Biocontrol News and Information 25(2), 29N–45N General News

Comb Jelly Jonahs international trade that has accompanied globaliza- tion. In February this year, following 10 years of Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are a phylum of marine negotiations, the International Maritime Organiza- invertebrates that received little attention until an tion (IMO) introduced the International Convention environmentally and economically disastrous inva- for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast sive alien species, Mnemiopsis leidyi, raised their Water and Sediments, which will impose strict con- profile in countries bordering the Black Sea some 20 trols on the release of ballast water in an attempt to years ago. They are now a hot topic in the countries rein in the spread of invasive species. The convention around the Caspian Sea, where the results of exten- will come into force 12 months after it has been rati- sive collaborative studies have given scientists the fied by 30 states (representing 35% of world confidence to call for the introduction of a biological merchant shipping tonnage), which may not happen control agent from the same phylum. The comb jelly for some years and until then the movement of inva- Beroe ovata arrived serendipitously in the Black Sea sives around the world in ballast water continues. and its control of M. leidyi there has played a vital The water systems of Europe and western Asia are part of restoring that ecosystem. Its introduction to particularly at risk of onward spread as the major the Caspian is now considered the best option for water bodies are linked by canals and rivers through controlling M. leidyi there. which invasive species may travel, unaided or with shipping. The Iranian Government (and thus tax- Mnemiopsis leidyi was pre-adapted to succeed as an payers) paid compensation to fishermen for part of invasive species. Native to temperate and sub- their M. leidyi-related losses, but a key issue is how tropical bays and estuaries along Atlantic seaboards livelihoods can be protected from the impact of future from 43°S in Argentina to 41°N in Massachusetts, aquatic invasions. Clearly, legal aspects of responsi- USA, it tolerates an extremely wide range of environ- bility and compensation for biological invasions need mental conditions (surviving temperatures of 1–32°C to be addressed. and salinities of 3–75 p.p.t.). It is a generalist feeder and responds to elevated food levels by increasing Silver Bullet in the Black Sea ingestion rates and hence growth. Its main food is zooplankton but it also feeds on fish eggs and larvae. The Black Sea is the world’s largest semi-enclosed It consumes on average 70% of its body weight per brackish sea. It is joined to the Mediterranean by the day, but ratios of up to 1500% have been recorded at Bosphorus – Sea of Marmara – Dardanelles water high food concentrations, and individuals can double system, and to the smaller Sea of Azov to the north in size each day. Comb jelly populations shadow rises by the Kerch Strait. It receives abundant water from and falls in zooplankton populations, which are reg- a number of rivers, notably the Danube in the north- ulated by the availability of their phytoplankton food west, and is less saline (18–22 p.p.t.) than the and thus peak in summer. Comb jellies are self-ferti- Mediterranean (<39 p.p.t.) to which it is a net lizing hermaphrodites and members of the genus exporter of water. In the latter half of the 20th cen- Mnemiopsis, in particular, have rapid reproductive tury the Black Sea suffered from pollution, rates; at optimal temperatures M. leidyi reaches particularly in the northwest where agricultural maturity in less than 2 weeks and each adult pro- intensification in bordering countries led to eutroph- duces some 8000 eggs per day. While these ication, and over-fishing that wiped out populations properties underlie M. leidyi’s success in its intro- of all the traditionally harvested species of large fish duced range, human intervention is also implicated. (and the fishing industries of the Black Sea nations International shipping and, more specifically, unreg- had to switch to smaller species). ulated discharge of water from ships’ ballast tanks facilitated its relocation from the New World to the Mnemiopsis leidyi was first recorded in the Black Sea Black Sea and much of its subsequent dispersal in November 1982, almost certainly introduced via through the region. ballast water discharged from ships from the western North Atlantic. In the first years after its arrival it The spread of invasive species (including verte- was recorded from sites around the northwestern and brates, invertebrates and microscopic organisms) is later the northeastern Black Sea coast in summer identified by the CBD (Convention on Biodiversity) and autumn, and by late 1988 it had spread as one of four main threats to marine ecosystems, throughout the water body. Mnemiopsis leidyi over- and ballast water is one of the key pathways for their winters in the open sea. Surviving individuals grow to movement. Semi-closed and closed seas, as ‘island’ maturity during the spring and summer. Reproduc- habitats, are particularly at risk of invasion by spe- tion begins in areas of good food supply in June–July cies such as M. leidyi, which are carried around the and continues into September–November although it globe by the shipping industry, in ships’ ballast is most intense in August–September. Thus biomass tanks. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), peaks are recorded in August–September, and peaks about 4000 different species can coexist in the ballast in abundance (number of individuals) in September– water of a ship at any given time. The size of the November when the population contains numerous threat has increased in concert with the increase in immature stages.

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In 1989, the first population outbreak (bloom) of M. samples in the early 1990s made a comeback. Num- leidyi was recorded: the peak mean biomass was the bers of immature anchovy also began to rise but total highest ever recorded in the open sea (estimated at density remained low, especially in the northern ≥2 kg/m²). In contrast, populations of other zoo- Black Sea. plankton species were reduced to a great extent (15- to 40-fold) and some species disappeared from the The extensive research on M. leidyi in its native samples completely. Fish populations in the Black range has shown that temperature, salinity, food Sea were decimated. Mnemiopsis leidyi competed availability and predation combine to determine its with small fish for zooplankton food and preyed on seasonal abundance. The ecology and phenology of the eggs and juvenile stages of some fish, including M. leidyi in the Black Sea correlates well with those the summer-spawning and economically important of its temperate brackish habitats in North America: anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus) and horse it had acclimatized and occupied the same niche as in mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus). As its native range – but individuals were bigger, densi- populations of M. leidyi boomed, catastrophic ties higher and populations more abundant. declines occurred, once again, in the fishing indus- tries of the Black Sea nations. Horse mackerel In 1999, however, the population of M leidyi plum- disappeared completely from Russian commercial meted throughout the Black Sea and the lowest catches. Catches of anchovy in Turkey were reduced average peak biomass (estimated at 12 g/m²) was 80% in 1990 (to only 70,000 tonnes). In contrast, one recorded since the population explosion 10 years estimate suggested there was 800 million tonnes of before. Widely credited with this reversal in M. M. leidyi in the Black Sea in summer 1989. For the leidyi’s fortunes was another introduced New World years 1991–1992, annual direct economic losses from comb jelly, Beroe ovata, which was known to be decreased anchovy catches alone were assessed as present in the Mediterranean. Ironically, the delib- some US$330 million. Winter-spawning fish were erate introduction of this second species as a not immune, with sprat (Sprattus sprattus biocontrol agent was being considered (following a phalericus) catches also plummeting. meeting of experts from the international commission of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects However, in the following two summers, the peak of Marine Pollution [GESAMP] that proposed the biomass of M. leidyi in the Black Sea was much lower introduction of potential predators for M. leidyi into (one estimate put the mean peak in 1991 at about the Black Sea) but there were concerns about possible 130 g/m²). In the following years the biomass of the impacts on native Black Sea comb jellies. Beroe ovata invading comb jelly increased and in summer 1995 was first found in the Black Sea, in Bulgaria’s inshore another peak biomass was some 3.5-fold higher than waters, in October 1997, and by 1999 it had spread in 1991. Summer abundance of M. leidyi and other throughout the Black Sea. Beroe ovata could feasibly gelatinous zooplankton in the southern Black Sea have migrated from the Mediterranean via the Sea of was monitored between 1996 and 1999 by Ahmet Marmara, but morphological studies by L. N. Seravin Kideys (Institute of Marine Sciences, Erdemli, (St Petersburg University, Russia) and Tamara Turkey) and Zina Romanova (Institute of Biology of Shiganova suggested it was introduced from the the Southern Seas, Sevastopol, Ukraine). They found coasts of the USA, where M. leidyi also came from; the peak biomass was fluctuating, with the high this view was later corroborated in genetic studies by peak biomass in 1995 followed by a lower peak in Keith Bayha (Delaware University, USA). A first summer 1996 and then an upward trend in 1997 and bloom of B. ovata was observed in autumn 1999, 1998. Looking at the results as a whole, it can be con- accompanied by an immediate drop in M. leidyi num- cluded that populations of the invading comb jelly bers – a phenomenon observed all round the Black attained a phenomenal biomass after its arrival in Sea by Bulgarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian Black Sea; within a few years, this had decreased as and Turkish scientists. Although mechanisms under- the invader’s populations reached more stable num- lying previous fluctuations in M. leidyi populations bers in the Black Sea environment, but from 1991 had taken some unravelling, the contribution of B. the population trend was upwards. ovata to the precipitous collapse of M. leidyi popula- tions in 1999 was literally clear because it is easy to Research by Ahmet Kideys and colleagues suggested see what the transparent comb jelly is eating. A that the declines in fish and zooplankton populations number of different research studies concluded that in the early to mid 1990s were the result of food lim- B. ovata was feeding exclusively on other comb jelly itation; low glycogen content of individuals sampled species and, because of its relative abundance, pre- in summer 1996 indicated starvation. These findings dominantly on M. leidyi. were corroborated by Tamara Shiganova (P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow) and co- Was B. ovata a rare biocontrol silver bullet and was workers from Russia, Greece and Belgium, working the M. leidyi problem consigned to history? The fol- in the northern Black Sea between 1992 and 2000. lowing spring the outlook seemed promising: They showed that biomasses of zooplankton and M. overwintered M. leidyi were found only in the leidyi were negatively correlated, but also implicated warmest locations and at the lowest spring levels temperature in the yearly fluctuations in M. leidyi since its first bloom in 1989. However, M. leidyi populations. They found that winter temperatures summer populations were elevated in 2000, and affect spring population sizes, which in turn affect again in 2001 (reaching levels similar to those summer populations: the peak in 1995 followed a recorded in 1989), with huge numbers of small spec- warm winter