Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T05:55:34.764Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Managing Alien Plants for Biodiversity Outcomes—the Need for Triage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Paul O. Downey ,
Moira C. Williams ,
Leonie K. Whiffen ,
Bruce A. Auld ,
Mark A. Hamilton ,
Alana L. Burley  and
Peter J. Turner
Paul O. Downey*
Affiliation:
Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia
Moira C. Williams
Affiliation:
Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia
Leonie K. Whiffen
Affiliation:
Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia
Bruce A. Auld
Affiliation:
NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, New South Wales 2800, Australia
Mark A. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia
Alana L. Burley
Affiliation:
Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia
Peter J. Turner
Affiliation:
Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 1481, Australia
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Recognition that alien plants pose a significant threat to biodiversity has not always translated into effective management strategies, policy reforms, and systems to establish priorities. Thus, many alien plant management decisions for the protection of biodiversity occur with limited knowledge of what needs to be protected (other than biodiversity in a generalized sense) or the urgency of actions. To rectify this, we have developed a triage system that enables alien plant management decisions to be made based on (1) the urgency of control relative to the degree of threat posed to biodiversity, compared with (2) the likelihood of achieving a successful conservation outcome as a result of alien plant control. This triage system is underpinned by a two-step approach, which identifies the biodiversity at risk and assesses sites to determine priorities for control. This triage system was initially developed to manage the threat posed by bitou bush to native species in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It has subsequently been improved with the national assessment of lantana in Australia, and the adaptation from a single to multiple alien plant species approach on a regional scale. This triage system identifies nine levels of priority for alien plant management aimed at biodiversity conservation, ranging from immediate, targeted action to limited or no action. The development of this approach has enabled long-term management priorities to be set for widespread alien plants that are unlikely to be eradicated. It also enables control to occur in a coordinated manner for biodiversity conservation at a landscape scale, rather than as a series of individual unconnected short-term actions.

Keywords

Bitou bush, Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) Norl.lantana, Lantana camara L.Invasive plantsprioritizationconservationselecting sites for controlrankingnonindigenous plants
Type
Review
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , May 2010 , pp. 1 - 11
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.)

Footnotes

Current address: Climate Change, Policy and Programs Group, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, P.O. Box A290, Sydney South, New South Wales 1232, Australia

Current address: University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia

Current address: Charles Sturt University, Orange New South Wales 2800, Australia

