pest species – Page 4 – ANGFA Queensland

A fast fish with a huge impact

Sep 242013

Research news from Technische Universitaet Muenchen.

River banks are often reinforced to facilitate shipping. These reinforcements also protect fish against the waves from passing ships, thus creating the perfect conditions for invasive species. Photo: J. Brandner/TUM

Major changes to the Danube ecosystem

Globalization is breaking down barriers – also for plants and animals on the lookout for new homes. Rivers are also changing, in particular through the introduction of non-native species, often brought in by passing ships. In the Danube River, scientists have been observing a fish species conquering a new habitat and creating a totally new ecosystem in the process.

Recent decades have seen massive changes to many river systems. To improve passage for ships, humans have been straightening, deepening, and reinforcing river banks and altered the natural flow regime. Water temperatures are also rising as a result of climate change. All of which provides perfect conditions for the round goby, a fish traditionally found in the lower stretches of the Danube and along the coasts of the Black Sea. Today, however, round goby has expanded its distribution range significantly and can now be found in the headwater of the Danube as well as in the Rhine, the Baltic Sea and the Laurentian Great Lakes in North America.

Scientists at the Technische Universität München (TUM) have teamed up with the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (ZSM) to investigate the strategies the round goby uses to conquer new stretches of river and the impact on the ecosystem and existing food webs. This is the first comprehensive study of this nature has been carried out.

The round goby is conquering new habitats in the upper Danube. Photo: J. Brandner/TUM

Colonization of the upper Danube

The scientists carried out their investigations in the Danube River. “Round goby reached the headwaters of the Danube only a few years ago. Probably as a stowaway in the ballast water of ships,” explains Jörg Brandner from the Chair of Aquatic Systems Biology. Since then, the fish has firmly established itself in the Bavarian Danube in an area stretching from the state border to the city of Regensburg.

In fall 2009, round goby reached the river stretch near the town of Bad Abbach and rapidly established a stable population. From here, individual fish moved further upstream. “In fall 2010 – just one year later – we found the first gobies in the river at Kelheim – around fifteen kilometers further upstream,” continues Brandner. “We did not expect the invasion to progress so rapidly.”

Jörg Brandner reads sensors that measure water temperature over time. Photo: A. Cerwenka/TUM

Native species in decline

The pioneers are particularly strong and powerful goby individuals, able to consume a broad range of foods and thus can outperform other species in the competition for food. They gradually eliminate native fish species such as the barbel and European chub and already account for over 70 percent of the entire fish population in some areas of their preferred habitat (rip-rap banks).

The round goby is also reducing the diversity and abundance of invertebrates. Stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies are particularly hard hit as they become the invaders’ preferred prey in their new habitat. “The round goby quickly adapts to new surroundings, for example by changing its feeding habits,” says Prof. Jürgen Geist from the Chair of Aquatic Systems Biology. “That’s what makes this species so successful.”

Exportable ecosystem

The round goby is not the only fish advancing upstream from the Black Sea. There are currently five different goby species from the lower Danube making their way up the river. And the fish are not the first new settlers. They have already been preceded by many exotic snails, mussels and freshwater amphipods, some even hailing from other continents, e.g. Asia. Like the gobies, a number of these animals dominate native species now.

“Round gobies that reach a certain body size feed on mollusks and freshwater amphipods. Native species are often easier prey as they have not developed defense strategies against the newcomers. And this benefits the non-native species,” explains Geist.

The goby invasion has led to a ‘novel ecosystem’ in the headwater of the Danube comprising previously unknown combinations of species. This is not unique to the Danube, however. There are similar developments in the Rhine and in the Great Lakes of North America. “What we are observing is a very flexible and robust network of different species that adapts itself perfectly to new environments,” says Geist. However, the consequences are serious, he adds: “Biodiversity is declining and once the original ecosystem is lost, we can never go back.”

