Invasion of dry land plants into wet meadows of the Peace-Athabasca Delta 

Jeff Shatford,
Parks Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park,
P.O. Box 750 Fort Smith, NT   X0E 0P0
Tel: 867 872-7939 Fax: 867 872-3910
Email:  jeff.shatford@pc.gc.ca

Despite its remote and isolated setting, the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Wood Buffalo National Park is subject to invasion of non-native plants due to the interaction of events distant in time and place. The area is one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world covering more than 4,000 km2. Its productive, lakes, marshes and sedge meadows are habitat for the largest free roaming herd of wood bison and the most important waterfowl breeding and staging area in North America. Water regulation 1200km upstream on the Peace River, regional climate change and historic animal husbandry practices (circa 1950’s) conspire to allow the invasion of non-native plants.

In the past 2-4 decades, propagules of Cirsium arvense and Sonchus arvensis arrived in Wood Buffalo National Park and populated large and productive sedge meadows in the delta. Transport may have been passive through air or water or accidental amongst feed for livestock and bison that were actively managed in and around the Sweetgrass meadows.

Satellite monitoring has been used to track flooding events of the delta since 1996, hydrological measures and flood monitoring document changes in flood frequency and extent while permanent vegetation transects have recorded the frequency and cover of native and non-native species in three sectors of the delta since 1993.

Although the south sector, under the influence of the unregulated Athabasca River, includes non-native plants their expansion has been limited by continued inundation of the river flood plain. Invasive species in the northern sector continue to expand in frequency and cover, threatening native plant communities and bison foraging areas. Plans to combat further invasion and reduce overall extent of cover include wide scale flooding of infested basins. This can only be achieved through cooperative efforts and negotiations with the major hydro-electric power producer and regional municipalities.

Genetic structure of Japanese introduced populations of the Golden Mussel, Limnoperna fortunei, and the estimation of their range expansion process

^{1 *}Atsushi Tominaga, ¹ Koich Goka, ² Taeko Kimura, and ³ Kenji Ito
¹ National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
² Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimaya-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
³ National Institute for Agro-Environmental Science, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan *E-mail address: tominaga.atsushi@nies.go.jp

Limnoperna fortunei (Golden Mussel) is known as an aggressive freshwater invasive species and is naturally distributed in fresh water of China and Korea. This species was introduced in East Asian and South American countries from 1965 to 1990s. In Japan, this species was first found in Lake Biwa in 1992. Later, Kimura (1994) found this species in preserved samples of the Ibi River in 1990 and estimated, based on shell sizes, that the first Japanese infestation  occurred before 1989. Presently distributional range has spread to the rivers and lakes of central Japan and Golden Mussel is distributed in 10 of 47 prefectures of Japan. This species is characterized by sessile life history with a planktonic larval stage, high reproductive capacity, and suspension feeder. Limnoperna fortunei  has already attained extremely high densities in Japan as well as in other countries. Despite substantial efforts to understand the ecology and impacts of L. fortunei invasions, there has been no examination of the genetic patterns associated with this species’ range expansion. In the present study, we surveyed genetic structures of introduced populations to trace the process of their range expansion in Japan using mitochondrial DNA. Genetic analyses revealed that most Japanese populations show high genetic diversity and include several haplotypes in each population. Although most Japanese populations showed similar genetic structures and shared several haplotypes to each other, a population from the lowlands of Kanto district shows unique genetic structure and most haplotypes of this population are unique. Based on these results, we concluded that invasions to Japan from foreign countries had occurred at least twice, independently, but most Japanese populations are established by migrating individuals from other Japanese populations.

3.   Invasive Species Ireland – A cross-jurisdictional framework to tackling invasive species
 
John Kelly¹*, Caitriona M. Maguire², Peter Cosgrove¹, Christine A. Maggs² and Jamie T.A. Dick².

* Corresponding author JKelly@envirocentre.co.uk
1. EnviroCentre, 10 Upper Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NT, Northern Ireland.
2. School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland.

When approaching Invasive Alien Species (IAS), many countries are faced with limited resources and are uncertain how to establish cost-effective systems to identify associated risks and the management of those risks. Programmes based on political boundaries are not sufficient to tackle IAS in a holistic and effective manner. Effective management often needs to take place at the ecosystem/catchment level and national programmes must consider trans-boundary problems and solutions.

