers overseeing large regions are often challenged by an overwhelmingly long list of invasive species to prioritize for management and surveys. Often, managers determine priorities through subjective experience and not regional data, contributing to a lack of objectivity, consistency, and transparency. Using the invasion curve as a guiding principle, we developed a data-driven process to guide expert input in creating regionally specific invasive species lists based on management priorities. The invasive species tiers framework uses a standardized set of definitions, data from locational databases and impact assessments, and expert review to categorize high-impact invasive species present in and surrounding the target regions. The analysis process was evaluated and improved by feedback from the structured network of invasive species managers in New York State. Changes between the first and second version of the data tiers analysis increased total number of species represented in the tier lists, accounting for 40% of the differences between the versions. Results of the invasive species tiers process for eight management regions and at the state-scale were made publicly available, and demonstrated variation in invasive species diversity across the management landscape. The approach developed here can be replicated in and scaled to other regions of the U.S. or other countries with comparable data, and it can provide a common management language to better coordinate invasive species management efforts.