in 1994/95. Zooplankton populations imens indicating very active reproduction. Was this staged a recovery from 1996 and species diversity a sign of failure? Not according to Tamara Shiganova increased – some species that had disappeared from and co-workers. It reflected adjustments in prey pop- News 31N ulations to an environment where a predator was eries Research Organization (IFRO) and Tarbiat now present. Their surveys demonstrated that there Modarres University and in the Middle Caspian at had been a recovery in fish egg densities (especially about the same time by scientists from the Caspian for the summer spawning anchovy and horse mack- Institute for Fisheries, Russia. A drop in fish catches erel) together with a summer zooplankton bloom in in 1999 together with anecdotal evidence from Ira- those years. The increase in food supply, coupled nian fishermen who had observed a jelly-like with high sea temperatures in 1999–2001, allowed plankton while fishing at night under lights were M. leidyi to bloom. But unlike in 1989 and 1995, in effective proof of the presence of M. leidyi in the Cas- 2000 and 2001 the M. leidyi populations collapsed pian environment. It seems likely that once again each September, within 2–4 weeks of the appearance ballast water was the pathway – discharged into the of B. ovata and the beginning of its population build- Middle or Southern Caspian by ships that had up. With the population dynamics of B. ovata so reached the Caspian Sea via the Volga–Don Canal closely tied to those of M. leidyi, while outbreaks of from the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov. M. leidyi can be expected to recur, B. ovata can equally be expected to curtail them quickly. The Caspian spans different climatic zones; average winter surface temperatures range from 0–0.5°C at A key question is what are the impacts of the control- its northern ice-bound edge to 10–11°C in the south ling effects of B. ovata on the ecosystem of Black Sea? (summer temperatures are less variable, 24–28°C). The slow recovery in zooplankton and immature fish The water body is divided into three parts: the abundance, biomass and species diversity that had Northern Caspian is a shallow lake (average depth been observed with falling M. leidyi populations 5–6 m) with salinity varying between 0.01 p.p.t. near during the 1990s were considerably enhanced fol- the northern river mouths (including the Volga) to lowing the arrival of B. ovata, and by 2000–01 they 10–11 p.p.t. at its boundary with the Middle Cas- were comparable to pre-M. leidyi days. They fell and pian; the Middle Caspian is a rift basin (average then rose again with the rise and fall of M. leidyi pop- depth 190 m) separated from the deeper Southern ulations in the summers of these years. The recovery Caspian (<1000 m deep) by an underwater ridge, and of the ecosystem is reflected in fish catches – notably the salinity in these parts of the water body is 12–13 sprat and anchovy – but most significant is the p.p.t. The arrival of M. leidyi in this unique, ancient increased total fish catch, which reflects an increase in water body was the latest environmental and eco- fish species diversity. In 2000, Russian scientists nomic disaster for the region; environmental found anchovy in trawls for the first time for 5 years, conditions in the Caspian have been significantly together with some other species absent from summer degraded over the last 30 years, particularly by pol- catches since 1990. Also, in the southern Black Sea lution and water level changes. The Caspian was the Turkish catches have attained record levels. only water body that had preserved large stocks of the ancient group of sturgeon fish. Commercial stur- Thus B. ovata has brought about a spectacular recol- geon fishing accounted for about 90% of total world onization of commercially important small pelagic catch, until environmental changes (particularly reg- fish species in the Black Sea. Mnemiopsis leidyi now ulation of rivers which destroyed spawning grounds occurs in great numbers only during the months of and disrupted migration pathways, and illegal July and August and the summer population rise is fishing after the collapse of the Soviet Union) caused attenuated. As a consequence, populations of other sturgeon populations to decline greatly. Thus, zooplankton have resurged and fisheries have staged although the region is rich in natural resources and a remarkable recovery. developments (for example marine oil extraction) have brought prosperity, the Caspian ecosystem and From the Black Sea, M. leidyi spread to other seas of the livelihoods of the riparian inhabitants are under the Mediterranean basin: the Sea of Azov to the threat from over-exploitation. The marine transport north, and south to the Sea of Marmara and (thence facilities that are important to the development of and/or by separate introduction) the Aegean and the the region provide a pathway for invasive species, eastern Mediterranean. However, the Black Sea the most recent threat. seems to provide the perennially optimal conditions for it to thrive and, as the main habitat of M. leidyi in Differences in salinity are thought to underlie the its adventive range, has been a source of M. leidyi; its establishment of M. leidyi in the Southern and abundance there may alter numbers of M. leidyi else- Middle Caspian, rather than closer to the mouth of where since it is considered a potential exporter of the Volga further north. Although the salinity of the this invasive species. Southern and Middle Caspian is lower than that of the Black Sea (18 p.p.t.) this has proved no obstacle Caspian Confronts Crisis to M. leidyi’s advance, far from it. A survey in July 2000 found that M. leidyi was widely distributed in The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland water the Southern and Middle Caspian, and by September body, was relatively less accessible. Not a natural it was found throughout the water body. Subsequent part of the Mediterranean system, it is connected to surveys showed that M. leidyi overwinters and the Black Sea by the Volga–Don river and canal spawns in spring in the Southern Caspian but system. Warnings that M. leidyi could reach the Cas- spreads north during the summer. Reproduction has pian Sea had been sounded as early as 1995. been recorded throughout the Southern and Middle However, there was no mechanism to prevent the Caspian. The spread of M. leidyi north from the further spread of the pest, and M. leidyi was sighted Middle Caspian is dependent on wind-driven cur- for the first time in the Southern Caspian in rents that also move more-saline water northwards. November 1999 by scientists from the Iranian Fish- Survival of M. leidyi in the Northern Caspian is 32N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2) dependent on a combination of salinity (≥4.3 p.p.t.), success of B. ovata in the Black Sea and the cheq- temperature and perhaps other factors. Compared to uered history of introduced vertebrate biocontrol M. leidyi in the Black Sea, the individuals in the Cas- agents) led B. ovata to be favoured. It was recognized pian were much smaller, but they made up for this by that B. ovata is unlikely to arrive serendipitously, as sheer numbers and it was in the Southern Caspian it did in the Black Sea, and an informed decision on that biomass was highest. In both the Southern and its introduction will need to be made, in line with the Middle Caspian, summer biomass peaks were higher ICES (International Council for the Exploration of in 2001 than in 2000, and yet higher in 2002, the Seas) Code of Practice on the Introduction and reaching greater biomass and abundance in the Transfer of Marine Organisms. To assemble the Southern Caspian (Iranian waters) and Middle Cas- information necessary for this, a series of collabora- pian (Azerbaijan waters) than those recorded in the tive initiatives was undertaken by scientists in the Black Sea at the height of the M. leidyi invasion. region:

Learning lessons from the impact of M. leidyi in the • Monitoring programmes for M. leidyi were initi- Black Sea, the response to the invasion in the Cas- ated with training of Iranian and Azeri scientists; pian Sea was rapid and coordinated. As a landlocked later a common monitoring methodology, developed water body, it was feared that the impact of M. leidyi by Ahmet Kideys and Tamara Shiganova, was would be even more severe than in the Black Sea, adopted; see: and this fear was soon substantiated. Within 2 years www.caspianenvironment.org/mnemiopsis/ of M. leidyi’s arrival, there were very significant mnemmenu5.htm decreases in other zooplankton throughout the Cas- • A programme of research measured physiological pian; a community that had contained up to 25 parameters of M. leidyi in the Caspian, data that species had been reduced to only three species and could then be used for population modelling. biomass was reduced close to 10-fold by 2001. Zoo- plankton abundance decreased gradually as M. • The feasibility and possible impact of B. ovata leidyi populations increased, and was reduced to its introduction on the target and other biota was eval- lowest ever biomass in August 2001 in the southern uated, research that included evaluating physiologi- Caspian when M. leidyi populations were at their cal characteristics and ecological and rearing peak. However, the peak in zooplankton biomass has studies on B. ovata conducted at Mazandaran Cas- switched from the summer to the winter, when min- pian Ecology Research Centre, Iran on the southern imum numbers of M. leidyi prey on them. The Caspian coast. competition from burgeoning comb jelly populations decimated fish stocks that were already on the The Mnemiopsis leidyi Advisory Group (later decline and there were sharp decreases in fish renamed the Invasive Species Advisory Group) was catches. In both Iran and Azerbaijan, catches of the set up to coordinate research and assess progress anchovy-like kilka (Clupeonella spp.) fell by some and future plans. By the time its first workshop was 50% between 1999 and 2001. The falling fish stocks held in December 2001, monitoring indicated that may also threaten the survival of large predators the invasion of the Caspian was progressing much such as the endemic Caspian seal (Phoca caspica), faster than in the Black Sea and that the need for whose favoured food is kilka and whose populations control had become urgent. Since then, working had already been decimated in recent years by together, the scientists from the countries around the canine distemper. Populations normally migrate Caspian have provided much of the necessary south in summer in search of food, but this has been information. disrupted because animals are unable to build up the necessary fat reserves to sustain the journey. In Physiological studies conducted in Mazandaran and addition, a decrease in the proportion of reproducing more recently in Sinop, Turkey have shown that B. females has been recorded. ovata can be acclimatized successfully to lower Cas- pian salinities (12.6 p.p.t.) from 18 or 22 p.p.t. in a Following a decision of the Second Biodiversity matter of days. Measurements of feeding, respiration Meeting of the Caspian Environment Programme and growth rates were also made in the Caspian envi- (CEP) at Almaty, Kazakhstan in July 2000, CEP ronment; daily ingestion rates of 45–765% wet body held the First International Workshop to discuss weight (highest values for smallest individuals) were problems of the invasion of the Caspian Sea by M. recorded in the laboratory – values close to those leidyi at Baku, Azerbaijan in April 2001. At this time recorded for the Black Sea, which encourages the the situation was recognized to be serious. Biological view that B. ovata would be able to impact signifi- control was identified as the best hope for a long- cantly on M. leidyi populations in the Caspian. In term solution, but the difficulties were not under- addition, B. ovata of all sizes ingested both small and rated and the introduction of another alien species to large prey – a significant point given the small size of the Caspian ecosystem needed