The Invasive Species Ireland (ISI) project is cross-jurisdictional in nature and was established in response to recommendations made to both governments on the island of Ireland. The project has put in place practical steps that aim to minimise introductions, evaluated management and control measures, and laid the foundations for a bi-lateral framework to respond to species introductions leading to a more effective response.

To be successful, established and developing national programmes must take a focused and coherent approach to the different elements of tackling the problem. A combination of legislative provisions and voluntary measures that focus action in a prioritised way are fundamental to a framework for successful IAS management. The ability of ISI to secure the engagement and involvement of multiple stakeholders from central and local government, industry and NGOs has been the cornerstone of most, if not all, gains.

Co-ordination, horizon scanning and sharing of information between national programmes is another essential component of IAS management. The co-operation between the ISI programme and its counterpart in Britain has delivered benefits to both. The recent incursion of Didemnum vexillum is presented as a case study demonstrating the benefits of partnership working between sectors and countries to tackle this marine invasive species. The model presented by the Invasive Species Ireland project is directly applicable to other countries and partnerships. 

The invasion of the Argentine ant across continents

Maki N. Inoue & Koichi Goka

National Institute for Environmental Studies,
16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0053, Japan
Tel: +81-29-850-2480 Fax: +81-29-850-2582
E-mail address: inoue.maki@nies.go.jp

Alien ants are considered to be among the more damaging of invasive insects. Five ant species are ranked among the world’s 100  worst invaders by the IUCN. Within the introduced regions, they displace or disrupt the local arthropod fauna, cause agricultural damage by protecting plant pests, and even affect human health. The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, has successfully spread from its native range in South America across much of the globe. This species is highly polygynous and possesses a social structure, called unicoloniality, whereby individuals mix freely among separated nests. The introduced populations of the Argentine ant are characterized by the formation of very large supercolonies across tens or thousands of kilometers, whereas supercolonies in the native ranges are generally smaller, varying from just a few meters in diameter to many hundreds of meters long.

The Argentine ant, first noted in 1993 in Japan, is now found in several regions. Early detection and rapid response systems as well as control measures are required to prevent further expansion of the species. A vital component of this prevention is the identification of pathways of introduction into new locations. The recent advances in molecular markers have allowed us to retrospectively construct the invasion history of this insect. More recently, many studies on invasion biology focus on the ecological and economic links.

We first review the previously published studies inferring historical introduction pathways of the alien ants. Then, we combine our genetic studies with human activity history to describe global dispersal pathways of the alien ants. Finally, we discuss the interactions between human activity and biodiversity through understanding the dispersal history of the alien ants.
 

The Vegetation of Prairie Wetlands in Native and Agricultural Landscapes: Implications for Wetland Health and Restoration

L.C.M. Ross^{1, 2}, D.J. Pennock³, D.A. Lobb², L.G. Goldsborough⁴, and L.M. Armstrong¹

¹ Ducks Unlimited Canada, Stonewall, MB; ² Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB; ³ Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK; ⁴ Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

More than 600 species and one-third of species at risk in Canada depend on wetlands during all, or part of, their life cycle. Prairie wetlands collectively represent a significant portion of the total inland wetland area in Canada. Seventy-percent of prairie wetlands have been lost due to urban expansion or agriculture. Ninety-percent of those that remain have vegetation margins impacted by cropping, grazing, or haying. We are positioned in western Canada to restore thousands of impacted wetlands through voluntary programs. Plants distribute themselves in pristine wetlands into four distinct vegetation zones based on their ability to tolerate flooding, to germinate during drought periods, and to compete with other plant species.  Previous studies in the northern United States comparing natural wetlands to restored wetlands found the recovery of vegetation unsuccessful even decades after restoration. Native plants in the outer vegetation zones had difficulty re-establishing while invasive species flourished. No study has compared the entire vegetation community of impacted wetlands to natural wetlands. Without this information our ability to predict, or plan for, successful restorations is limited. We compared the vegetative communities of 21 wetlands surrounded by agriculture and native vegetation at six study sites in western Canada. Ninety-two percent of the wetlands surrounded by agriculture had at least one outer vegetation zone missing. This resulted in decreased biodiversity and allowed invasive and exotic species to spread to inner zones. In comparison, outer zones of native wetlands functioned as filters against the encroachment of invasive species. We propose that cropping practices influenced soil bulk densities and increased sediment and nitrogen loading to outer zones. These factors alone can reduce native species while favoring invasive species. Our results indicate that by maintaining intact riparian areas around wetland edges biodiversity is improved, the numbers of invasive species are reduced and the likelihood of plant recovery in future restorations enhanced.   

