Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T22:21:42.426Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

In the Footsteps of Cows: Using Livestock Tracing Technology to Trace and Predict New Weed Incursions of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Scott Charlton*
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
Robyn Henderson
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
Ian McGowen
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
Bernie Dominiak
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
Michael Michelmore
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, P.O. Box 389, Goulburn NSW, 2580, Australia
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Tropical soda apple is an aggressive prickly perennial shrub growing up to 2 m high. It invades open to semishaded areas, including pastures, forests, riparian zones, roadsides, recreational areas, and horticultural and cropping areas. In Australia during August 2010, the weed was identified on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. It is believed that tropical soda apple has been present in this area for a number of years and both systematic and ad hoc surveys have found the weed in other satellite locations. The discovery of tropical soda apple at several cattle handling facilities indicated that cattle are a significant vector for the weed. The aim of this project was to use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) data to trace cattle movements from affected properties throughout New South Wales and into other Australian states. This has proved advantageous, as there are few other nonecological mechanisms to systematically trace significant weed movement. We have been able to conduct a pathway analysis of where this weed is likely to occur across New South Wales through the use of NLIS. Importantly, we can use this information to pinpoint surveillance activities for local managers, thus ensuring better use of resources. We have also been able to create a stochastic model for incursions at these sites using information gleaned from the NLIS data.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Akanda, RU, Mullahey, JJ, Dowler, CC, Shilling, DG (1997) Influence of pest emergence herbicides on tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) and Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) . Weed Technol 11:656661 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cacho, OJ, Hester, SM (2011) Deriving efficient frontiers for effort allocation in the management of invasive species. Aust J Agr Resour Ecol 55:7289 Google Scholar
Diaz, R, Overholt, WA, Samayoa, A, Sosa, F, Cord-eau, D, Medal, J (2008) Temperature-dependent development, cold tolerance, and potential distribution of Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum (Solanaceae). Biocontrol Sci Technol 18:193207 Google Scholar
Downey, PO, Scanlon, TJ, Hosking, JR (2010) Prioritizing weed species based on their threat and ability to impact biodiversity: a case study from New South Wales. Plant Prot Q 25:111126 Google Scholar
Hosking, JR, Conn, BJ, Lepschi, BJ, Barker, CH (2011) Plant species first recognised as naturalised or naturalising for New South Wales in 2004 and 2005. Cunninghamia 12:87114 Google Scholar
Jones, RE, Vere, DT, Alemseged, Y, Medd, RW (2005) Estimating the economic cost of weeds in Australian annual winter crops. Agric Econ 32:253265 Google Scholar
McGovern, RJ, Polston, JE, Mullahey, JJ (1994) Solanum viarum: weed reservoir of plant viruses in Florida. Int J Pest Manag 40:270273 Google Scholar
Medal, JC, Charudattan, R, Mullahey, JJ, Pitelli, RA (1996) An exploratory insect survey of tropical soda apple in Brazil and Paraguay. Fla Entomol 79:7073 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mullahey, JJ, Shilling, DG, Mislevy, P, Akanda, RA (1998) Invasion of tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) into the US: lessons learned. Weed Technol 12:733736 Google Scholar
Pearse, BHG, Traub, RJ, Davis, A, Cobbold, R, Vanderlinde, PB (2010) Prevalence of Cysticercus bovis in Australia. Aust Vet J 88:260262 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pimentel, D, McNair, S, Janecka, A, Wightman, J, Simmonds, C, O’Connell, C, Wong, E, Russel, L, Zern, J, Aquino, T, Tsomondo, T (2001) Economic and environmental threats of alien plant, animal and microbe invasions. Agric Ecosyst Environ 84:120 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinden, J, Jones, R, Hester, CS, Odom, D, Kalisch, C, James, R, Cacho, O, Griffith, G (2005) The economic impact of weeds in Australia. Plant Prot Q 20:2532 Google Scholar
Tonsor, GT, Schroeder, TC (2006) Livestock identification: lessons for the US beef industry from the Australian system. J Int Food Agribusiness Marketing 18:103118 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trevarthen, A (2007) The National Livestock Identification System: the importance of traceability in E-business. J Theor Appl Electron Commerce Res 2:4962 Google Scholar