Publication:
Bigger is better: Characteristics of round gobies forming an invasion front in the Danube River, Joerg Brandner, Alexander F. Cerwenka, Ulrich K. Schliewen and Juergen Geist, PLOS ONE, dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073036

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Geist
Technische Universität München
hair of Aquatic Systems Biology
T: +49 8161 71-3767
E: geist@tum.de
W: fisch.wzw.tum.de

New technology combats marine biosecurity threat

aquarium, government, pest species

Sep 172013

Original story by Aaron Fernandes, ScinceNetwork Western Australia

THE exotic fish trade presents an ongoing challenge for bacteriologists working to keep harmful pathogens out of WA water ways, but experts say the state’s biosecurity efforts are among the best in the country.

Edwardsiella ictaluri is a potential pathogen to some fish including the rainbow trout. Image: iStock

The importation of exotic aquarium fish into Australia is worth around $350 million annually, with 15.5 million fish being imported in 2005.

However, these animals can be a source of exotic pathogens, bacteria and disease that cause havoc in Australia’s freshwater and marine eco-systems.

Fish imported into Australia are subject to Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forests (DAFF) biosecurity conditions and on arrival are held in quarantine for inspection.

In WA, fish showing signs of disease are sent to the Fish Health Unit at the Department of Fisheries, before bacteriology is conducted at the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Laboratories.

Animal Health Laboratories expert Dr Nicky Buller says she regularly receives samples of suspected exotic pathogens which are then subjected to state-of-the-art technology for culturing and identification.

“When DAFF Biosecurity officers observe significant deaths among quarantined fish, we are supplied tissue samples for identification,” she says.

“We perform traditional culture procedures and DNA-based methods, but we also have introduced the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF) for identifying samples,” Dr Buller says.

“This technology utilises the proteins on the cell wall which are ionized by a laser beam and separated under vacuum.

“The mass is recorded on a detector, and the resulting spectrograph is compared to the database to determine a probability whether high or low of it being a certain organism.

“In the last year we have had a few exotic pathogens detected in quarantine and we have been able to identify them through both traditional methods and with this new technology.”

“Culturing” involves growing the bacteria for further study, a process that can present several challenges for researchers.

Bacteria from marine fish need to be cultured in media containing NaCl, or magnesium and potassium ions, whereas bacteria from freshwater fish do not required added NaCl.

“It is a challenging task. You have to be able to recognise potential cases of exotic disease among the endemic cases; bacteria that you wouldn’t normally see in everyday diagnostics,” Dr Buller says.

“There are also specific temperature and media requirements for different bacteria, and that means knowing what temperature is optimum for culturing.”

Dr Buller is urging West Australians to help reduce the risk to Australia’s native fish with practices like disposing of dead aquarium fish in bleach in the household rubbish, rather than flush them down the toilet.

Testicle-crushing fish found in French capital

pest species

Sep 042013

Original story at 9 news

The testicle-targeting Pacu.

Last week French police confirmed that the pacu — a relative of the piranha — had been caught by a man fishing on the River Seine, The Telegraph reports.

The Brazilian native caused panic in Swedish waters last month when a 20cm specimen was found in a sound off the nation’s southern coast.

The species, nicknamed the “ball-cutter”, has a reputation for using its teeth — which are similar to a human’s — to crush men’s testicles.

Pacus have reportedly caused men to die from blood loss after locking onto their testes.

While the animal is native to South America, pacus have also been sighted in Papua New Guinea, where they were reportedly introduced to boost fish stocks.

Henrik Carl, a fish expert at the Danish National History Museum, said the fish do not usually pose a threat to humans but there had been reports of fatal bites.

“They bite because they’re hungry and testicles sit nicely in their mouth,” he said.

“And its mouth is not so big, so of course it normally eats nuts, fruit, and small fish — but human testicles are just a natural target.”

Queensland Feral Animal Summit

community, government, pest species

Aug 302013

News from Biosecurity Queensland

Feral cat (Felis catus)

More than 70 participants representing all sectors including community, industry and government, attended the first Queensland Feral Animal Summit hosted by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr John McVeigh in Toowoomba at the end of June.