The invasiveness of the African Tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata Beauv.)

Ricardo Labrada¹ & Alejandro Díaz Medina²

¹ Ex FAO Weed Officer Ricardolabrada@hotmail.com
 ² Prof. Central University, Cuba alejandro@fame.suss.co.cu

The African Tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata Beauv.), originally from East and Southern Africa, is a large upright tree with green pinnately compound leaves and bright-orange coloured flowers. The tree can grow to more than 20m in height and reproduces through seeds and runners. The plant’s uses are very limited; it serves as a shade tree or for making fence posts. The plant was introduced during the 1930s as an ornamental into some islands of the Pacific, where it developed into a serious weed problem invading agricultural and forest areas. It has displaced native vegetation in invaded areas of Fiji. Only in plantations of Pinus spp is S. campanulata not found. 

The tree was introduced for ornamental purposes or shade for coffee plantations into several countries of South and South East Asia, such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, and into various Central American and Caribbean countries in the late 1930s and during the 1940-50s. It has since invaded coffee plantations in high altitude areas of Cuba and in some farms of the Dominican Republic. In the case of the central part of Cuba, in the zone of Escambray mountains, tree stands are abundant affecting an area of around 60 000 ha of forest, coffee plantations and abandoned areas. In some sites the stand can be up to 12 000 plants/ha. In these conditions the plant reproduces rapidly through seeds, germination of which is as high as 80%. The fruit of the tree ripens at the beginning of the rainy period contributing to their wide dissemination, and under those conditions seeds readily germinate. Hurricanes also favor the rapid seed dispersal.

Some farms of hilly areas of the Dominican Republic have also been invaded by S. campanulata. There, slight stands are easy to control manually when the tree is still young, but once established at a site, removal of the tree becomes cumbersome and expensive.     

Nowadays although S. campanulata is not yet a problem, it is widespread in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. In these countries the implementation of preventive control measures is required, namely prohibition of plant reproduction in nurseries and raising awareness among farmers of the risks of planting the tree. Spread of the tree is a matter of time; it took nearly 50 years to become a serious problem in Fiji.     

Management of the Invasive Mimosa pigra L. in Lochinvar National Park Zambia.

Griffin K. Shanungu¹

Zambia Wildlife Authority, Department of Research, Private Bag 1, Chilanga, Zambia. (¹Present address: Zambia Wildlife Authority, Kafue Flats Area Management Unit, P. O Box 660012, Monze, Zambia). Email: griffinks@gmail.com

Mimosa pigra L. is a tropical/sub-tropical spiny shrub that is becoming invasive in several parts of Asia, Australia and Africa.  It is spreading on several floodplains where it can form thick, impenetrable, one-species stands that exclude other plants and most animals – both terrestrial and aquatic. M. pigra has invaded the floodplain of the Kafue River – a significant tributary of the Zambezi – in Zambia, especially within the regularly flooded areas of Lochinvar National Park (LNP).  Here it has spread from a small infestation of about 2 ha in the early 1980s to at least 29,000 ha by 2005 – and is still spreading.  This invasion is occupying a significant proportion of the protected floodplain – in the national park, which is also a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and an Important Bird Area - with significant exclusion and negative impacts on the local biodiversity, tourism, conservation and floodplain use by livestock and fisheries. The spread of M. pigra has resulted in the disappearance of some lekking sites for the endemic and vulnerable Kafue lechwe antelope (Kobus leche kafuensis) and its displacement from LNP into areas where it receives less protection resulting in increased illegal off-take of this threatened sub-species. Additionally, dense M. pigra stands have occupied preferred habitat for water birds and its further spread is likely to result in a drastic collapse of the water bird population in LNP. In response, the Environmental Council of Zambia, in collaboration with the Zambia Wildlife Authority and with the support of a UNEP/GEF Project, has conducted physical and chemical control measures since 2007. Thus far, an area approximated at 501.6 ha (which is 17.3% of the current M. pigra infestation in LNP) has been cleared resulting in the return of some water birds and herbivores including the lechwe. This paper presents the current status of the mimosa invasion, its impact on biodiversity and the current control measures being employed, with emphasis on clearance of the invasive mimosa in the protected areas.
Key words: Mimosa pigra, Invasive Plant Species, Floodplain Biodiversity, Kobus leche kafuensis.
 