consideration. Partic- Caspian M. leidyi. While more research is still needed ipants recognized that B. ovata was unlikely to be a on interactions with other organisms and parasites B. miracle solution in the Caspian; B. ovata is ther- ovata might contain, together with modelling studies, mophilic and less tolerant of low salinity than M. progress is promising – with one caveat. leidyi. Another contender was the butterfish (Peprilus tricanthus), an American obligate gelati- Rearing has proved a challenge. In initial experi- nous zooplankton feeder. However, the lack of ments carried out in Mazandaran using Black Sea knowledge about the fish compared with the abun- and Caspian water, adults spawned and eggs dance of information available on B. ovata from hatched, but larvae did not feed and none survived studies in the Black Sea (compounded by the recent more than 24 hours. Although immature stages do News 33N tend to be more sensitive to salinity than mature decide whether the biocontrol introduction should be individuals, the fact that breeding failed in both made. Black Sea and Caspian water suggested that salinity was not the problem. The scientists conducting Further Information these, the first, experiments on rearing B. ovata noted that it is very sensitive to handling, and the Caspian Environment Programme: immature stages particularly so. They suspected the www.caspianenvironment.org mechanics of the rearing method to have been at Global Ballast Water Management Programme: fault. Research has also made clear that timing is http://globallast.imo.org/index.asp critical: peak spawning in B. ovata seems to be lim- ited to a 2-week period in late August/early Iranian Fisheries Research Organization: September. Subsequent studies at Sinop in summer www.ifro.org 2003 by Ahmet Kideys together with Galina Finenko *Papers from this meeting are on the IFRO website (Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Sevas- topol, Ukraine) and Levent Bat (Faculty of Fisheries, Group on Aquatic Alien Species (Russia), Regional Samsun University, Turkey) yielded promising Biological Invasions Center: results, suggesting mass production of B. ovata in www.zin.ru/projects/invasions/gaas/ Caspian water is achievable. However, at the moment larvae can still not be reared through to the Contacts: Ahmet E. Kideys, Institute of Marine Sci- adult stage, and more investigations are needed to be ences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, able to breed B. ovata in captivity. Turkey. Email: [email protected] An alternative strategy would be to introduce B. Fax: +90 324 521 2327 ovata directly from the Black Sea or Sea of Azov. Web: There are a number of additional safety constraints www.ims.metu.edu.tr/cv/kideys/welcome_e.htm posed by such an approach (notably to ensure that disease pathogens or other new species are not inad- Hossein Negarestan, Head, Division of Caspian Sea vertently introduced with B. ovata) but research Marine Ecology, Iranian Fisheries Research Organi- suggests that such conditions could be met. zation (IFRO), No. 297 West Fatemi St. Tehran, Iran. Email: [email protected] On 21–24 February 2004, the scientists met again for Fax: +98 21 642 20 732 an international meeting, this time in Tehran. The First Regional Technical Meeting on Possible Intro- Tamara Shiganova, P.P.Shirshov Institute of Ocea- duction of Beroe ovata into the Caspian Sea*, held nology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 23 Krasikova, jointly by CEP and IFRO, reached agreement to go Moscow 117851, Russia. ahead with a proposal to introduce B. ovata to control Email: [email protected] the invading M. leidyi in the Caspian Sea. This pro- Fax: +7 095 124 59 83 posal along with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – prepared in line with the ICES Code of Practice on the Introduction and Transfer of Biocontrol of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: a Race Marine Organisms – have been circulated to respon- against Time sible bodies in the riparian countries in an effort to obtain joint approval for an introduction of B. ovata. The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (HWA), If this is obtained, an introduction could be made as has become the most devastating insect pest of hem- early as August–September this year. The EIA lock forests in the eastern USA. Native to Asia, HWA paints a stark picture of the likely outcome of non was first reported in Oregon in 1924 and in eastern intervention against M. leidyi in the Caspian. It North America near Richmond, Virginia in 1951. For notes that, on balance, its impact on the Caspian eco- decades it was considered a minor pest of ornamental system 2 years after its invasion is expected to be hemlocks. It was not known to cause damage on considerably greater than its impact after 6 years in western hemlocks (Tsuga heterophylla and T. the Black Sea. The EIA also draws attention to mertensianna) and it was easily controlled in the experimental evidence suggesting that M. leidyi pre- ornamental landscape using a variety of insecticides. dation pressure in the Caspian is likely to lead to a By the mid 1980s, it was found in hemlock forests in considerable and severe reduction in the zooplankton Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut and eastern Penn- populations, which would threaten the entire sylvania. In the forest environment, adelgid ecosystem. populations rapidly increased and tree mortality soon became extensive. Hemlock mortality at the This time science is one step ahead of politics. Most Shenandoah National Park in Virginia averaged of the time politicians ask questions and want 50% in 2000, with 99% of the remaining hemlocks in instant solutions to problems, while scientists need a severe state of decline. In New Jersey, hemlock time to research and prepare a response. The Inva- mortality currently exceeds 90% in areas where sive Species Advisory Group project has already HWA has been established the longest and less than made its mark, illustrating how the information 13% of the remaining stands are considered healthy. required by the international Code of Practice can be HWA is now established in 16 states from south- provided by a focused and collaborative approach to eastern Maine to northeastern Georgia and research and how cooperation between scientists of westward into eastern Tennessee. Its recent estab- countries facing a regional problem can lead to a con- lishment in the Great Smoky Mountain region sensus on its solution. It is now up to politicians to threatens some of the oldest and largest specimens of 34N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2) eastern hemlock (T. canadensis) in North America. forest stand level. Because of this lag, areas selected Also at risk is the rare Carolina hemlock (T. carolin- for release are primarily along the leading edge of the iana), a species with limited distribution in the infested region, where hemlock trees are healthy and southern Appalachians. infestation levels are at low to moderate densities. High-value natural areas like the Great Smoky There are no known parasites of Adelgidae and Mountains are receiving the highest priority. existing natural enemies are not effective in control- ling HWA in eastern North America. Furthermore, By: Brad Onken, HWA Program Coordinator, there are no chemical control options suitable for USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area State & management in the forest environment. As such, Private Forestry, 180 Canfield Street, Morgantown, classical biocontrol has become the keystone in the WV 26505, USA. race to save eastern hemlock forests. In the mid Email: [email protected] 1990s, the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) Fax: +1 304 285 1508 Forest Service and its state, federal and university cooperators initiated a coordinated effort to locate, evaluate and establish a complex of host specific nat- Broadleaved Weeds Face Fungal White-out ural enemies. To date, these efforts have led to the investigation and introduction of a number of biocon- A Canadian project aimed at finding fungal biocon- trol agents of diverse geographical origin. trol agents for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) has identified a fungus with potential as a bioherbicide • Sasajiscymnus tsugae [formerly Pseudoscymnus against a wide spectrum of broadleaved weeds. tsugae]. Building on the discovery of a tiny coccinel- Canada thistle, introduced from southeastern lid predator in Japan by Mark McClure of the Con- Europe and the eastern Mediterranean in the 17th necticut Agricultural Experiment Station, S. tsugae century, occurs across Canada as far as 58–59° North became the first natural enemy to be established in and is a serious weed in field crops and pastureland. this biological war on HWA. Rearing methodologies Wheat losses in Saskatchewan alone have been esti- developed by Dan Palmer of the New Jersey Depart- mated at Can$3.6 million per year. ment of Agriculture has led to mass production of this important predator and additional facilities The research started in 1985 with Canada-wide sur- have been established with North Carolina Depart- veys coordinated by Agriculture and Agri-Food ment of Agriculture, Clemson University, Univer- Canada, Saskatoon for the collection of diseased sity of Tennessee and, in the private sector, Canada thistle plants. Over the next 10 years, fungi EcoScientific Solutions LLC. By the end of 2003, were isolated from the plants and their properties more than a million S. tsugae beetles had been studied by Karen Bailey (the lead scientist for the released in hundreds of infested hemlock stands project). In 1996, when promising fungi were put throughout 15 states. through a screening programme designed to identify those most suitable for use in biocontrol, Phoma mac- • Laricobius nigrinus. As a predator of HWA in rostoma began to stand out as an exceptional western North America, this derodontid beetle has candidate. While it had no impact as a foliar spray, it been found to be highly host specific and active in proved highly pathogenic if applied to the soil. It acts the fall and winter months. Both research and rear- by blocking chlorophyll synthesis, which kills ing of L. nigrinus is being conducted at the Virginia emerging seedlings and adversely affects (although Polytechnic Institute and State University under does not immediately kill) established plants. the direction of Scott Salom. Establishment of this Strains of the fungus, which had been isolated from predator began in the fall of 2003 at locations in six chlorotic lesions on leaves of Canada thistle from five states. Further releases are planned in 2004. provinces across the country, prevented more than • Scymnus sinuandodulus. Mike Montgomery of 80% of weeds from growing when it was applied to the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research weed-free or newly planted lawns. Field trials con- Station discovered that numerous predators of HWA ducted over 3 years in Canada and USA backed up existed in China including several species of Scym- the initial results. As the studies took in a wider nus beetles. The focus thus far has been on S. sinu- spectrum of plant species, it became clear that many andodulus, as it shows the most promise as a broadleaved but no monocotyledonous species were predator of HWA and its life history makes it more susceptible. Weed species best controlled were suitable for mass rearing. The first release of this Canada thistle, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), coccinellid predator is planned for 2004 and the scentless chamomile (Tripleurospermum perforatum release programme is expected to be expanded in [= Matricaria perforata]), chickweed (Stellaria the coming years. media) and white clover (Trifolium repens). Some- thing that started out as a Canada thistle biocontrol • Entomopathogens. Research efforts led by Bruce initiative now looks as though it could turn into Parker at the University of Vermont hold hope that something bigger. Indeed, Canadian press coverage pathogens may play a role in regulating HWA popu- has highlighted the potential of P. macrostoma for lations. Several promising fungal isolates have been dandelion control in both urban and rural areas. identified and tests are currently underway to develop effective formulation and delivery systems. An effective bioherbicide for broadleaved weeds Laboratory and field tests show promising results would help to overcome one of the drawbacks of con- with each of these natural enemies but it will prob- servation tillage systems. Such systems reduce wind ably be several years before any are established in and water erosion but lead to an increase in infesta- sufficient numbers to have an impact on HWA at the tions of weeds like dandelion. These are usually News 35N controlled by herbicides but in some species, including Canada thistle, herbicides delay growth Biocontrol Shipments to the USA but do not kill the weed. Environmental and health impacts of herbicide use are also an issue, and this is Safe and rapid importation of natural enemies into not restricted to agriculture. In amenity situations, the USA is a critical issue facing scientists who wish herbicide use is increasingly heavily regulated: for to bring in exotic biological control agents. The same example, there are access restrictions associated is true for commercial companies that import benefi- cial organisms from production facilities overseas. with herbicide use, and many have been banned alto- Although the permits remain the same, the US gether by a number of Canadian municipalities. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently modified the importation process The biopesticide approach could also complement for bringing in live natural enemies, due to concerns classical biological control, for which Canada thistle about homeland security. These changes affect more has long been a target. Despite a suite of introduced the importation of exotic natural enemies for clas- and native natural enemies, control of the weed sical biological control programmes, than the remains inadequate. The hunt for more agents con- importation of mass-produced beneficial organisms tinues along with efforts to improve the efficacy of for augmentative biological control. those already established. Overhanging the classical approach, however, is increasing concern about the For commercial companies that import beneficial safety (i.e. host specificity) of introduced biocontrol organisms from overseas for distribution within the USA, APHIS requires that all shipments arrive by agents. One of the insects introduced for Canada bonded carrier to a designated port of entry where thistle biocontrol was Rhinocyllus conicus, which they are inspected. If the port of entry is not located further south in the USA has become a cause célèbre near the company’s headquarters, then the company for (not unanticipated) nontarget effects on native incurs the additional cost of having the shipments for- thistles. While no such impacts have been recorded warded to an airport or other pick-up facility nearby. on Canadian thistles, future exotic natural enemy introductions are likely to face more stringent regu- The scenario for biological control scientists is more lation. In these circumstances, a native control agent complicated, however. Currently, any scientist with limited persistency has safety advantages. In importing live, exotic natural enemies from overseas nature, P. macrostoma occurs at very low levels, but has two choices. Live organisms may be shipped by a has a wide geographic distribution. Extensive bonded carrier to a port of entry, where the shipment research on P. macrostoma has found that it does not is received by a customs broker, permits are validated by Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) inspec- remain in the soil for much more than 4 months after tion, and it is forwarded to the appropriate inundative applications, and is rarely present the quarantine facility. However, many carriers will not year after application. Consequently, there would be ship live organisms, plus there are many potential no impact on crops planted the following year, and hazards that may endanger the survival of living broadleaved crops in the rotation would not be organisms during travel or delay their delivery. On adversely affected by using a P. macrostoma-based the other hand, a scientist with the proper permits broadleaved weed control strategy for monocotyledo- may hand-carry exotic natural enemies to the airport nous crops. of entry, but there the scientist must turn them over to an agent of the Department of Homeland Security There are a number of hurdles to be crossed before P. – Customs Border Protection – Agricultural Inspec- macrostoma can become a marketable product. Toxi- tion. A privately contracted customs broker receives cology studies need to be completed to ensure its the package from customs and delivers it to PPQ for safety. In addition, reliable methods are needed for inspection and validation of permits. Following this, the material is either taken by the customs broker mass production of the fungus, and appropriate for- personally to a designated quarantine facility, or is mulation, storage and packaging for it must be shipped by the customs broker to the quarantine developed. All this will take time and money, and facility; the consignment is not returned to the scien- many promising biopesticides fail to become com- tist at the airport of entry. APHIS has been petitioned mercial products because the potential market is too to modify this process so that the customs broker may limited to justify the investment. However, a broad hand over the package directly to a specified quaran- spectrum of activity coupled with a wide range of tine officer at the port of entry, but this request has lucrative applications makes P. macrostoma a good not been authorized. Of course, never during this candidate for development as a bioherbicide. A 3- importation process is the package allowed to be year research agreement with Scotts Canada will opened until it reaches a quarantine facility. allow the commercial potential of P. macrostoma to To read the letter from APHIS to PPQ Form 526 be explored. If all goes well, a product could reach the permit holders regarding these changes, see: shelves in 4–6 years. www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantpest/ policyletter10-15-03.pdf Contact: Dr Karen L. Bailey, Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, By: Ron Cave, Indian River Research & Education Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2. Center, 2199 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945, Email: [email protected] USA. Fax: +1 306 956 7247 Email: [email protected] 36N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2)

The introductory paper by Mark Hoddle argues that Developing a UK Standard Methodology to biocontrol is a valuable tool for managing invasive species in conservation areas, “where the risks of Assess the Risks from Non-Native Species doing nothing are unacceptably high”, and deserves A key recommendation of the UK Government’s wider consideration for managing non-traditional recent non-native species policy review [see BNI exotic targets. He provides a positive economic and 24(2), 38N (June 2003), UK non-natives review] was environmental assessment of the discipline as a to “develop comprehensive, accepted risk assessment whole, arguing that the relatively small number of procedures to assess the risks posed by non-native successes (10% of arthropod programmes and <30% species and to identify and prioritise prevention weed of programmes) have been so successful that action”. To develop the UK’s approach to risk assess- their economic benefits have more than covered the ment of non-native species in line with these costs of the failures. While accepting that nontarget recommendations, Defra (Department for Environ- effects have been recorded in a small proportion of ment, Food and Rural Affairs) has commissioned a projects and that many past introductions have new project: Contract CR0293 ‘Standard method- simply not been monitored, he says that where non- ology to assess the risks from non-native species target effects have occurred, biological control considered problems to the environment’. The year- practice has strayed from the theory. He provides long project began in January and is a collaboration evidence for this by analysing common elements of between six organizations: Central Science Labora- 14 introductions with recorded nontarget effects. tory (CSL), Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Emphasizing the importance of regulation in pro- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture moting safe biological control, he discusses current Science (CEFAS), Imperial College London, Univer- legislation in the USA and New Zealand and backs sity of Greenwich and CABI Bioscience. the universal adoption of the Code of Conduct for the Import and Release of Exotic Biological Control The main aim of this project is to design and test a Agents. He identifies 12 current biological control general risk assessment system for the UK that can programmes in support of conservation and argues be applied to all non-native species, introduction that biological control is perhaps the best and often pathways and receptor habitats. The project draws the only means by which ecosystems degraded by on the experience of plant health risk assessment invasive alien species may be restored. He also iden- schemes, such as that prepared by the European and tifies 10 non-traditional targets for which biocontrol Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization is being developed; six of these are vertebrate pests (EPPO) standard PM 5/3(1), first approved in Sep- and he discusses possible mechanisms of novel bio- tember 1997, and the Australian weed risk control agents for these. He concludes by suggesting assessment model (see Pheloung et al. 1999), but that biological control projects should be designed covers a much wider range of invasive non-native and executed within a regulatory framework taxa and habitats. During the project a number of including peer review of the need for biological con- sample risk assessments will be undertaken, trol and its feasibility and for determining the data allowing the performance of the risk assessment necessary to evaluate host specificity and the poten- scheme to be evaluated. tial magnitude of impact on both target and nontargets. He accepts that such projects will be Review of Non-native Species Policy: more expensive and calls for a balance in ensuring www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/ safety and economic feasibility. findings/non-native/index.htm The next three papers examine Hoddle’s arguments. EPPO Pest Risk Assessment Scheme: www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/PRA/ Svata Louda & Peter Stiling predictably take issue prassess_scheme.html with Hoddle’s positive evaluation of the safety and efficacy of past control programmes. They highlight Pheloung, P.C., Williams, P.A. & Halloy, S.R. (1999) important reasons for caution and continuing devel- A weed risk assessment model for use as a biosecu- opment of improved risk assessment. Their rity tool evaluating plant introductions. Journal of overarching guideline would be “first, do no harm”. Environmental Management 57, 239–251. They review a series of examples, cases either not referred to by Hoddle or for which they present a dif- By: Karen Haysom (CABI Bioscience) ferent interpretation, where nontarget effects have been recorded, and conclude that they reveal both Contact: Richard Baker, Central Science Laboratory, unexpected interactions and unpredicted intensities Sand Hutton, York, YO4 1LZ, UK. of interaction between introduced biological control Email: [email protected] agents and nontarget native species. They then pro- vide a critique of Hoddle’s arguments for biological control. They ask, what are the multiple ecological Is Biocontrol Good for Conservation? effects of the many ‘failures’ where released agents persist but do not effect control? They note that ‘high’ A series of papers in the ‘Conservation