References

Literature Cited

Adair, R. J. and Groves, R. H. 1998. Impact of Environmental Weeds on Biodiversity: A Review and Development of a Methodology. Canberra, Australia Environment Australia. 51.Google Scholar
Anon, , 2006. National Post-border Weed Risk Management Protocol. HB 294. Sydney, Australia Standards Australia, Standards New Zealand, and Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management. 75.Google Scholar
Blossey, B. 1999. Before, during and after: the need for long-term monitoring in invasive species management. Biol. Invasions 1:301–311.Google Scholar
Bottrill, M. C., Joseph, L. N., Carwardine, J., Bode, M., Cook, C., Game, E. T., Grantham, H., Kark, S., Linke, S., McDonald-Madden, E., Pressey, R. L., Walker, S., Wilson, K. A., and Possingham, H. P. 2009. Finite conservation funds mean triage is unavoidable. TREE 24:183–184.Google Scholar
Broese van Groenou, E. A. and Downey, P. O. 2006. Best Practice Guidelines for Aerial Spraying of Bitou Bush in New South Wales. Hurstville, Australia Department of Environment and Conservation (New South Wales). 32.Google Scholar
Coutts-Smith, A. J. and Downey, P. O. 2006. Impact of Weeds on Threatened Biodiversity in New South Wales. Technical Series 11. Adelaide, Australia CRC for Australian Weed Management. 98.Google Scholar
[DEC] Department of Environment and Conservation 2004. Draft Threat Abatement Plan - Invasion of Native Plant Communities by Bitou Bush/Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera). Hurstville, Australia Department of Environment and Conservation (New South Wales). 108.Google Scholar
[DEC] Department of Environment and Conservation 2006. NSW Threat Abatement Plan – Invasion of Native Plant Communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera (Bitou Bush and Boneseed). Hurstville, Australia Department of Environment and Conservation (New South Wales). 136. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/BitouTAP.htm. Accessed: June 11, 2009.Google Scholar
[DECC] Department of Environment and Climate Change 2007. Managing the Impact of Lantana on Biodiversity: A National Challenge. Hurstville, Australia New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/LantanaPlan.htm. Accessed: June 11, 2009.Google Scholar
Downey, P. O. 2006. The weed impact to native species (WINS) assessment tool – results from a trial for bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce) and ground asparagus (Asparagus aethiopicus L.) in southern New South Wales. Plant Prot. Q 21:109–116.Google Scholar
Downey, P. O. 2008a. Determination and management of alien plant impacts on biodiversity: examples from New South Wales, Australia. Pages 369–385. in Tokarska-Guzik, B., Brock, J., Brundu, G., Child, L., Daehler, C., and Pyšek, P. Plant Invasions: Human Perception, Ecological Impacts and Management. Leiden, Netherlands Backhuys.Google Scholar
Downey, P. O. 2008b. Determining sites for weed control and biodiversity conservation. Pages 387–388. in van Klinken, R. D., Osten, V. A., Panetta, F. D., and Scanlan, J. C. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns, Queensland. Brisbane, Australia Queensland Weeds Society.Google Scholar
Downey, P. O. and Grice, A. C. 2008. Determination and management of the impacts of weeds on biodiversity. Pages 23–25. in van Klinken, R. D., Osten, V. A., Panetta, F. D., and Scanlan, J. C. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns, Queensland. Brisbane, Australia Queensland Weeds Society.Google Scholar
Downey, P. O., Williams, M. C., Whiffen, L. K., Turner, P. J., Burley, A. L., and Hamilton, M. A. 2009. Weeds and biodiversity conservation: a review of managing weeds under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 . Ecol. Manage. Restor 10:S53–S58.Google Scholar
Foxcroft, L. C. and Downey, P. O. 2008. Protecting biodiversity by managing alien plants in National Parks: perspectives from South Africa and Australia. Pages 387–403. in Tokarska-Guzik, B., Brock, J., Brundu, G., Child, L., Daehler, C., and Pyšek, P. Plant Invasions: Human Perception, Ecological Impacts and Management. Leiden, Netherlands Backhuys.Google Scholar
Goodall, J. M. and Naude, D. C. 1998. An ecosystem approach for planning sustainable management of environmental weeds in South Africa. Agric. Eco. Environ 68:109–123.Google Scholar
Grice, A. C., Field, A. R., and McFadyen, R. E. C. 2004. Quantifying the effects of weeds on biodiversity: beyond Blind Freddy's test. Pages 464–468. in Sindel, B. M. and Johnson, S. B. Proceedings of the 14th Australian Weeds Conference, Wagga, New South Wales. Sydney, Australia Weed Society of New South Wales.Google Scholar
Grice, A. C., Perry, J. J., Nicholas, D. M., and Williams, P. R. 2008. Managing complexity: the example of invasive wetland forage grasses. Pages 27–29. in van Klinken, R. D., Osten, V. A., Panetta, F. D., and Scanlan, J. C. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns, Queensland. Brisbane, Australia Queensland Weeds Society.Google Scholar
Groves, R. H. 2004. Weed management at the border, at the garden fence and in the bush. Pages 1–9. in Sindel, B. M. and Johnson, S. B. Proceedings of the 14th Australian Weeds Conference, Wagga, New South Wales. Sydney, Australia Weed Society of New South Wales.Google Scholar
Hobbs, R. J. and Humphries, S. E. 1995. An integrated approach to the ecology and management of plant invasions. Conserv. Biol 9:761–770.Google Scholar
Hobbs, R. J. and Kristjanson, L. J. 2003. Triage: how do we prioritize health care for landscapes? Ecol. Manage. Restor 4:S39–S45.Google Scholar
Hughes, N. K., Burley, A. L., King, S. A., and Downey, P. O. 2009. Monitoring Manual for Bitou Bush Control and Native Plant Recovery. Sydney, Australia Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. 184.Google Scholar