The Summit, the first stage of building and enhancing the management of feral animals in Queensland, will guide the development of a framework to address particular feral animal issues, promote and inform on those issues and identify funds and resources to mitigate those issues.

The focus was firmly on the impacts feral animals have on industry and the environment and what actions are required to prevent further impacts.

A number of agreed directions arose from the summit, including:

Feral pigs can damage sugarcane, wheat, banana and strawberry crops

the importance of preventing new, emerging species and an expansion of existing species ranges;
establishing commonly agreed and clearly expressed priorities, roles, responsibilities and actions;
support for systems that reward effective management and allow compliance actions to encourage participation;
multi species management approaches rather than species specific approaches;
increasing community understanding and engagement;
the importance of collaboration and coordination;
the need for the community to be aware of and skilled to deal with feral species;
commitment to streamline access to existing funding and ensure funding is coordinated, practical and inclusive;
eliminating duplication through knowledge networks and communication groups to gather and disseminate information to stop duplication of effort; and
innovating to expand the number of people and organisations involved in the management of feral animals.

The Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC) was also announced at the Summit.

The IPAC will be comprised of representatives from a number of industry bodies, and state and local governments.

IPAC representatives will play an overarching and leadership role in managing invasive plant and animal issues across the state.

For more information on feral animals, visitbiosecurity.qld.gov.au

Get involved in Weedbuster Week 2-8 September 2013

pest species

Aug 282013

News release from DAFF

Biosecurity Queensland senior biosecurity officer Petra Skoien said Weedbuster Week was an annual event filled with activities and celebrations aimed to raise awareness and involve the general public in weed management.

Weedbusters is a year-long campaign that culminates with Weedbuster Week, held during the first week of September every year. Weedbuster Week provides an opportunity to encourage participation in weed control activities, provides recognition of existing activities and facilitates weed education.

“Held from 2 -8 September, it’s a great time to get outdoors and help your local school, Landcare group, Bushcare group, or council tackle problem weeds in your area,” she said.

“Activities can range from weed clean-ups, field days and demonstrations, to weed identification walks and competitions.

“In cities and regional towns throughout Queensland, a lot of people like to spruce up their gardens in spring, so it’s also a good time for people to check they aren’t spreading weeds.

“Everyone can help prevent weed spread by keeping their gardens weed-free.

“When planning your garden, choose your plants carefully and purchase non-weedy plants.

“You should also be careful with mulch as weed seeds can survive the mulching process. It’s also helpful to buy weed-free soil, mulches and fertilisers,” Dr Skoien said.

“People should also review or develop practices to prevent weeds from entering or leaving their property to protect themselves from future weed problems.

“In rural areas, weeds compete with pasture needed for livestock and agricultural crops.

“Weeds can also increase the risk of fire, increase maintenance costs and reduce enjoyment of recreational activities.”

Dr Skoien said highly invasive weeds threaten grazing lands, waterways, national parks and urban environments.

“Weeds cost Queensland an estimated $600 million annually and have significant impacts on primary industries, natural ecosystems, and human and animal health,” she said.

“Weedbuster Week presents the perfect opportunity for landowners to work out the weed control and prevention strategies that they want to conduct on their own properties over the next twelve months.”

For more information about Weedbuster Week and how to get involved, call Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or visit the website, www.daff.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Kerri Neville, 07 3087 8596

Freeing pet catfish can devastate ecosystems

aquarium, pest species, waterways/wetlands

Aug 222013

Original story by Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle

Popular aquarium catfish wreak havoc in aquatic ecosystems worldwide after people set them free.

A new Cornell study, published Aug. 21 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, explains why the invaders, when they become abundant in non-native waters, can change the structure and function of ecosystems.

A pleco caught in the Chacamax River in Chiapas, Mexico.
Photo: Krista Capps

The fish, in the family Loricariidae, are marketed as “plecos” or “algae eaters” and are popular in the multibillion-dollar pet industry. Several species of loricariids, also known as sailfin catfishes, have become established outside their native ranges after aquarium owners let them loose in warm fresh and brackish waters. In several countries, sailfin catfish invasion has been linked to the decline of freshwater fisheries.