Invasive Alien Plants in Lebanon: A Neglected threat to the environment and Status of national regulatory measures

Hage, T. G.¹, Sattout, E. J.^2* & J. Noun³

¹ Chairperson, Department of Sciences, Notre Dame University-Louaize, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon.
² Project Chief 'Appui aux Réserves Naturelles du Liban'. Agence Françaises de Développement, Beirut,     Lebanon.³ Assistant Professor, Branch 4, Lebanese University, Zahle, Lebanon.
*Corresponding author

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered to be one of the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss.  They are recognized as being one of the greatest threats to worldwide environmental and economic well-being with an estimated cost of 1.4 trillion per year. National policy status for IAS indicates the degree to which countries have recognized these species as a threat to biodiversity. Acknowledging the threats pushes countries to develop the necessary regulatory measures to control the introduction and dissemination of these species.  While worldwide conservation communities are prioritizing IAS, the Lebanese government has been marginalizing this environmental threat to the country's biodiversity.  Local initiatives have not been launched to seriously address Invasive Alien Plants (IAP), neither within the scientific communities to strengthen basic and applied research nor within government agencies to develop institutional, administrative and technical capacities to control their introduction and mitigate their effects.  Recognized as one of the 10 mini-hotspots in the Mediterranean region, Lebanon harbours more than 200 endemic plants thriving in high mountainous ecosystems.  This diversity sheltered in natural and semi-natural habitats in Lebanon urges the national government to protect it through local and national initiatives.  There is a lack of awareness of the presence of IAP invading natural habitats and their impact on native flora, ecosystem functioning and the economic welfare. This paper will shed light on the status of IAP in the Mediterranean region while focusing on Lebanon. It will inventory potential IAP found in Lebanon, and define areas prone to IAP invasion. The authors will investigate direct and indirect regulatory measures targeting the control of IAP introduction and management and to what extent these national regulatory measures are likely to achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity framework goal of controlling IAS.  Key research areas that need to be addressed and guidelines for management strategies will be integrated in this paper. 

Distribution of Mikania micrantha: Assessment and future indications by GIS-based modelling

Hua Yu¹, Caixiang Xie¹, Yingqun Zhou^{1, 2}, Shilin Chen[1]^,﹡
1 Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
² Technology Development Centre, China National Group Corporation of Traditional and Herbal Medicine, Beijing 100094, China
*Corresponding author
Tel.: +86-10-62899700; Fax: +86-10-62896313
E-mail address: slchen@implad.ac.cn

The Global Invasive Species database indicates that Mikania micrantha is one of the 100 worst alien invasive species in the world. Since its introduction to South China in 1984, M. micrantha has invaded a broad range of natural and agricultural areas. It has almost turned native communities into M. micrantha monocultures by smothering nearby native plants, outperforming them in resource capture and nutrient cycling, and exhibiting allelopathic effects on the soil microbial community in a way favourable for invasion. M. micrantha has caused biodiversity loss and environmental problems. To provide reliable references for its epidemic prevention and management activities, we conducted this study on the distribution prediction of M. micrantha by a GIS-based program (TCMGIS) in combination with topographic, climatic and soil databases of China. After data extraction from its invaded habitats and similarity analysis between the grids and extracted target variables, the results show that the regions optimal for M. micrantha existence (with 90-100% similarity) cover more than 1.4×10⁵ km² in 150 counties of six provinces and autonomous regions with subtropical climate (e.g., Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian). Additionally, other regions favorable for M. micrantha distribution (with 80-90% similarity) account for 8.5×10⁴ km² in 191 counties of 11 provinces with subtropical and temperate climates (e.g., Yunnan, Jiangxi and Jiangsu). Among those regions presented by the TCMGIS model, only a small portion in Guangdong and Hongkong have received attention after the discovery of M. micrantha in field surveys. This indicates that M. micrantha has the potential to cause more serious damage throughout a much wider range, particularly those regions predicted by TCMGIS to be at high risk of M. micrantha attack. Management practices of M. micrantha, considered of great importance by the authors, deserve further consideration to prevent a potential widespread invasion.
Key words: Alien invasive species; biodiversity loss; epidemic prevention; GIS model; geographic distribution 