Forum’ sec- in the term ‘high host specificity’ has a range of tion of the February 2004 issue of Conservation meanings and consider the implications of this in Biology* debates the future of biocontrol as a conser- terms of host range expansion. They point out that vation management tool. Although some papers have the safety net of regulation is far from universal and a US focus in places, the arguments have a wider that voluntary codes are voluntary. Lastly, they say resonance. that biological control may not be as risk-free as is News 37N assumed, arguing that it is difficult, maybe impos- mination of safety is one of the biggest challenges sible, to predict the size of the outcome of the array of facing biological control and highlights the problems new interactions caused by an introduced agent in a associated with translating results between lab and new environment. While agreeing that biocontrol can field, and research into this. He considers Proffitt’s be beneficial, they call for a focus on what is both comment about people’s reluctance to alter basic effective and ecologically safe. beliefs, and says that a paradigm shift in accepting new ideas about safety will be slow. However, he Raymond Carruthers, a “supporter and advocate for describes how such a shift has happened in insect biological control when practised scientifically and biological control over recent decades, with a switch systematically”, emphasizes that the purpose of his in preference from generalist natural enemies to paper is to stimulate thought and build bridges not more specific agents to reduce nontarget impacts – a barriers, “because together we have many important trend that is gathering momentum. He agrees that hurdles to cross in the fight to contain invasive spe- assessing the value of biological control, risk assess- cies.” He has no doubt of the size of the problem posed ment and evaluation of agent safety can help justify by invasive alien species nor that the problem is biological control, and supports Carruthers’ champi- increasing. He acknowledges that introducing exotic oning of multi-disciplinary teams to address issues biological control agents into natural ecosystems is related to biological control for invasive species in controversial. He discusses how far many of these conservation. ecosystems have been transformed over recent cen- turies and the importance of understanding how *Conservation Biology 18(1), pp. 38–64. they function now. In reality, he notes, decisions about control have to be made without complete knowledge, which introduces risk, and he advocates International Issues in the Use of GMOs for the an open, science-based decision-making process. He Management of Mammal Populations accepts that nontarget effects do occur and endorses efforts to minimize these. However, he argues that In 2001, Elena Angulo, then a PhD student in Spain, potential nontarget effects need to be considered in became concerned about the use of GMOs (geneti- the context of the impacts of non-biocontrol introduc- cally modified organisms) being developed in Spain tions and against the result of doing nothing. He for the management of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus advocates the assembling of multi-disciplinary cuniculus). A recombinant myxoma virus had been teams, and uses the example of the saltcedar biocon- engineered to incorporate the gene that coded for the trol programme in the USA to illustrate how groups VP-60 protein of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) with diverse outlooks can, by working together, virus. The virus used was an attenuated myxoma exchanging views on a regular basis and compro- virus that had been carefully chosen so that the mise, reach consensus on solutions. recombinant virus would not kill the infected rabbit but instead would immunize any rabbit it infected Trexler Proffitt Jr.'s analysis shows how institu- against both diseases. This recombinant was also tional change will be as necessary as effective science able to spread from rabbit to rabbit and so could be if biocontrol is to be more widely adopted. He points used to immunize wild rabbits. By catching and inoc- out that conservation issues cross traditional disci- ulating some rabbits, or by infecting rabbit fleas and plinary boundaries and create conflicts that are only achieving wider natural spread of the virus, it was partially science-based. He contends that many considered possible to immunize a substantial part of debates superficially about science are actually a wild rabbit population and effectively inhibit dis- about what is perceived as normal or safe. He com- ease spread. It was further shown that the pares “the dominant pest-control and cost–benefit recombinant virus had limited capacity to spread logic” of US agroindustry (where biological control and that on each passage it infected fewer suscep- practice is rooted) with the “strong preservation, tible animals. This was considered advantageous in anti-intervention logic” of conservationists. He maintaining control over the recombinant virus. It emphasizes how difficult it is to challenge would need to be re-introduced each year and there- entrenched beliefs: “People simply do not update fore should not spread into areas where its use was their beliefs overnight in the face of evidence.” He unnecessary. explains that evidence tends to be processed in favour of existing beliefs and interests. He notes that Angulo had misgivings about the safety of the work while “science is often a truly international field in and the lack of knowledge on how to estimate the general, policy is mostly provincial”, and for the sci- risks of using such viruses in the long term. For entists used to the wider world, gives an interesting example, would the virus retain its low rate of infec- slant on how US policymakers might view evidence tivity and persistence once released in the field? from France and New Zealand! He questions how However, further exploration of literature and infor- acceptable simple or ‘low-tech’ solutions (in which mation available at the time showed that there was category he places biological control) are to US an even greater problem. In parallel to the develop- agroindustry, and also explores the potential impact ment of the recombinant virus in Spain, Australian of an expanded biological control sector on the status scientists had also been working with myxoma virus quo of other institutions. to insert new genetic material. In this latter case, however, the idea was to insert genetic material that Hoddle responds to these commentaries in a final coded for some of the rabbit's own reproductive pro- paper, most of which deals with answering the criti- teins such as those in sperm or the egg coat protein. cisms raised by Louda & Stiling. Nevertheless, A rabbit infected with this recombinant would not Hoddle agrees with Louda & Stiling that the deter- only produce antibodies against the myxoma virus 38N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2) but also against its own eggs or sperm. The result species complex (M. musculus, M. domesticus, M. would be low fertility or even sterility. castaneus, M. mollisimus) that occurs naturally across Europe and Asia. Clearly, each recombinant virus could be quite valu- able in its country of origin. The rabbit is a The drive for specific biological agents to control a cornerstone in the ecology of Mediterranean shrub- range of mammalian pests has clearly been lands in Europe and many species in Spain and increasing in recent years and it is useful to see what southern France are dependent on it, especially is influencing the research into these products and iconic species such as the Iberian lynx (Lynx ask whether this research is expansive enough to pardinus) and the imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). answer the questions about safety posed by Angulo & Thus, enhancing the rabbit population would have Cooke1. Specifically: great benefit. In Australia, on the other hand, rabbits continue to have a major impact on agriculture and • What is the potential for the escape and estab- devastate native plant communities and associated lishment abroad of these genetically engineered fauna and further control is needed. What, Angulo organisms? asked, would happen if the Spanish recombinant • What are the international risks at scientific, virus reached Australia or if in the longer term the economic and environmental levels? recombinant viruses being developed in Australia reached Spain. The effects could be devastating. • Can we develop effective international regulation of their use? Naturally enough, Angulo was not alone in thinking • Can they be modified to make them safer? about things this way. There were other scientists The remainder of this article draws from contribu- who also saw the potential conflicts and thought that tions to the international symposium. the matters should be discussed at an international level rather than have each country simply go its The Need for New Biological Agents to Manage Mammal own way. One result was a commentary in the Journal of Molecular Biology which outlined the Populations dilemma1. As we shall see later, it was probably no The benefits of biological agents are well demon- accident that the paper was written jointly by an strated in inland Australia where the release of enthusiastic young Spanish scientist at the start of a myxomatosis lowered rabbit populations and ena- career and an older Australian scientist who had bled a pulse of regeneration of shrubs in the 1950s. reached that career stage when it was no longer so Nevertheless, with the attenuation of the virus and important to be circumspect in giving a frank the build-up of genetic resistance to myxomatosis opinion. among the rabbits these effects were temporary. In addition, there is increasing awareness of the subtle A second, stronger indication that scientists were effects of rabbits and even with the combined use of prepared to confront these issues comes from the myxoma virus and RHD virus rabbits continue to work of Robert Henzell in the Animal and Plant Con- impede regeneration of natural vegetation. Robert trol Commission in South Australia and Elaine Henzell (Animal and Plant Control Commission, Murphy from the New Zealand Department of Con- South Australia) used rabbit-proof plots to show that servation. They organized an international even where rabbits are barely detectable, they can symposium (Rabbits and RHD: disseminating GMOs still remove about half the seedlings of arid-zone aca- and conflicting international objectives, held in cias. Their influence on shrub and tree recruitment December 2003 at the 3rd International Wildlife in the southern rangelands of Australia means that Management Congress), reported on below, where the natural woodlands are still declining. Given the these issues could be discussed in an open forum. enormous areas involved and the high cost of Importantly, they further extended the topic to mechanical control relative to the productivity of the include the issue of genetic engineering of parasites land there are few ways of remedying this problem to control possums (marsupials native to Australia) without recourse to additional biological control and house mice. measures. This is particularly important as we know that there has been steady development of genetic In the case of Australian brush-tailed possums (Tri- resistance to myxoma virus among rabbits and we chosurus vulpecula), which are now a major pest in cannot predict how long RHD virus will remain New Zealand, the issues run parallel to those highly effective. Certainly any agent that reduced between Spain and Australia. Genetically engi- the effectiveness of the myxoma virus or RHD would neered parasites may benefit New Zealand but what be disastrous, returning inland Australia to the if they crossed the Tasman Sea by design or accident dismal conditions experienced in the rabbit’s heyday. and affected the Australian possum population already driven low by habitat change and fox In Spain as well there remain equally strong argu- predation? ments for managing rabbits