Number 3 October 2003

ISSN 1175-6233 Haere ra Jacqueline

Contents As we go to press, a key member management strategies for of the invasive invertebrate team introduced wasps and ants; and Haere ra Jacqueline 1 and editor of Stowaways — developed BIOSECURE, a web- Jacqueline Beggs — is leaving. based decision tool for managing At The Warehouse, The Warehouse 2 The rest of the team want to take biosecurity risks to ’s That 'caffiene" buzz 3 this opportunity to acknowledge indigenous ecosystems. all Jacqueline has achieved Annual meeting of Entomogical Society 3 As a skilled science while working for Landcare communicator, Jacqueline has Invasiveness is promoted by good Research and to wish her well in actively spread the word that habitat and plenty of it 4 her new role as a lecturer at the invasive species are a major . Have trye, will travel 6 threat to native ecosystems. As

Arboviruses in New Zealand 8 Jacqueline's first research was she says, “We desperately need on the native parrot, kaka, for answers on how to prevent more Bumbling in the dark 9 DSIR Division in 1984. This species arriving, and how to evolved into Ant invaders galore!! 10 research on the New kids on the block 11 ecology and Brian Karl control of Argentine ant update 12 introduced Sea containers: Plugging New Zealand’s wasps. She has leaky border 14 led the “Invasive

What else do container ships bring Invertebrates in into New Zealand? 15 Natural Ecosystems” Obituary: Dr Nigel Barlow 15 research

Recent publications 16 programme since 1992. Under her leadership the programme has flourished. We have measured the impacts of wasps in native beech forest (especially on invertebrates and birds);

developed Jacqueline Beggs collecting honeydew from a wasp exclosure 1 At The Warehouse, The Warehouse...

eradicate or control those that The Warehouse aims to bring us Landcare Research project looking are already here.” international products at at the prevalence of exotic affordable prices, but it is also invertebrates in urban environments Jacqueline also contributes concerned that it does not bring us and seeking to develop general significantly to the wider unwelcome exotic stowaways surveillance techniques to detect ecological community. She is a along with the bargains. the presence of new populations of member of the Invasive Species foreign species. A range of trap The Warehouse imports about Specialist Group of the IUCN (an types were deployed in 12 groups 7000 containers of goods per international agency), the Rotoiti around the site and operated for 6 annum, with the largest proportion Nature Recovery Project weeks over the summer. Analysis of (>80%) of these being processed Technical Advisory Group, and samples is far from complete, but at their North Island distribution the Scientific and the presence of a previously centre at Wiri, Auckland. The giant Technical Advisory Committee. unrecorded exotic species of “red shed” at the distribution centre She has a strong commitment to fungus gnat (Sciophila sp.) has is the largest facility of its kind in encouraging women and Maori been confirmed, although we are New Zealand. It is 14.3 m high and in science and assisting young still unclear about its origin. Nearly has a floor area of 65 000 m2, people to get involved in half (46.4%) the moth species equivalent to 8 rugby fields! Six ecology. As a member of the collected, and all ten of the ant thousand containers (9000 of 20 ft New Zealand Ecological Society, species collected, are introduced, equivalent units) are emptied at the Jacqueline has been involved in but none are new to New Zealand. site per annum. With this quantity of developing TuiTime — a web- overseas material being Identification of the samples based resource to encourage processed, the site is a potential continues. We also plan to trial some students to learn about New establishment point for new exotic additional trap types in other areas Zealand’s unique ecology. species. Aware of this potential over the coming summer. We hope Jacqueline gained her PhD in biosecurity issue, the Warehouse there won’t be many nasty surprises zoology from the University of was keen for Landcare Research in the form of new exotic stowaways. to conduct some exotic-insect Otago in 1999, while juggling her Richard Toft surveillance trials around the job with Landcare Research and Landcare Research perimeter of the site. raising two young boys. She has [email protected] been quoted as saying The research at the Warehouse This research was funded by the Foundation “Fieldwork with a baby in a front distribution centre is part of a for Research, Science and Technology. pack added a new dimension to science!” Joanna Rees Jacqueline will continue to work on invasive invertebrates in Auckland and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with Landcare Research. Already she has a queue of postgraduate students keen to work on the Invasive Invertebrate Programme.

