Invasive Species Forest Coverage Measurements for Prince Edward Island

Parks Canada provides an annual composite measure of invasive species presence in Prince Edward Island National Park forest ecosystems. The dataset includes two annual field measurements: the percentage of forest ecosystem with invasive species present (measured across 244, 441 m2 quadrats) and the percentage of total forest area in hectares with invasive species present. It tracks four invasive plants and one insect.

Use Cases

• Analyze trends in the percentage of forest ecosystem with invasive species present to assess annual spread or containment.
• Model the relationship between the percentage of total forest area (ha) with invasive species present and environmental factors.
• Compare presence levels across the five specific species: Garlic Mustard, Japanese Knotweed, Scots Pine, Glossy Buckthorn, and Gypsy Moth.

Strengths

• Includes two distinct annual quantitative measurements for tracking invasive species coverage.
• Focuses on five specific, named invasive species (four plants, one insect) for targeted analysis.
• Measurement is based on a systematic grid of 244, 441 m2 quadrats covering the forest ecosystem.

Limitations

• Sample data and column structure are unavailable, limiting understanding of the data's granular format.
• Geographic scope is limited to Prince Edward Island National Park, not the entire province.
• The Gypsy Moth measurement is for presence only, unlike the area coverage metrics for plants.

Provenance

Source

Parks Canada

Collection Method

Annual field measurements from a grid of 244, 441 m2 quadrats covering the forest ecosystem.

Time Range

Annual measurements; specific start year unknown.

Freshness

Annual updates, with data last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Prince Edward Island National Park, Canada.