Changing patterns of mosquito-borne arboviral disease risk in Canada: potential impacts of invasive species and climate change

V. Hongoh¹, L. Berrang-Ford¹, N.H. Ogden², H. Artsob³

¹ McGill University, Department of Geography, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6. Email: Valerie.Hongoh@mail.mcgill.ca, Lea.BerrangFord@mcgill.ca
²Public Health Agency of Canada and Université de Montréal faculté de médecine vétérinaire (Saint Hyacinte, QC). Email: Nicholas_Ogden@phac-aspc.gc.ca
³Public Health Agency of Canada and National Microbiology Laboratory, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3R2. Email: Harvey_Artsob@phac-aspc.gc.ca

The last three decades have witnessed an important resurgence of mosquito-transmitted arboviruses around the world including Dengue, West Nile, Rift Valley fever and Chikungunya.  This resurgence has been linked to ongoing population changes as well as to global, social and economic shifts, all of which have contributed to larger-scale environmental changes which include land cover change, climate change and increased introductions of invasive alien species.  Although mosquito-borne diseases are not currently considered to be a major source of morbidity or mortality in Canada, a number of mosquito species which can transmit human pathogens are present in Canada and have been implicated in outbreaks of human disease.  The recent appearance of West Nile virus in Canada demonstrates the potential for establishment of transmission cycles of an invasive pathogen given suitable vectors, hosts and environment.  Mosquito vectors of arboviruses are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation as these determine the geographic distribution of suitable habitat.  Projected climate change, via effects on temperature and precipitation patterns, may alter the range of existing species of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne pathogens and drive expansion of their ranges in to new regions.  Climate change may also promote the introduction of invasive species of mosquitoes as well as invasive mosquito-borne pathogens into Canada.  Projecting future risk and vulnerability due to mosquito-borne disease requires an understanding and assessment of historical occurrences and determinants of mosquito-borne diseases in Canada.  This paper provides a review of mosquito-borne arboviruses which have been found in Canada and parts of the United, States, as well as a review of the key determinants of their ecology and distribution. We assess the implications for invasive mosquito species and mosquito-borne pathogen introduction into Canada with particular emphasis on the role that climate and climate change will play on disease and disease processes. 

Invasive species information networks: collaboration at multiple scales for prevention, early detection, and rapid response to invasive species

Annie Simpson¹, Christine Fournier¹, Elizabeth Sellers¹, Michael Browne², Catherine Jarnevich¹, Jim Graham³, Les Mehrhoff⁴, John Madsen⁵, Randy Westbrooks¹

 Affiliations: ¹US Geological Survey; ²IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, New Zealand; ³Colorado State University; ⁴University of Connecticut; ⁵Mississippi State University

Accurate analysis of present distributions and effective modeling of future distributions of introduced and invasive species are both highly dependent on the availability and accessibility of occurrence data and natural history information about the species. Invasives species monitoring and detection networks, such as the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the Mid-South, generate occurrence data at local and national levels within the United States, which are shared through the US National Institute of Invasive Species Science. The Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network's Invasives Information Network (I3N) facilitates cooperation on sharing invasive species occurrence data throughout the Western Hemisphere. The I3N and other national and regional networks expose their data globally via the Global Invasive Species Information Network. International and interdisciplinary cooperation on data sharing can lead to cooperation on strategies and responses to invasions. However limitations to effective collaboration among invasive species networks include interoperability; data accessibility; funding; and technical expertise. This paper proposes various solutions to these obstacles at different geographic levels and briefly describes success stories from the invasive species information networks mentioned above. Using biological informatics to facilitate global information sharing is especially critical in invasive species science, as research has shown that one of the best indicators of the invasiveness of a species is whether it has been invasive elsewhere. The data must also be shared across disciplines, because natural history information (e.g. diet, predators, habitat requirements, reproduction) about a species in its native range is vital for effective evaluation, prevention, and rapid response to an invasion event. Finally, it has been our experience that sharing widely-gathered information including invasive species dispersal, impacts, and prevention and control strategies, enables land and biological resource managers and decision-makers to mount a more effective response to biological invasions.