but in this case the rebuilding of populations for conservation and A similar dilemma exists regarding the house mouse, hunting is the goal (Roger Trout, Forest Research, considered now to be a hybrid between Mus domes- UK). From a conservation perspective over 41 species ticus and M. musculus. This species is a major pest in of terrestrial and avian predators rely on rabbits to the wheat-growing areas of eastern Australia, and some extent and some species such as the Iberian some form of biological control would be beneficial. lynx has been reduced to fewer than 200 individuals Nevertheless, there has been surprisingly little con- following the spread of RHD. Imperial eagles are sideration of the implications of novel GMOs on the estimated to number 150 pairs. Nevertheless, half of News 39N the funding for research and development of the marker genes, opening up the way for using it to recombinant virus has come from hunting organiza- carry other genes so that it will act as an immunocon- tions in Spain (Sanchez Vizcaino, personal traceptive agent. Nematodes may have some communication). A disseminating GMO to protect advantages over viruses in this sense because they rabbits against myxomatosis and RHD, both of show a range in pathogenicity and variations in the which are exotic to Spain, has been field tested on extent to which they provoke the immune response. one of the Balearic Islands (Juan Barcena, Centro de For example, they frequently establish chronic infec- Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Spain). tions, which might keep antibodies that cause sterility high for long periods. Hosts are also suscep- Interestingly, the Spanish perspective on rabbits is tible to re-infection. not shared throughout Europe (Roger Trout). In Britain for example, rabbits cause about UK£120 Consideration of International Risks million worth of damage to agriculture each year, but at the same time they are regarded as being impor- The consideration of the risk that GMOs could be tant for maintaining certain types of vegetation, spread inadvertently or directly to other countries especially heavily grazed swards which offer specific still remains very limited. For example, the risk habitats for rare plant and insect species. A geneti- assessment that genetically modified P. trichosuri cally modified virus that could not be precisely used could be transported to Australia seems to be largely without fears of farm income loss or conflict over con- based on its biological attributes. There seems to servation interests would not be welcomed. have been only one transfer to New Zealand in the 150 years that possums have been present there and The brush-tailed possum was introduced from Aus- the parasite is still restricted mainly to the North tralia into New Zealand in the 19th century and has Island of New Zealand despite the fact that possums spread to become a major pest (Phil Cowan, Land- occur extensively on both islands: in the South Island care Research, New Zealand). Not only does it the parasite is restricted to two small areas, one of defoliate forest trees that evolved in the absence of these being the result of a recent experimental intro- mammalian browsers but it is also a predator of duction (Mark Ralston, AgResearch, New Zealand). nesting birds. Economically it is important because it It is also assumed that the relatively low density of is a major carrier of tuberculosis (Tb), impeding the possums in Australia would mean that the rate of eradication of this disease from cattle and conse- spread of a transgenic nematode would be slow. How- quently limiting access to international markets in ever, this does not take into account the possibility of dairy products. About NZ$54 million is spent annu- direct human transfer if the genetically modified ally on a national management strategy to eliminate nematode showed promise as a possum control possums but a stalemate has been reached where agent. Although possums have generally declined in little further progress is being made. There are three rural Australia, individual citizens in urban areas options at this stage: the development of possum-spe- nevertheless hate possums passionately for the cific poisons, the development of vaccines against Tb, damage they cause to ornamental garden plants and and biological controls using GMOs. fruit trees, and for the excreta they deposit in the roof cavities of houses. House mice introduced into Australia with early European settlement are a serious problem in wheat- The history of unauthorized introductions of growing areas, above all when plagues occur poten- myxoma virus to Europe, and RHD virus to New Zea- tially affecting human health and livestock land must raise a note of caution (Robert Henzell). management as well as contaminating grain for Additionally, the use of data from Europe to assess export. A GMO based on the murine cytomegalovirus risk of virus escape when testing RHD virus on (icMCMV) is at an advanced stage of development for Wardang Island in South Australia proved to be potentially controlling mice and averting plagues inadequate. The virus not only escaped from the (Kent Williams, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, island but spread rapidly over large areas and has Australia). since persisted in low-density rabbit populations.

Genetically Modified Organisms In the case of a genetically modified myxoma virus it is also essential to remember that the myxoma virus Although the first GMO to be developed for man- itself originated in the Americas and is a natural aging a mammalian species was the myxoma virus pathogen in cottontails and their kin (Sylvilagus modified by Spanish scientists, it is clear that there spp.) The risk that genetically modified myxoma are many additional possibilities including the viruses might pose in the American situation should cytomegalovirus (icMCMV) mentioned above. not be overlooked.

Nevertheless, viruses are by no means the only pos- If house mice in Australia are in fact hybrids then sibility. Warwick Grant (AgResearch, New Zealand) the safety assessments of any GMO must include its described recent work on the nematode Parastrongy- species specificity with other rodents as well as con- loides trichosuri that infects the brush-tailed possum sidering other genetic groups within the Mus species showing that it can be readily maintained in vitro in complex. Kent Williams has recently considered the laboratory cultures because it has a free-living stage risk of inadvertently exporting icMCMV from Aus- in soil in addition to its better known cycle as a par- tralia in grain shipments containing a few live mice. asite in possums. The ability to maintain it in Such models are complex because the risk that the laboratory culture has enabled it to be genetically GMO will spread is assumed to depend on house transformed to express the products of introduced mouse numbers and anticipates that, if the virus is 40N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2) useful, it will suppress mouse plagues and so limit Yet some basic points remain very clear. Elaine the risk of spread through the ports. The risk is fur- Murphy (Department of Conservation, New Zealand) ther dependent on which countries receive the and David Dall (Pestat Ltd, Australia) pointed out exported grain. that we have three simple options. Go ahead and act as individual states, refrain from action and possibly There appears to have been little consideration of the forgo the potential benefits of using GMOs in wildlife risk of transfer of genetic material from a GMO to management, or consult to see if a way can be found another wild-type organism of the same or a related through the real and perceived problems inherent in species. Viruses infecting the same cell could inter- managing animal populations in this way. The mood change genetic information resulting in novel of the symposium favoured obtaining cooperative combinations. In the case of sexually reproducing outcomes and avoiding retaliations. Nevertheless, nematodes, there could be direct recombination of establishing groups to facilitate consultation genes in hybrid offspring. between countries will require elements of diplomacy as well as scientific understanding. Implicit in this How Do We Reduce the Risks Associated with the Use of approach is the idea that to progress we will need to GMOs? manage risk because we cannot move ahead if we insist that all GMOs will be so well known and the In a technical sense more might be done to improve outcomes of their use will be so predictable that there the safety of GMOs. For example, it might be possible should be no risk. There is a certain tension in the to design a recombinant virus that only expresses its decision to move forward. effects in the presence of specific environmental ele- ments, such as a chemical (Robert Henzell). It was reported at the symposium that the Office Similarly, the complex life history of GMO nema- International des Epizooties (OIE) at its scheduled todes, or viruses dependent on transfer by specific meeting in May 2004 was to consider how to manage vectors such as rabbit fleas might make it difficult to these risks. The OIE’s Working Group on Wildlife transfer them accidentally or even deliberately Diseases considered this issue again in February without high levels of skill or knowledge. It might be 2004, and the result was a recommendation to pro- possible to build complex genetic devices into GMOs ceed with considerable caution. While the working as a means of immunizing susceptible hosts against group recognizes the potential utility of dissemi- erroneous use. nating GMOs to manage wildlife crises, it believes that the particularly important risks in creating dis- Nevertheless, scientific responsibility is a relative seminating GMOs necessitate high standards for concept. Research funders and donors wish to see their development and the absence of possible alter- results for their investments and scientists wish to native strategies. GMOs targeted at contraception continue within their appropriate field for the sake of appear to be a special case and require particularly their career development. Not all scientists have high safety testing standards. Safety standards appropriate skills to consider matters such as the must include the global environment, and not just social aspects of GMO release nor do they have expe- the local environment. Arrangements to manage the rience in all situations where GMOs might be risks of developing and using disseminating GMOs applied. to manage wildlife may involve both the OIE and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. National legislation provides guidance but it is unlikely to be far reaching in terms of international There are encouraging signs that at least one organ- responsibilities. For example, the testing of the ization developing disseminating GMOs recognizes Spanish genetically modified myxoma virus in the that the international risks need to be managed Balearic Islands was done without the fullest pos- effectively and transparently. The bid for a successor sible consultation within Spain. There was no formal organization to Australia’s Pest Animal Control consultation with other European countries despite Cooperative Research Centre includes a project to their interests in rabbit management. The conditions address these risks. set for those island tests appear to have been of a lesser standard than those that would have been Readers may have an opportunity later this year to required in the UK. Experience with the escape of discuss this topic and make their views known in an RHD virus from testing facilities on Wardang Island online conference, hosted by the Convention on Bio- shows how careful we must be in assuming that a logical Diversity's Biosafety Clearing-House2. virus apparently spread by rabbit-to-rabbit contact or fomites (objects that transmit infectious material) 1Angulo, E. & Cooke, B. (2002) First synthesize new in Europe would be similarly restricted in a new viruses then regulate their release? The case of the environment. wild rabbit. Molecular Biology 11, 2703–2710.