Humphries, S. E., Groves, R. H., and Mitchell, D. S. 1993. Plant Invasions: homogenizing Australian ecosystems. Pages 149–170. in Moritz, C. and Kikkawa, J. Conservation Biology in Australia and Oceania. Sydney, Australia Surrey Beatty & Sons.Google Scholar
Humphries, S. E., Groves, R. H., and Mitchell, D. S. 1991. Plant invasions of Australian ecosystems. Status review and management directions. Kowari 2:1–127.Google Scholar
King, S. A. and Downey, P. O. 2008. Assessing the recovery of native plant species following bitou bush control – the need for monitoring. Plant Prot. Q 23:40–41.Google Scholar
Levine, J. M., Vilá, M., D'Antonio, C. M., Dukes, J. S., Grigulis, K., and Lavorel, S. 2003. Mechanisms underlying the impacts of exotic plant invasions. Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. B: Biol. Sci 270:775–781.Google Scholar
Luken, J. O. 1997. Management of plant invasions: implicating ecological succession. Pages 133–144. in Luken, J. O. and Thieret, J. W. Assessment and Management of Plant Invasions. New York Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Marrs, R. H. 2002. Manipulating the chemical environment of the soil. Pages 155–183. in Perrow, M. R. and Davy, A. J. Handbook of Ecological Restoration. Volume 1. Principles of Restoration. Melbourne, Australia Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittermeier, C. G., da Fonseca, G. A. B., and Kent, J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853–858.Google Scholar
[NLMG] National Lantana Management Group 2009. Draft Plan to Protect Environmental Assets from Lantana. Prepared by P. J. Turner, M. A. Hamilton, and P. O. Downey. Brisbane, Australia National Lantana Management Group. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/biosecurity-environmentalpests/ipa-lantan-plan-protect-environmental-assets.pdf. Accessed: December 23, 2009.Google Scholar
[NRMMC] Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council 2006. Australian Weeds Strategy - A National Strategy for Weed Management in Australia. Canberra, Australia Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources. 20.Google Scholar
Owen, S. J. 1998. Department of Conservation Strategic Plan for Managing Invasive Weeds. Wellington, New Zealand Department of Conservation (New Zealand). 86.Google Scholar
Randall, J. M., Morse, L. E., Benton, N., Hiebert, R., Lu, S., and Killeffer, T. 2008. The invasive species assessment protocol: a tool for creating regional and national lists of invasive nonnative plants that negatively impact biodiversity. Inv. Plant Sci. Manage 1:36–49.Google Scholar
Reid, A. M., Morin, L., Downey, P. O., French, K., and Virtue, J. G. 2009. Does invasive plant management aid the restoration of natural ecosystems? Biol. Conserv 142:2342–2349.Google Scholar
Richardson, D. M. and van Wilgen, B. W. 2004. Invasive alien plants in South Africa: how well do we understand the ecological impacts? S. African J. Sci 100:45–52.Google Scholar
Skinner, K., Smith, L., and Rice, P. 2000. Using noxious weed lists to prioritize targets for developing weed management strategies. Weed Sci 48:640–644.Google Scholar
Strehling, N., Rendell, N., King, S. A., and Downey, P. O. 2008. Implementing the Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan across different land tenures: challenges and successes. Plant Prot. Q 23:45–47.Google Scholar
Timmins, S. M. and McAlpine, K. G. 2008. Do weed managers need to know about weed impacts? 26. in van Klinken, R. D., Osten, V. A., Panetta, F. D., and Scanlan, J. C. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns, Queensland. Brisbane, Australia Queensland Weeds Society.Google Scholar
Turner, P. J. 2008. The Impacts of the Environmental Weed Asparagus asparagoides and the Ecological Barriers to Restoring Invaded Sites Following Biological Control. Doctoral Thesis. Perth, Australia University of Western Australia. 212.Google Scholar
Turner, P. J. and Downey, P. O. 2010. Ensuring invasive alien plant management delivers biodiversity conservation: insights from a new approach using Lantana camara . Plant Prot. Q 25. In press.Google Scholar
Turner, P. J., Hamilton, M. A., and Downey, P. O. 2008. The triage approach to conserving biodiversity from lantana invasion. Pages 393. in van Klinken, R. D., Osten, V. A., Panetta, F. D., and Scanlan, J. C. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns, Queensland. Brisbane, Australia Queensland Weeds Society.Google Scholar
Turner, P. J. and Virtue, J. G. 2006. An eight year removal experiment measuring the impact of bridal creeper [Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce] and the potential benefit from its control. Plant Prot. Q 21:79–84.Google Scholar
Vidler, S. J. 2004. Using your cute and furries: the role of threatened species in weed awareness. Pages 652–658. in Sindel, B. M. and Johnson, S. B. Proceedings of the 14th Australian Weeds Conference, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Sydney, Australia Weed Society of New South Wales.Google Scholar
Williams, M. C., Auld, B., O'Brien, C. M., Rendell, N., and Downey, P. O. 2008. Prioritising weed management for biodiversity conservation at the NRM level. Pages 408–410. in van Klinken, R. D., Osten, V. A., Panetta, F. D., and Scanlan, J. C. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns, Queensland. Brisbane, Australia Queensland Weeds Society.Google Scholar
Williams, J. A. and West, C. J. 2000. Environmental weeds in Australia and New Zealand: issues and approaches to management. Aust. Ecol 25:425–444.Google Scholar
[WRI] World Resources Institute, [IUCN] The World Conservation Union, and [UNEP] United National Environment Programme 1992. Global Biodiversity Strategy: Guidelines for Action to Save, Study, and Use the Earth's Biotic Wealth Sustainably and Equitably. Washington, DC WRI, IUCN, and UNEP. 260.Google Scholar