Protecting Native Biodiversity from High-Impact Invasive Species Through Parks Canada’s Protected Areas

Mikaïlou Sy[2], Karen Keenleyside¹, Kathie Adare¹, Brian Reader², Michel Plante[3] et al.[4]

[1] EI Branch contributors; Ecological Integrity Branch, National Parks Directorate, Parks Canada, 25 rue Eddy, Gatineau (QC) Canada K1A 0M5.  Tel. 819 953-4099  Fax. 819 997-3380

2 Field Unit Contributors:  Coastal BC Field Unit, 2220 Harbour Road, 2^nd Floor, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 2P6, Tel. (250) 363-8560, Fax. (250) 363-8552;   ³Parc national de la Mauricie, Parks Canada, 2141, Chemin Saint-Paul, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc (QC) Canada G0X-1N0, Tel.: (819) 532-2282 ext. 237, Fax: (819) 532-2602

4 Additional contributors will be identified at the next stage.

Protected Areas (PAs) that maintain their natural ecological integrity exhibit both a strong resistance to stress and a high resilience following disturbance.  As such, PAs are important land management tools for preserving native biodiversity, a key indicator of ecological integrity in Parks Canada’s ecological monitoring and reporting framework.  Nevertheless, exposure to several pathways and/or perturbations, including throughway corridors, recreational activities, land-use practices within the greater ecosystem, soil erosion, hyper-abundant populations or climate change, is increasing the level of threat Invasive Alien Species (IAS) pose to the ecological integrity of Canada’s PAs.  In response to these threats, Parks Canada has developed and implemented a standard for the control of harmful invasive species (alien or native).  This ecosystem management standard is articulated around the Canadian IAS strategy and underscores an integrated delivery of key programs, including ecological integrity monitoring, active management and ecological restoration.  In this paper, we present this standard and best management practices derived from the Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) Ecosystem recovery plan from multiple IAS in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve; combating the European Dune Grass (Elymus arenarius) in Pacific Rim National Park; fighting Crested Wheat Grass (Agropyron pectiniforme) and preventing the spread of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) into Grasslands National Park; preserving Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations from non-native fish populations and preventing the introduction of Crayfish (Orconectes limosus and Orconectes immunis) at La Mauricie National Park; and minimizing the impact of the hyperabundance of Moose at Gros Morne National Park.  These best practices refer to the use of fire management, watershed management, river dredging, biological, chemical and mechanical control methods and citizen science, in isolation or in various combinations. 

Beyond Kapiti - A Decade of NZ Island Restoration Achievement Through Invasive Rodent Eradication.

Keith Broome
Chair - Island Eradication Advisory Group
NZ Department of Conservation
Research & Development  Group, Hamilton Office
PO Box 516 Hamilton, New Zealand
kbroome@doc.govt.nz  ph +64-7-858 4723
Mobile +64 27 426 3497
www.doc.govt.nz

New Zealand was the last sizeable place on earth (outside Antarctica) to be colonised by humans. An archipelago of more than 2000 islands, the terrestrial fauna is especially depauperate in native mammals. Four rodent species have been introduced, the first, Rattus exulans, with Polynesians who colonised around 1300 AD and others with the arrival of Europeans in the 18th Century. The impact of these introduced mammals in ecosystems which evolved without them was substantial. A project to eradicate invasive rats from Kapiti Island in 1996 represented a turning point in the technology, complexity and scale at which managers of natural heritage on NZ islands could operate, at 1965 ha in size. In the 12 years that followed this project a large number of successful eradication projects have been achieved. In this paper I present details of some of the most significant projects - how they were done, how each contributed to our experience, knowledge and confidence to attempt more. The environmental outcomes of these projects are still being observed. Here I present some of the changes currently known. Lessons in the development of capability to attempt large complex rodent eradication projects are discussed with contemporary trends in the management of invasives on NZ islands and recommendations for the future. 

