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Carter S, Mills C, Hao Z, Mott R, Hauser CE, White M, Sharples J, Taylor J, Moore JL. Spatial prioritization for widespread invasive species control: Trade-offs between current impact and future spread. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2982. [PMID: 38831569 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Spatially explicit prioritization of invasive species control is a complex issue, requiring consideration of trade-offs between immediate and future benefits. This study aimed to prioritize management efforts to account for current and future threats from widespread invasions and examine the strength of the trade-off between these different management goals. As a case study, we identified spatially explicit management priorities for the widespread invasion of introduced willow into riparian and wetland habitats across a 102,145-km2 region in eastern Australia. In addition to targeting places where willow threatens biodiversity now, a second set of management goals was to limit reinfestation and further spread that could occur via two different mechanisms (downstream and by wind). A model of likely willow distribution across the region was combined with spatial data for biodiversity (native vegetation, threatened species and communities), ecological conditions, management costs, and two potential dispersal layers. We used systematic conservation planning software (Zonation) to prioritize where willow management should be focussed across more than 100,000 catchments for a range of different scenarios that reflected different weights between management goals. For willow invasion, we found that we could prioritize willow management to reduce the future threat of dispersal downstream with little reduction in the protection of biodiversity. However, accounting for future threats from wind dispersal resulted in a stronger trade-off with protection of threatened biodiversity. The strongest trade-off was observed when both dispersal mechanisms were considered together. This study shows that considering current and future goals together offers the potential to substantially improve conservation outcomes for invasive species management. Our approach also informs land managers about the relative trade-offs among different management goals under different control scenarios, helping to make management decisions more transparent. This approach can be used for other widespread invasive species to help improve invasive species management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Carter
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catherine Mills
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zhenhua Hao
- School of Science, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Rowan Mott
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cindy E Hauser
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew White
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jason Sharples
- School of Science, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - John Taylor
- School of Science, UNSW Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Joslin L Moore
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
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Lorenzo P, Morais MC. Strategies for the Management of Aggressive Invasive Plant Species. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2482. [PMID: 37447043 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Current control methods for invasive alien plants (IAPs) have acceptable short-term outcomes but have proven to be unfeasible or unaffordable in the long-term or for large invaded areas. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to develop sustainable approaches to control or restrict the spread of aggressive IAPs. The use of waste derived from IAP control actions could contribute to motivating the long-term management and preservation of local biodiversity while promoting some economic returns for stakeholders. However, this strategy may raise some concerns that should be carefully addressed before its implementation. In this article, we summarize the most common methods to control IAPs, explaining their viability and limitations. We also compile the potential applications of IAP residues and discuss the risks and opportunities associated with this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Lorenzo
- University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE)-Science for People & the Planet, TERRA Associate Laboratory, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Cristina Morais
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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O'Loughlin LS, Panetta FD, Gooden B. Identifying thresholds in the impacts of an invasive groundcover on native vegetation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20512. [PMID: 34654864 PMCID: PMC8520009 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98667-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Impacts of invasive species are often difficult to quantify, meaning that many invaders are prioritised for management without robust, contextual evidence of impact. Most impact studies for invasive plants compare heavily invaded with non-invaded sites, revealing little about abundance–impact relationships. We examined effects of increasing cover and volume of the non-native herbaceous groundcover Tradescantia fluminensis on a temperate rainforest community of southern Australia. We hypothesised that there would be critical thresholds in T. fluminensis abundance, below which the native plant community would not be significantly impacted, but above which the community’s condition would degrade markedly. We modelled the abundance–impact relationship from 83 plots that varied in T. fluminensis abundance and landscape context and found the responses of almost all native plant indicators to invasion were non-linear. Native species richness, abundance and diversity exhibited negative exponential relationships with increasing T. fluminensis volume, but negative threshold relationships with increasing T. fluminensis cover. In the latter case, all metrics were relatively stable until cover reached between 20 and 30%, after which each decreased linearly, with a 50% decline occurring at 75–80% invader cover. Few growth forms (notably shrubs and climbers) exhibited such thresholds, with most exhibiting negative exponential relationships. Tradescantia fluminensis biomass increased dramatically at > 80% cover, with few native species able to persist at such high levels of invasion. Landscape context had almost no influence on native communities, or the abundance–impact relationships between T. fluminensis and the plant community metrics. Our results suggest that the diversity of native rainforest community can be maintained where T. fluminensis is present at moderate-to-low cover levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke S O'Loughlin
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia.
| | | | - Ben Gooden
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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Peterson PG, Merrett MF, Fowler SV, Barrett DP, Paynter Q. Comparing biocontrol and herbicide for managing an invasive non‐native plant species: Efficacy, non‐target effects and secondary invasion. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Douglas Paul Barrett
- School of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
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Bartz R, Kowarik I. Assessing the environmental impacts of invasive alien plants: a review of assessment approaches. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.43.30122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the impacts of alien plant species is a major task in invasion science and vitally important for supporting invasion-related policies. Since 1993, a range of assessment approaches have been developed to support decisions on the introduction or management of alien species. Here we review the extent to which assessments (27 approaches) appraised the following: (i) different types of environmental impacts, (ii) context dependence of environmental impacts, (iii) prospects for successful management, and (iv) transparency of assessment methods and criteria, underlying values and terminology. While nearly all approaches covered environmental effects, changes in genetic diversity and the incorporation of relevant impact parameters were less likely to be included. Many approaches considered context dependence by incorporating information about the actual or potential range of alien species. However, only a few went further and identified which resources of conservation concern might be affected by specific alien plant species. Only some approaches acknowledged underlying values by distinguishing negative from positive impacts or by considering the conservation value of affected resources. Several approaches directly addressed the feasibility of management, whereas relevant factors such as availability of suitable management methods were rarely considered. Finally, underlying values were rarely disclosed, and definitions of value-laden or controversial terms were often lacking. We conclude that despite important progress in assessing the manifold facets of invasion impacts, opportunities remain for further developing impact assessment approaches. These changes can improve assessment results and their acceptance in invasion-related environmental policies.
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