Kerry Barton Landcare Research [email protected]

2 Malaise Trap - collects a wide variety of flying insects That caffeine “buzz”

Most adults have experienced the and 0.1%) caffeine “buzz” – the slight jitters of caffeine and sleeplessness that comes with mixed caffeine overload. Caffeine acts as with our a toxin on a range of species, from standard humans and mice, spiders to slugs bait and snails. It is readily available, (sardines cheap, and already widespread in in aspic Web of a spider on caffeine Web of a drug-naive spider the environment (imagine all those jelly) and From: Spider Communication: Mechanisms and Ecological Significance. Edited by Peter N.Witt & trampers needing a mid-morning Beauveria Jerome S. Rovner, Princeton University Press, 1982 pit-stop). So, when we were spores. In thinking of potential toxins to disrupt other the cleaning behaviour of Vespula studies, snails treated with similar times over the next month to wasps, a double espresso seemed levels of caffeine showed monitor the colonies. The nests worth a try. measurable changes in behaviour were then dug up for inspection. and physiology, although a topical There was no effect at all! Nothing. treatment with 0.5% caffeine Ah well, back to the drawing boards resulted in their death after 4 days. (and a good strong latte to help the Our objective was to disrupt the thought process). behaviour of the wasps, rather than Jacqueline Beggs kill the bait carriers with caffeine. Landcare Research The bait was placed at the [email protected]

entrance to wasp nests (6 nests per This research was funded by the Foundation treatment), and we went back five for Research, Science and Technology

Annual meeting of Entomological Society

The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Entomogical Society for Earlier laboratory work showed that 2004 will be held in Nelson from 13 to 16 April. For more information the pathogenic fungus Beauveria contact Richard Harris, email:[email protected] or visit the bassiana was effective at killing Society's webpage at http://ento.rsnz.org/conf04.htm. wasps. However, when added to an active nest in the field, the cleaning behaviour of wasps prevented the fungus from spreading and killing the colony. If we could disrupt the cleaning behaviour of the wasps, then we might be able to develop Beauveria as an environmentally friendly wasp control tool. Researchers have solved a similar problem with ants by adding a neurotoxin, but the neurotoxin they used had no effect on wasps.

We tried three different concentrations (0.001%, 0.01% 3 Invasiveness is promoted by good habitat and plenty of it

Successful invaders need the ability to disperse, either through their own effort or on the back of others, but a new mathematical model suggests even the best dispersers need to strike it lucky.

Most species disperse, and some species devote a large part of their reproductive potential to dispersal. For example, Sphecophaga vesparum vesparum, the parasitoid introduced to control social wasps in New Zealand, uses about half its reproductive potential for dispersal and, as a result, has slowly spread outwards from its release point at Pelorus Bridge. Dispersal, however, is a risky business. Finding the right habitat may be a more or less random event. Consequently, honeydew in New Zealand beech where invading pests are often dispersal is often associated with a forests, which leads to the world’s particularly well studied. One is the high mortality, and is therefore a highest wasp populations. blue-green Lucerne aphid, which drain on the population as a whole. Significantly, our model also established in 1975, reached a The cost of dispersal depends suggests the threat from invaders huge peak in numbers over the partly on the proportion of the will increase with increasing next 2 years, and then declined to population that regularly disperses, habitat size. Therefore, in the case low levels in lucerne crops. Why and the amount of suitable habitat of wasps in honeydew beech was this? forests, the extent of the forests across the landscape. The more The initial response to the plague (about 1 million ha in total) is part of suitable habitat in total, or the more of aphids was that less lucerne the reason wasp densities are so clumped the habitat patches, the was grown and, over time, resistant high. Estimating the extent to which greater the chance that a varieties began to replace many of the scale of contiguous honeydew dispersing individual will find such the susceptible crops. This led to a beech forest contributes to wasp habitat and survive. Because of decrease in the total area of density is harder to assess. In this, local densities within each suitable habitat and, consistent theory this could be tested by habitat patch increase with the with our model’s predictions, the comparing wasp densities in proportion of habitat in the local densities of aphids within small, remote stands, with those in landscape. This is the outcome susceptible crops also declined, large, continuous areas of forest. from a fairly simple mathematical even though these crops were as model that mimics the population Unfortunately, even if true, it does favourable as they had always growth of invading species. not help manage the wasp menace been. since the cure in this case would be The implication for invaders is that fragmentation of the beech forests. Another invader to attack lucerne they will profit from abundant was the weevil Sitona discoideus. resources at a local scale. An Three other examples used to test This has an obligatory dispersal example of this is the abundant the model come from agriculture, phase each year. All the adults 4 Richard Harris