The study finds that the bottom-feeding catfish eat detritus and algae and absorb high quantities of phosphorus to maintain their bony skeletons, which can sequester phosphorus for more than a decade. Phosphorus is key to the growth of algae, which is the base of the food chain. This means invading organisms, such as plecos, that alter nutrient dynamics can change food availability in a system and affect all other organisms that depend on those resources. Invasive plecos have caused problems for people who rely on other fish as a source of protein and income in Central America, Asia and the Caribbean.

The study was conducted in a river in Chiapas, Mexico, where the researchers’ analyses determined the mass balance of elements in the ecosystem. They measured where and in what ratios nitrogen and phosphorus are stored and how these nutrients moved through the ecosystem after a pleco invasion.

“By examining the body chemistry of plecos and the chemistry of the system they are invading, we found that these fish have the ability to fundamentally change how the system works,” said lead author Krista Capps, Ph.D. ’12, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Maine Sustainability Solutions Initiative. She conducted the work for her Ph.D. thesis in the lab of co-author Alex Flecker, Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. “Relatively few studies have measured the way in which aquarium invaders affect ecosystem processes, such as nutrient dynamics,” added Capps, whose experiments in Mexico showed that aquarium invaders, even the ones that eat algae, can have major effects on ecosystem function.

The study could serve as a model to help predict which species will negatively affect ecosystems. An initiative, Habitattitude, is ramping up to develop partnerships among the pet industry, Sea Grant programs, state governments and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to educate consumers in the United States, Capps said. Companies like Petco now supply educational pamphlets when aquarium fish are sold. Also, several states prohibit the sale of aquatic organisms that may negatively affect local ecosystems, and regulators and wildlife professionals in countries such as Australia and New Zealand have begun to address issues related to the ornamental fish trade, Capps said.

“My hope is that this work will stimulate a discussion to think outside the box as to how regulations are made,” Capps said.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation; the Integrated Graduate Education and Research in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity Small Grant Program and the Margaret Paul Graduate Fellowship in the Life Sciences, both at Cornell; and the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program.

Danish swimmers escape waters fearing killer fish

pest species

Aug 132013

Media release from the University of Copenhagen

The capture in the Danish/Swedish strait of Oresund of a fish some twenty centimeters in size and with long sharp teeth has caused Danish swimmers to leave the water fearing an invasion of meat eating killer fish, Piranhas.

There is however no cause for panic say experts. The fish, though exotic, is a Pacu, not a piranha. None the less they caution male swimmers to protect their privates when swimming in the sound.

Pacu teeth. Photo: Henrik Carl

“Discovering whether this fish is a lone wanderer or a new invasive species will be very exciting. And a bit scary. It’s the first time this species has been caught in the wild in Scandinavia,” says Associate Professor and fish expert Peter Rask Møller of the National History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen.

Caught by hobby fisherman

The frightening fish was caught by hobby fisherman Einar Lindgreen on August 4. As he emptied his nets north of Danish isle Saltholm in the strait Oresund which seperates Denmark and Sweden he saw the red-bellied bigtooth among eels and perch. Back in the harbour the exotic fish caused quite an uproar, as several of Lindgreens colleagues were convinced that they were staring at a South American Piranha. Fortunately the fish was sent for study at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Here Peter Rask Møller and fellow fish expert Henrik Carl examined the animal. Their calming communique for Danish bathers is that the fish is not a Piranha but a close South American relative; the Pacu.

Pacu. Photo: Henrik Carl

Though the Pacu, like its cousin the Piranha, belongs in waters like the Amazon it has found its way to other waters around the globe by way of aquariums and fish farms. In large parts of the USA and Asia it is now considered an invasive species. It grows to as much as 25 kilograms and is a popular fish for farming and eating. But how this fish ended up in Scandinavian waters is a bit of a puzzler.

Some have imagined that it escaped from the recently established The Blue Planet – Denmark’s Aquarium. This Copenhagen attraction is situated right next to Oresund and gets its water from there.

