A user guide to selecting invasive annual grass spatial products for the western United States

Invasive annual grasses (IAGs)—including Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead), and Ventenata dubia (ventenata) species—present significant challenges for rangeland management by altering plant communities, impacting ecosystem function, reducing forage for wildlife and livestock, and increasing fire risk. Numerous spatial data products are used to map IAGs, and understanding the similarities, differences, and potential tradeoffs among these products is key to selecting the right maps for specific applications. This short guide outlines considerations for selecting regional- and national-scale spatial data to support the management of IAGs.