At an international level new methods are needed to 2Convention on Biological Diversity’s Clearing- deal with GMOs that could act on a continental scale House Mechanism: and are not necessarily easy to manage at a national www.biodiv.org/chm/default.aspx level. However, international regulations are limited because the Right of Sovereignty is recognized and Compiled with the help of: Brian D. Cooke, individual states retain a great deal of independence. Fundación Charles Darwin, Casilla 17-01-3891, Most international rules are really only advisory pre- Quito, Ecuador. cautions as a step towards establishing agreed rules Email: [email protected] in the longer term. Fax: +593 5 526 102 News 41N

Robert Henzell, Animal and Plant Control Commis- Christchurch, New Zealand. sion, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Fax: +64 3 365 1388 Fax: +61 8 8303 9555 For a previous article on this issue, see BNI 23(4), Elaine Murphy, Science and Research Unit, Depart- 89N–96N (December 2002), Rabbits and Possums in ment of Conservation, Private Bag 4715, GMO Potboiler. IPM Systems

This section covers integrated pest management • Malaysian (solanaceous) fruit fly (Bactrocera lati- (IPM) including biological control, and techniques frons) was first found in Hawaii in 1983. that are compatible with the use of biological control To produce a viable fruit or vegetable crop in Hawaii or minimize negative impact on natural enemies. may mean spraying almost weekly with organophos- phate or carbamate insecticides at considerable economic and environmental cost, and many farmers Flying Start to Area Wide IPM in Hawaii have abandoned susceptible crops altogether. According to the United States Department of Agri- High-value export horticulture is thriving. Whatever culture – Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS), the season, supermarket shelves throughout the the four species of fruit flies attack over 400 different world overflow with exotic fruit and vegetables. host plants, including economically important crops Many tropical countries have seen their export earn- such as citrus, coffee, guava, loquat, mango, melon, ings rise as a result, yet that icon of tropical islands, papaya, passion fruit, peach, pepper, persimmon, Hawaii, has been missing out on the bounty. With plum, star fruit, tomato and zucchini. As a result of fertile soil and a climate that can produce 4–5 crops the invasive pests, Hawaiian agriculture became per year, Hawaii would be cashing in were in not for heavily reliant on non-susceptible crops such as a suite of invasive alien fruit flies, which has severely sugar cane and pineapple but the importance of impacted development of a thriving fruit and vege- these crops has declined in recent years, giving a new table industry. In the last 3 years, however, the impetus to fruit fly control as susceptible crops have innovative Hawaii Area Wide Fruit Fly Integrated once again become the backbone of Hawaii's agricul- Pest Management (HAW-FLYPM) programme has tural sector. begun to restore hope to growers: they have seen fruit fly numbers decrease and are beginning to Past control efforts focused on eradication. Fruit fly replant susceptible crops. species have been successfully eradicated elsewhere Fruit flies are undoubtedly the most serious con- (e.g. Australia, Cook Islands, Florida and California) straint to Hawaiian agriculture. but all attempts in Hawaii have failed. One hurdle for the new project was to re-engage with growers • Damage from fruit flies is estimated to cost the disenchanted by these previous ineffective measures. industry more than US$300 million annually in lost HAW-FLYPM began in 1999 with a US$750,000 fed- local markets. Crops that could otherwise be grown eral grant on Oahu, Maui and Big Island. Key locally, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and features of the initiative are: zucchini, are often imported to meet demand. • It is a user-focused programme. • The value of lost export markets is incalculable. Increased export regulations mean fruit fly dam- • It focuses on keeping pest damage below an eco- aged fruit and vegetables do not meet state and fed- nomically significant threshold rather than attempt- eral requirements for export to continental (US) and ing eradication. international markets. • It has built extensive partnerships. USDA-ARS • Countries currently free of fruit flies and anxious (lead), the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and to protect their own industries from these invasive the University of Hawaii make up the core team, pests place quarantine restrictions (frequently bans) with USDA-APHIS (Animal and Plant Health on imports from infested countries such as Hawaii. Inspection Service), the IR-4 Program and industry participants. In addition, it has engaged with grow- There are four invasive alien fruit fly species of eco- ers and home gardeners. nomic importance in Hawaii. They are widespread and occur from sea level to over 2000 m above sea • It aims to be environmentally beneficial, reduc- level. Their dates of introduction stretch back over a ing the amount of pesticides used by growers and hundred years: minimizing risk to native Hawaiian biodiversity – of particular concern is Hawaii’s complex of native • Melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) was introduced fruit flies. in 1895. • It is creating a user-friendly IPM package whose • Mediterranean fruit fly or medfly (Ceratitis capi- use will endure beyond the end of the programme. tata) was introduced in 1910. Typically for an IPM programme, the package • Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) was intro- includes a combination of components. Both control duced in 1945. and monitoring are important and the varied tech- 42N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2) niques that have been developed illustrate the would allow research to be conducted on their farms, breadth of inter-disciplinary synergies that underpin which could then be used as demonstration sites. Ini- the HAW-FLYPM programme. tially, as noted above, growers were inclined to be sceptical of yet another fruit fly control effort, espe- Suppression Techniques cially as they were putting themselves at economic risk by applying experimental technologies rather • Field sanitation to break the cycle of reproduc- than tried-and-tested insecticides. Concerted efforts tion. Rotten fruit are ideal breeding sites. Rotten by extension agents, ARS researchers and Hawaii and infested fruit are removed from the field and Department of Agriculture staff to explain the IPM placed in bins, barrels, plastic bags and deep pits or approach to grower groups included videos, bro- inside small tents made of a mesh-like material to chures, newsletters and a website to make reduce the build up of fruit fly populations. information more accessible. But above all, the HAW- • Male trapping. Mass trapping using chemical FLYPM team considers that personal communication attractants for luring male flies has been developed. with growers has been the real basis for the pro- Traps are placed uniformly throughout breeding gramme's successful adoption. Fine-tuning the IPM areas to provide area-wide suppression. Attractants package meant weekly visits to cooperators’ farms to applied in traps on fibreboard blocks or in a gel for- monitor fruit fly populations, and these visits could be mulation can remain effective for several months. combined with training sessions to adapt the system • Low-risk insecticide with a protein bait. ARS to the individual farm. The goal is to give the farmers research in Hawaii and Weslaco, Texas led to the the knowledge to make their own decisions. development of Spinosad, produced by the soil- dwelling bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. This Just 3 years into the programme, there are signs that is deployed in an attractant-based protein bait the fruit flies that emerged as a serious threat to spray, called GF-120. It is applied as spots at low Hawaii’s agriculture a century ago are beginning to volumes in growing areas and on border crops in be beaten. One large diversified farm on Oahu has place of the more environmentally toxic organophos- cut insecticide use by 60–70% and has been able to phate malathion. diversify its crops. In one targeted area on Big Island, melon fly infestation has been reduced from • Sterile male release. Male flies are sterilized 30% to 5% and organophosphate use has been cut by through irradiation and then mass released into the more than 60–70%. One grower reports that fruit fly wild, where they mate but no progeny are produced. populations on his farm have fallen by 65%, while This approach overfloods the breeding population profits have increased. He and others are beginning with sterile flies, causing the reproductive rate of to experiment with fruit long discounted as too sus- the population to decline. ceptible to fruit flies to be worth planting. A prime • Augmentative biocontrol. An important parasi- example is persimmon, a popular fruit crop in toid of medflies and oriental fruit flies, Biosteres Hawaii: many orchards were abandoned as the fruit arisanus, is being mass reared by ARS and released fly problem worsened, but trees are now being to increase mortality in fruit fly populations. Biolog- replanted and harvests are increasing. Another ical controls work best in ecologically balanced agr- grower reports that crops, such as zucchini, that oecosystems, which the HAW-FLYPM programme is were previously only profitable during the winter promoting. season can be grown profitably throughout the year Population Monitoring using the IPM package. Successes like these mean that the first cooperators recruited to the HAW- • Baseline trapping. Male lures and food-based FLYPM programme are happy and more growers are attractants are used to monitor fluctuations in popu- now willing to try adopting the IPM package as word lations of the four species of fruit flies in and around spreads. agricultural cropping areas. • Grid trapping. Sites on all three islands were Gardeners Complete the Picture identified for further grid trapping. Each site Increasing adoption is important for the long-term includes a target agricultural area plus surrounding success of fruit fly control. Area-wide suppression is areas. Male lure traps are placed in every square more important than control on individual farms for kilometre to identify fluctuations in species popula- managing mobile pests such a fruit flies. Uptake by tions within a 40–50 km² grid. more and more farmers is encouraging but many of • Host mapping and infestation monitoring. Wild the fruit fly-susceptible host plants are also grown in and cultivated host plants of fruit flies within the household gardens, which can serve as reservoirs. In grid area are identified and mapped using GPS/GIS, them, fruit fly populations can build up and then re- and relative infestation levels throughout each grid infest neighbouring IPM-managed farms. The HAW- are evaluated. FLYPM programme has therefore also recruited home gardeners in Kohala – senior citizens in partic- Growing Support ular. In this pilot study, participating gardeners are While interactions between scientists created the encouraged to practise sanitation, and monitoring IPM package, the successful relationship that the traps are placed in their gardens to see the impact of researchers built with the growers and residents of IPM in this context. Eventually, these gardens may Hawaii is at the heart of its success. serve as demonstration plots to recruit more gar- deners to the programme. Scientists plan to tailor To test and fine-tune the HAW-FLYPM programme, the IPM package to be user-friendly and inexpensive the team needed cooperators: individual growers who so that gardeners all over Hawaii adopt it. News 43N Quarantine Apart For the moment the HAW-FLYPM programme is focusing on making fruit fly IPM sustainable. This Although the HAW-FLYPM package has been dem- will improve the profitability of land under produc- onstrated to reduce pest fruit fly populations below economically damaging levels, quarantine measures tion and allow new areas to be planted, which in turn taken by other states and countries remain an will provide more employment possibilities, lead to a impediment to the complete rehabilitation of greater self-sufficiency in food production and make Hawaii’s fruit and vegetable export sector. Bans agriculture a stronger component of the Hawaiian imposed by importing countries are understandable. economy. In California, for example, invasion by fruit flies could result in losses of some US$1.4 billion Sources: Kaplan, J.K. (2004) Fruit flies flee paradise. annually. Agricultural Research February 2004, pp. 4–9. www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb04/ With the success of the IPM programme, fruit fly flies0204.htm populations in Hawaii are beginning to fall. If they fall far enough, complete eradication may even become a possibility. Thus, a programme that grew HAW-FLYPM: out of failed eradication attempts may open the way www.fruitfly.hawaii.edu/programbackground.html for permanent eradication of invasive alien fruit flies from Hawaii and open the mainland US and interna- Contact: Roger Vargas, USDA-ARS, PO Box 445, tional markets again to the Hawaiian fruit and Hilo, HI96720, USA. vegetable industry. Email: [email protected] Training News

In this section we welcome all your experiences in results from Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) working directly with the end-users of arthropod and largely determine national workplans and activities. microbial biocontrol agents or in educational activi- • Guidance at country level. This is provided by a ties on natural enemies aimed at students, farmers, National Steering Committee (NSC) comprising extension staff or policymakers. partners and stakeholders in agriculture. It includes NGOs working in local communities, other govern- ment departments, educational institutions, Pacific Regional Food Security Programme women's groups, youth groups and farmers them- selves who represent farmer groups. This year is seeing the expansion of a participatory programme in which Pacific island countries and ter- • Partnerships, collaboration and synergies. At ritories are addressing their food security issues regional level, DSAP works with other sections through mainstreaming sustainable agriculture into within SPC to deliver services. Whether it is the their national agricultural activities. SPC Plant Protection Services for advice on agricul- tural pests and diseases or the Animal Health Unit, DSAP seeks the services of other sections within The ten African, Caribbean, Pacific island (ACP) SPC to respond to identified farmer needs. countries of Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Van- • National capacity building in extension. This will uatu and the French Overseas Territories of French enable extension officers to identify farmer problems Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna have been partici- in a participatory manner, ensuring that the farm- pating in the Development of Sustainable ers' interests are at the centre of the solution. DSAP Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP) programme since will also strengthen national capacity to produce its inception in 2003. Funded by the European Com- extension information and ensure that the informa- munity and implemented by the Secretariat of the tion is communicated effectively and is accessible to Pacific Community (SPC), DSAP provides funding farmers. Sharing lessons, ideas and information that enables the participating countries to imple- about sustainable agriculture is central to DSAP ment activities at national level that will help with activities. food security through sustainable agriculture. In For the ten countries that have been participating in early February 2004, the European Union Commis- the DSAP programme so far, national activities sioner, Mr Paul Nielsen, signed an agreement that include establishing crop/tree nurseries, improving allowed the six new ACP countries of Cook Islands, soil fertility, supporting small-scale agriculture Niue, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Federated industries, supporting institutional agriculture States of Micronesia to join the DSAP programme. development, providing and distributing planting materials, and conducting and supporting on-farm The Regional DSAP programme features: trials.