But that is flat out impossible assures curator at The Blue Planet Lars Skou Olsen.

“We do exhibit Pacus in our Amazonas exhibition, but ours are a lot larger than the one caught. And even though the distance between our aquariums and Øresund can be measured in meters there are sophisticated filters in place to avoid contamination. So this is not one of our fish,” assures Olsen.

The usual suspects

“Amateur aquarium owners and fish farmers are “The usual suspects” when we meet fish where they do not belong,” says Peter Rask Møller.

“It is not unlikely that someone has emptied their fish tank into a nearby stream just before a vacation and that the Pacu then swam out into the brackish waters of Oresund. We don’t know of any commercial farming of Pacus in Europe. But just like the Piranhas the Pacus are quite easy for amateurs to raise,” says Møller.

Danish boy Malthe with Pacu. Photo: Henrik Carl

Only once before has a Pacu been caught anywhere in Europe. That was in 2002, when a sportsfisher hooked one near a power plant on the Odra river in Poland.

“The river Odra empties into the Baltic Sea very close to Denmark,” says Peter Rask Møller.

The Pacu is known as the peaceful cousin of the Piranha as it is largely vegetarian. Their powerful teeth are not as sharp as those of the Piranhas, but they are fully capable of severing fishing lines and even fingers.

“In order to be one hundred percent certain of the identification we will now perform a genetic examination, as there are several species of Pacu which are very similar when young. In the aqua culture busines they even produce hybrids between species,” explains Peter Rask Møller.

The teeth are used mainly to crush nuts and other fruits, but the Pacu eats fish and small invertebrates as well. Its preference for nuts have had fatal results though. In Papua New Guinea where the species has also escaped it is rumoured to have mistaken nuts for male reproductive organs. So anyone choosing to bathe in the Øresund these days had best keep their swimsuits well tied.

Contact

Associate Professor Peter Rask Møller
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Mobile: +45 20 11 66 43

Curator Lars Skou Olsen
Blue Planet Aquarium
Mobile: +45 26 83 90 07

Swedish swimmers warned over testicle-biting pacu fish

aquarium, pest species

Aug 112013

Original story at news.com.au

SWEDISH men have been warned to avoid nude bathing after a species of fish known for attacking testicles has been found locally.

Jaws! The pacu is native to South America and can grow to 90 centimetres. Photo: The Natural History Museum of Denmark

Jaws! These cousins of piranha, pacu (Serrasalminae family) are native to South America and can grow to 90 centimetres. Photo: The Natural History Museum of Denmark

A 21-centimetre pacu was caught by fisherman in the Oresund Sound last week.

The fish, a relative of the piranha, is known for its attacks on male genitalia and has been nicknamed the “ball cutter” in its native South America.

There are even reports of fishermen who have bled to death after losing their testicles to the fish, which can grow to 90 centimetres and weigh up to 25 kilos.

“Keep your swimwear on if you’re bathing in the Sound these days – maybe there are more out there!” Henrik Carl, a fish expert at the Danish museum, told Swedish news site The Local.

“They bite because they’re hungry, and testicles sit nicely in their mouth,” Carl said.

“And its mouth is not so big, so of course it normally eats nuts, fruit, and small fish, but human testicles are just a natural target.”

Although native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins, they have also been found in Papua New Guinea and Texas, where officials reportedly put a bounty of $100 on a nuisance pacu spotted in a lake there.

The one caught off the Swedish coast is currently undergoing DNA tests to confirm its identity.

Weeds need more advocates

community, government, pest species

Aug 082013

Original story at the Feral Herald

The scientific literature burgeons with papers about escalating weed problems but the public airwaves are largely silent on the creeping peril that is one of Australia’s biggest environmental threats.

There is a noticeable lack of coordinated scientific and expert voices forcefully promoting policies and laws that will address some of the root causes of weed threats.

Bush Regeneration in Mosman Council area, Sydney. Photo: Mosman Council

Are the scientists, the experts and the public land managers who know the problems extremely well too constrained to say publicly what they really think? Are they worried they are breaking the rules of controlling governments that prevent public servants speaking contrary to the ‘whole of government’ position, or do they think that they can achieve more by working from the inside?