Impact of Prosopis juliflora on Kenya’s semi-arid and arid ecosystems and local livelihoods

Maundu, P^1,2*, Kibet S², Morimoto Y¹, Imbumi M² and Adeka R^2
1Bioversity International, Kenya
P.O. Box 30677, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 7224500

²National Museums of Kenya
P.O. Box 40658 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 3742131

*Corresponding author: P.maundu@cgiar.org; munyaomaundu@yahoo.com

Prosopis juliflora or prosopis is a small, fast growing, drought-resistant, evergreen, tree of tropical American origin. Its pods are used as food for livestock. It provides good timber and shade and quickly turns bare arid environments green. These qualities render it an attractive candidate for aridland environmental rehabilitation programmes. In the 80s and early 90s it was a preferred species in afforestation, fuel-energy and fodder programmes in Kenya’s Turkana and Baringo districts and the North Eastern Province. Prosopis however produces masses of seed which can lie dormant in the soil for long periods of time, maintaining a good ground seed bank. When eaten by livestock, seeds pass through the gut and germinate relatively easily. It is deep-rooted and coppices when cut well above ground. These characteristics make it highly invasive and hard to control once established. Barely three decades since the first herbarium collection in 1977 from Coast Province, the species is found in all Kenya’s eight provinces. It becomes more aggressive in aridlands of the north where it is forming thorny impenetrable thickets especially along watercourses. It is encroaching paths, dwellings, irrigation schemes and pastureland, significantly affecting animal health, biological diversity and rural livelihoods. The socio-economic impact among pastoralist communities is enormous and although there has not been a systematic determination of the economic loss, it is estimated to run into millions of US dollars annually in Baringo alone. This has led to frequent lawsuits, pitting communities in Baringo District against the government. As the debate for and against the species rages among research and development workers, more and more of Kenya’s vast arid and semi-arid lands totalling 80% of land area and mainly dominated by pasture species like the extremely palatable Acacia tortilis, continues to fall to prosopis. This paper explores the current spread of prosopis in Kenya, impact on affected ecosystems and communities and future prospects and recommendations.

Key words: Invasive alien species, Prosopis juliflora, Community livelihoods, Environment encroachment 

The aquarium and horticultural industry as a pathway for the introduction of aquatic invasive species – outreach initiatives within the Great Lakes basin

By Emily Funnel^1*, Mark Heaton (OMNR), Beth Brownson (OMNR), and Francine MacDonald (OFAH)

* Corresponding author
Program Coordinator ~ Ontario Streams
50 Bloomington Rd. W.
Aurora, ON L4G 3G8
emily.funnell@ontariostreams.on.ca
www.ontariostreams.on.ca

The transfer and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) is one of the most pressing issues facing aquatic ecosystems worldwide. The aquarium and horticultural industry is increasingly being recognized as a significant avenue for the introduction of non-indigenous aquatic species and, in experiencing steady growth, is a pathway with one of the highest risks. Some of the world’s worst AIS have been associated with aquarium or horticultural release and at least 12 exotic species have been introduced into the Great Lakes basin via this route.  Ongoing public education initiatives throughout the Great Lakes basin documented over 250 stores selling known AIS. Most commonly, the invasive Goldfish (Carassius auratus), Koi (Cyprinus carpio), and Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) were observed, respectively occurring 80 %, 62 %, and 49 % of the time. The introduction of these and other aquarium and horticultural species have, or may have, significant impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Details of these outreach initiatives will be presented here, outlining the availability of AIS and other non-native species and their potential to become invasive. The direct release of aquarium and horticultural organisms is not well regulated in Canada and surveys have found that individuals admit to disposing of unwanted plants and animals into the wild. With few regulations controlling the importation and sale of non-indigenous species, and in considering their widespread availability, intentional or unintentional release by the public is inevitable. Public education, though integral to the prevention, introduction and spread of AIS, currently falls short of educating consumers of the threats posed by their release. The relatively unrestricted movement of exotic plants and animals through international markets necessitates a more coordinated national, regional, and international approach to identifying risks posed by non-indigenous species and actions to control their introduction and spread.  

 The importance of taxonomy in the response to invasive alien species

 H. Douglas¹, P.T. Dang², B.D. Gill¹, J. Huber², P.G. Mason², D.J. Parker¹, B.J. Sinclair¹.

 ¹ Entomology, Ottawa Plant & Seed Laboratories, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Government of Canada, Bldg. 18, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON,  K1A 0C6, CANADA
² Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Centre, K.W. Neatby Building, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, CANADA

Invasive alien species (IAS) have caused major economic losses and ecosystem damage worldwide. Taxonomic information has been essential to initiating defence against IAS. Such knowledge is a precursor to responses to IAS including early detection and identification of new IAS outbreaks. Taxonomy based tools of IAS detection, identification, and research on ecological interactions between the pest, host, and ecosystem are all indispensable in planning defensive strategies and integrated control measures, especially biological control. We demonstrate examples of the roles that taxonomy has played in responding to outbreaks of snails, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. Further to this we outline how international co-operation was essential to identifying initial outbreaks of Agrilus planipennis, the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. Such international co-operation is especially important because few trading countries can fund comprehensive pest identification organizations. We also highlight the efficacy of free, internet-based pest identification tools.  