• A participatory approach. This involves listening With the commitment shown by the ACP island to the farmers' needs, identifying their problems and countries to the DSAP programme and the addition using appropriate technology and resources to work of six new countries, the Pacific region with its sus- with the farmers in solving their problems. The ceptibility to natural disasters, impacts of climate 44N Biocontrol News and Information 25(2) change, increasing populations and health related Contact: Danny Hunter, Team Leader, diseases is leading the way to ensure sustainable DSAP Programme, SPC Suva, Fiji. island livelihoods. Email: [email protected] Announcements

Are you producing a newsletter, holding a meeting, fascinating one, beginning when this American plant running an organization or rearing a natural enemy was brought to Europe and cultivated as a glass- that you want other biocontrol workers to know house ornamental. Some 650 varieties are now about? Send us the details and we will announce it in recognized worldwide. Many of the varieties were BNI. sent to colonial tropical and subtropical countries, which ultimately contributed to lantana becoming one of the world’s major weeds. Interestingly, the Aphid and Coccid Biocontrol book points out that there are 27 countries with favourable climates that do not yet have lantana and An IOBC (International Organization for Biological that an obvious strategy for these countries is to Control of Noxious Animals and Plants) Interna- make very sure that it is not imported. Lantana was tional Symposium on Biological Control of Aphids the earliest target for a fully-fledged biocontrol pro- and Coccids is being held at Tsuruoka, Japan on 25– gramme, which began with Hawaiian efforts in 29 September 2005. The symposium is organized by Mexico in 1902. Since then some 40 agents have been Yamagata University with support from the Japa- tried somewhere around the globe. These agents are nese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology, the described; often with very good photographs. Entomological Society of Japan, the Japanese Eco- logical Society and the Society of Population Ecology. This book is intended as a tool for everyone involved in lantana control as well as weed biocontrol scien- Aphids and coccids are major agricultural pests tists in general. Since 1902, millions of dollars and worldwide, and have similar groups of natural ene- many years of work have gone into searching for mies. Biocontrol programmes have had variable potential biocontrol agents and introducing them to success, with those directed against coccids having the countries where lantana is a weed. This book more success. The ecological and evolutionary basis brings together the available information about lan- to this variability is poorly understood. The aim of tana and the insects and diseases that have been the symposium is to explore differences and similar- studied to control it. The authors discuss possible fac- ities in the ecology of aphidophagous and tors influencing the success or failure of these agents, coccidophagous insects and their interactions with potential new research areas and make recommen- their hosts. Sessions will be held on the following dations for future research directions themes:

• Natural enemy augmentation in protected cul- Day, M.D., Wiley, C.J., Playford, J. & Zalucki, M.P. tures (2003) Lantana: current management status and future prospects. Canberra Australia, ACIAR, • Conservation and promotion of natural enemies MN102 2003.128 pp. Price: Aus$44. • Environmental risks of natural enemy introduc- tions Contact: Publications, ACIAR, GPO Box 1571, • Interactions of ants, homopterans and natural Canberra ACT 2601, Australia enemies Email: [email protected] Fax: +61 2 6217 0501 • Intraguild predation • Information acquisition and foraging in insect Also downloadable as three pdfs at: parasitoids and predators www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/doc/ACIA-5TD6JV Contact: Dr Hinori Yasuda, Professor of Animal Ecology, Department of Agriculture, Yamagata Uni- versity, 1-23, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems Email: [email protected] Web: The first issue of Renewable Agriculture and Food www.bf.jcu.cz/tix/strita/aphidophaga/main.html Systems from CABI Publishing was published in February 2004. The journal, formerly the American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, aims to reflect the Lantana Monograph transition to an agriculture that utilizes food produc- tion and distribution systems relying less on non- Late last year, ACIAR published a monograph on renewable petrochemical resources, and more on current and future management of lantana (Lantana renewable sources. John W. Doran, Editor-in-Chief, camara). It provides both an up-to-date summary of explains that the changes in the journal are intended the current situation and also suggestions for future to advance the goal of creating a common ground avenues for research, particularly for developing where scientist, educators, policymakers, farmers, countries that may be able to utilize the efforts of and other practitioners of various perspectives and Australian and other workers. The lantana story is a view points can share their research and ideas. News 45N Have Your Say national reports, and popular press articles. Both bibliographies are updated annually in February. The new journal also has a forum section that will The 2004 editions are now available for download present lively discussions, from differing viewpoints, and on-line searching. on new or provocative topics. The first forum, in the March issue of Renewable Agriculture and Food Sys- Contact: Steven Naranjo, USDA-ARS, tems, concentrated on the subject of ‘Local food, local 4135 East Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA. security.’ Email: [email protected] Submit a paper to: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, c/o Emma Durman, CABI Publishing, Nosworthy Way, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, Danish Biocontrol Centre OX10 8DE, UK. Email: [email protected] The establishment of a Danish Centre for Biological Control (DCBC) is aimed at strengthening biocontrol Contact the Editor-in-Chief: John W. Doran, USDA- of pests, diseases and other noxious organisms in ARS, 116 Keim Hall, University of Nebraska, Lin- agriculture and animal husbandry in Denmark. The coln, Nebraska, NE 68583-0934, USA. initiative is a joint venture between the Royal Veter- Email: [email protected] inary and Agricultural University, the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the Danish Pest Infestation laboratory, the National Environmental Research Institute and the National Institute of ANBP Welcomes Practitioners Occupational Health, with financial support pro- A new ‘practitioner’ category of membership for the vided by the Danish Research Councils. Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) is aimed to attract people and/or businesses engaged Activities will focus on workshops for the develop- in the application of macrobial biocontrol organisms ment and practical use of biocontrol, and (i.e. insect or mite parasites, predators and/or ento- environmental and work-related risks. The centre mopathogenic nematodes), consulting, research, aims to enhance Danish participation in interna- education and pest management. tional cooperation.

The ANBP's mission is to address key issues of the Source: IWSN Newsletter No. 18 (January 2004) augmentative biological control industry (which uti- www.whitefly.org lizes beneficial insects, mites and nematodes to manage agricultural, horticultural and plant pests) through advocacy, education and quality assurance. Biobest Side Effects Manual Updated It holds annual meetings, publishes a newsletter, Biocontrol Matters, which provides a forum to Biobest have produced an updated version of their address issues facing the biocontrol industry, and manual on the side effects of crop protection products hosts a website providing information on the availa- on bumblebees and natural enemies. This fourth edi- bility and use of natural enemies. tion includes revisions to make it more user-friendly (excluding less relevant/redundant information, spe- The association believes the new category of mem- cies entries separated/grouped according to side bers will strengthen ANBP by increasing effects, etc.), adds new information for products membership and adding a new perspective tuned to listed in previous editions and entries for new prod- the end-user. The annual fee for practitioner mem- ucts. It provides the most comprehensive and bership is US$125. accurate overview of the direct side effects of crop protection products on bumblebees and natural ene- Contact: Association of Natural Bio-control Producers, c/o Maclay Burt, Executive Director, mies used by the horticultural industry. Results 2230 Martin Drive, Tustin Ranch, CA 92782, USA. were verified in trials under field conditions. The Email: [email protected] publication has used in-house research, outputs of Fax: +1 714 544 8295 the IOBC Working Group 'Side Effects of Pesticides Website: www.anbp.org on Beneficial Organisms', information drawn from published literature and pharmaceutical industry trials, and material submitted by researchers throughout the world. Whitefly and Bollworm Bibliographies A complete listing of the world literature of the An online version can be viewed free at: sweetpotato/silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci/ www.biobest.be argentifolii) and the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is maintained at: For the printed version (cost: €6 + P&P) contact: www.wcrl.ars.usda.gov/biblios/biblios.html Biobest N.V., Ilse Velden 18, B-2260 Westerlo, Belgium. These bibliographies include journal articles, pro- Email: [email protected] ceedings, books, book chapters, local, regional and Fax: +32 14 25 79 82