I was recently asked to speak at a seminar of the Weed Society in Victoria and I challenged them with this problem.

I worked in government for four years and I understand the arguments and the constraints. The same arguments about advocacy have been had in government and scientific circles over a long time in many other fields.

Advocacy from weed experts, including members of the weed societies, is particularly needed for weed reforms because such a substantial proportion of weed experts are in public institutions and because the issue doesn’t have a high public profile. More than climate change or land clearing, weed policy needs expert advocacy.

It is important to resist the argument that those in government cannot have an independent voice outside their formal roles. When government employees are involved with an organisation like a weed society, that organisation does not need to be silent on issues that may contradict an official government position. The challenge is how you go about it.

There have long been scientists willing to speak out and express alarm about unfolding botanical disasters.

In 1909, the Victorian government botanist, Alfred Ewart, was appalled by the weeds spreading in Victoria and called for controls to prevent any new weed from being introduced. These calls fell on deaf ears, but he was unafraid to state the problem as it was.

There have been some recent outspoken expert advocates. We all rue the loss of the Weeds CRC. Its CEO, Rachel McFadyen, was outspoken in calling for policy reforms including advocating a ‘white list’ approach to weeds. She and ISC and others campaigned to get gamba grass declared as a weed.

Invasive Animals CRC CEO, Tony Peacock, was outspoken against the attempt by the Shooters Party about five years ago to release potentially invasive bird species into game reserves in NSW and critiqued the idea that recreational hunters were effective at pest control.

Individual scientists have often self-organised, such as the highly successfulWentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. They comment on issues such as vegetation clearing, water reform and climate change, strongly challenging government policy and vested interests. This group has had real influence in changing the nature of the public debate and shifting public policy and laws.

Scientists generally recognise the importance of advocacy. In 2012, a study by Pew Foundation of over 2,500 US scientists found that 97% said it was appropriate for scientists to ’become actively involved in political debates’.

Scientists are an essential part of our community and it is important that their voices are heard.

Weed Societies have shown a willingness to be publicly active. At the national level theCouncil of Australasian Weed Societies has called for mandatory risk assessments for the import of new plants and for more resources to implement an action plan prepared by the CRC for Weed Management. The strategic plan of this representative body seeks to be recognised as the ‘leading, independent body on weed management issues’ and to supports its member’s interests to ‘reduce the impact of weeds’.

The Invasive Species Council is less constrained than the weed societies in its advocacy. While we don’t pretend to have all the answers, we insist on taking an expert, scientific approach to our work and we are willing to state a problem as it really is.

We are able to say that we need more resources to tackle the growing invasive problem. We can see an alarming drop in capacity of biosecurity staff and researchers across Australia. We have been calling for new national and state laws to make our biosecurity system more effective. We are willing to say that environmental weeds have been neglected due to the historical emphasis on agricultural weeds and because weeds are not a sexy issue. We are committing to ensuring that biosecurity decisions are science-based and transparent.

We believe that there is great scope for bringing change in this area, as there has been for other big environmental issues. As is fundamental to almost all ‘public good’ reforms, we need strong public support, attention-grabbing communication through the media, a social media groundswell underpinned by sound arguments and strong well-articulated evidence.

The Invasive Species Council is building up its campaign to reform weed laws and policies across Australia as a central part of its agenda to reduce the impact of environmental from invasive species.

We are working to improve the Biosecurity Bill, currently before the Senate. We are also seeking support for a separate Greens Bill to create an independent authority on biosecurity. Our work in Canberra has been assisted by collaborating with industry groups such as NSW Farmers, Tasmanian Fruit Growers, Nursery and Growers Industry Association, GrowCom and AusVeg.

The Invasive Species Council are promoting a proposal for Environmental Health Australia that would see government, industry and the community working together on strategic issues for environmental invasive species. Earlier in the month we launched a national survey to learn about the extent of organisational efforts in tackling invasive species. Already we have received over 400 responses.