 Potential impact of climate change on the exotic Asiatic citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) in Australia – a vector for citrus greening disease

K. J. Finlay^1,2, J-P. Aurambout^1,3, J. E. Luck^1,2 , A. Yen² and G.A.C. Beattie⁴

¹CRC National Plant Biosecurity, CRC National Plant Biosecurity, Deakin ACT 2600, Australia.
²Department of Primary Industries Victoria, 621 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield, Victoria, 3180, Australia. ³Department of Primary Industries Victoria, 32 Lincoln Square North, PO Box 4166 Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
⁴Centre for Plant and Food Science, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.

The Asiatic citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is one of the two known vectors of the citrus disease Huanglongbing (also known as citrus greening).  Both the psyllid and disease has spread throughout southern Asia, the  Arabian Peninsula, some islands in the Indian Ocean including Réunion and Mauritius and areas of South America, Central America and the Caribbean.  The risk of the psyllid entering Australia is high due to its close proximity to neighbouring infected countries combined with the possibility of airborne entry, a risk  somewhat increased by the expected greater incidence of tropical cyclones in northern Australia under changing climate conditions.  This would have far-reaching consequences for the commercial citrus industry as well as posing a major threat to our rare and native non-commercial species of Citrus such as the rainforest species Citrus australasica (finger lime), C. australis (Australian round lime), C. inodora (Russel river lime), C. garrawayi (Mount white lime) and the semi-arid dwelling C. glauca (desert lime) and C. gracilis (Kakadu lime). 

We investigated the likely impact of D. citri on Australia’s commercial and native Citrus, were it to become established in Australia, using a dynamic model incorporating D. citri population parameters, citrus physiological growth and consideration of alternate climate change scenarios.

Earlier work applying this model on a continental scale predicted that increasing temperatures under a changing climate will lead to earlier adult emergence dates moving southwards, coinciding with the appearance of new citrus growth which the psyllid relies on for oviposition and larval development.  The psyllid life cycle will be shortened in warmer conditions, creating a potential for it to produce more generations, however, this potential will be constrained because the duration of new citrus flush growth available will decrease in response to higher temperatures.

In this paper interactions of the psyllid and its citrus host are further examined by separate and more detailed modelling in commercial citrus growing regions and areas of known distribution of native Citrus. Utility of this model and the implications of its output for Australian biosecurity are discussed.   

A Comparative Analysis of Engagement Strategies for Invasive Alien Species among “Quad” Countries:  Case Studies of Forest Pest Insects

Mikaïlou Sy et al¹

Previously: Forestry Specialist & Project Pest Risk Assessor, CFIA-PHRA,

3851 Fallowfield Rd, Ottawa (ON) Canada K2H 8P9

Currently: Ecological Integrity Branch, National Parks Directorate, Parks Canada, 25 rue Eddy, Gatineau (QC) Canada K1A 0M5.  Tel. 819 953-4099  Fax. 819 997-3380

[1] All contributors will be identified at the next stage.

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States, henceforth the “Quad” Countries, operate among the most advanced quarantine systems and co-operate in a quadrilateral scientific collaborative program in plant biosecurity.  Under the auspices of this program, we obtained country-specific engagement strategies for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) through workshops, electronic information exchange and expert advice. Our objective was to compare them and recommend risk management options to enhance effectiveness of measures, with emphasis on invasive alien forest pest insects: Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) and the European Wood Wasp (Sirex noctilio).  Comparative analysis of the data indicates that these strategies form a complex, non-linear system comprising two highly interdependent levels of decision making:  a strategic level set around five strategic goals and implemented through 16 strategic approaches, and an operational level set around a highly-variable set of context-sensitive criteria.  This paper will focus on the strategic level, providing country-specific innovative approaches along with pest-specific best management practices and success stories in relation with the selected case studies.  It outlines the scope, guiding principles, goals and approaches of Quad IAS strategies, and provides an efficient resource allocation pattern.