In Victoria we are seeking to influence the proposed Invasive Species Management Bill under development and we are working to break the impasse on feral deer and horse control that is seeing their numbers steadily grow through inaction.

In our work, we are keen to work more closely with botanists, ecologists and weed experts as well as experts in economics, sociology and law.

The Invasive Species Council would like to work more closely with the weed societies from Australia and support them in their advocacy work.

We need substantial changes to weed laws, policies and funding across Australia. This will not come about unless there is concerted and well-organised advocacy.

ISC challenges the view that those in government or academia should remain narrow in their role and refrain from involvement in advocacy. They are part of the community and have in-depth knowledge of the need for reform. The weed societies are in an ideal place to be a representative voice for change.

Our appeal is to all weed practitioners: how best can you support advocacy for weed reform?

Invasive Species Rank as Greatest Threat to Australia’s Natives

community, government, pest species, wildlife

Aug 082013

Original story http://www.invasives.org.au: National Survey Results Reveal Invasive Species Rank as Greatest Threat to Australia’s Native Plants and Animals

Which issues are you tackling?

A national survey of conservation, government and landcare groups in Australia has revealed that weeds, invasive animals, and ‘all invasive species’ rank just above habitat loss as the greatest threats to the country’s native plants and animals.

The survey was carried out over eight weeks across a wide range of conservation, government and Landcare groups, asking respondents to rank threats ‘putting at risk the conservation of Australia’s native plants and animals’.

It was aimed at building a better picture of the work tens of thousands of Australians carry out, often for free, to battle weeds, feral animals and other invasive threats to the environment.

Almost 94% of respondents rated invasive animals as either a ‘very high’ or ‘high’ threat to Australia’s native plants and animals, nearly 93% rated ‘weeds’ and ‘all invasive species’ in those two highest categories, while just under 92% rated habitat loss as either a ‘very high’ or ‘high’ threat.

The ‘combination of climate change and invasive species’ rated just over 88 per cent.

Fire ranked the lowest, followed by climate change.

The overwhelming majority of those surveyed are tackling weed problems (92.2%), and just over half are working on invasive animals issues.

Surprisingly, just 6 per cent said they are working on invasive marine problems, and 12 per cent are tackling invasive diseases.

Both a lack of funding and general awareness among the Australian public about how invasive species are harming our native plants and animals are proving the greatest obstacles to tackling invasive species.

More than half of respondents blamed a lack of strong laws and policies for hampering their organisation’s ability to combat invasive species. Finding volunteers is also a problem.

What’s needed from government?

Wide ranging answers were given for what governments at local, state and federal levels could be doing better to tackle invasive species, including:

Fund massive control and eradication programs to knock back feral populations of rabbits, cats, foxes, deer, cane toads etc.
Approach invasive species in the same style of co-ordination as bushfire control, with a centralised body and funding, with well co-ordinated paid and volunteer actions.
Awareness campaigns.
Ban the importation of new pasture grasses. Make industry contribute to off-farm impacts. Research biological controls for rampant escapees.
Ban all weed species from importation and distribution.
Ban cats in sensitive areas and control them elsewhere.
Employ and train more people to tackle the issues.
Enforce declared plant legislation at the landholder level.

The survey also revealed the huge levels of both volunteer and paid hours being put into tackling invasive species in Australia. This information shows both the high cost of tackling invasive species and the interest in the community in contributing to control efforts.

Who completed the survey?

More than a thousand groups, including small and large conservation groups, Bushcare, Landcare and NRM groups, as well as local councils and Friends of groups, were contacted as part of the survey.

Just over 800 completed the survey and represented a broad cross-section of organisations working on invasive species problems in this country including Landcare and Coastcare groups, bush regenerators, NRM bodies, environmental consultants, government agencies and research organisations.

The survey results will be used to create an Australian database of groups working on these issues, and to help us better share information on current invasive species threats and the opportunities for improving laws and policies.

The Invasive Species Council would like to thank the Ian Potter Foundation for its generous support in making this project possible.

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