Honeydew beech forest leave the lucerne crops and considered a serious pest in A key component of invasiveness is undergo a quiescent state during Europe and North America. the ability of a species to become summer, hiding in hedgerows and However, when it arrived in New widespread and abundant in its other sheltered sites. In autumn Zealand it reached densities 10 new environment. While this may they return to the crops, but times higher than in its native depend partly on its because lucerne represents only a range. The damage to clover competitiveness, it also depends to small proportion of the landscape caused by this species threatened a large extent on resource or (e.g., about 0.3% in Canterbury) the economic losses of up to $200 habitat availability. Yet this is a weevils suffer a huge mortality (~ million per year. Why was it such a factor largely ignored in invasion 97%). The model suggests that an problem here and not overseas? In theory so far. Our new model is an increase in lucerne across the all likelihood it was simply the initial attempt to remedy this, and to landscape would significantly greater abundance of the weevil’s help clarify the risk posed by increase the weevil’s abundance resource – clover – in terms of both specific alien species that have not and pest potential within any one local abundance within each yet arrived. paddock. paddock (habitat quality) and Nigel Barlow and John Kean The third example is the clover root global abundance across the AgResearch weevil. This species is not landscape (habitat availability). [email protected] 5 Have tyre, will travel

Millions of tyres are shipped around the world each year – the United States alone imported 11.6 million used tyres from 58 countries between 1978 and 1985. The trouble is that stacks of tyres are also popular as housing estates for mosquitoes. When you import the tyres, you also run the risk of importing the tenants.

Tyres collect both rainwater and organic matter, and therefore provide excellent breeding sites for mosquitoes – an ideal refuge in fact. Using tyres as their dispersal mechanism, two species of mosquito, Aedes albopictus and Ochlerotatus japonicus, have spread to new countries, and within in 2001. This species is native to capable of transmitting at least 22 those countries. These species are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chagos viruses known to cause human of concern to New Zealand Islands, China, India, Indonesia, disease, including all four serotypes because both have been Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, of the dengue fever virus, the yellow intercepted here, both would Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, fever virus and a range of viruses probably survive if they became Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, that cause inflamatory diseases of established, and both are capable Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. the brain. of transmitting viruses known to Today it is widespread (see Fig. 1). In Britain, a nationwide search has cause human disease. In the USA, A. albopictus was first been ordered at ports and used-tyre In New Zealand, A. albopictus has discovered in Houston, Texas, in depots for this species. Specialists been found in a used-tyre August 1985 (arriving in shipments suspect it is already there and will be importer's yard in 1993; in motor of used tyres from Japan and able to survive because of climate vehicles shipped from Japan in Korea). It is a non-migratory change. It is likely to have been August 1998; and in empty species with a flight range of less introduced in used tyres brought shipping containers offloaded at than 1 km. The early pattern of from the Far East for retreading. Port Tauranga in 1999, and again dispersal followed the interstate highway system, and the rapidity of The second species, Ochlerotatus its spread to so many locations in japonicus, is a native of China, the United States further suggests Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mike Womack human-assisted dispersal. By and Far Eastern Russia. It is a vector December 1987 it was present in of the potentially fatal West Nile 92 counties across 15 states, and virus, of which there were 4000 by 1997 had spread to 678 cases and nearly 300 deaths in counties across 25 states. America last year.

Aedes albopictus is also known as Between 1992 and 1998 it became the Asian tiger moth mosquito, established in the USA. In the last 3 after its black and white stripes. years, larvae have been found in 6 An Asian tiger mosquito feeds on a human Disturbingly, A. albopictus is used tyres in both Canada and Figure 1. Current distribution of Aedes albopictus

Figure 2. Current distribution of Ochlerotatus japonicus

France (see Fig. 2). In New Officers for soil and seed Zealand, this species has been contamination. All facilities that Did you know... unpack containers of used intercepted in tyre shipments from • Of all the tasty spots available to tyres must have a sealed area Japan in 1993, 2001, and 2002. them on the human body the on which the containers are There is no doubt that the spread of mosquito Aedes albopictus placed and decontamination A. albopictus and O. japonicus has prefers to land on our feet. The equipment on hand. The been facilitated by the world trade second most favoured site was continued vigilance of all in used tyres. In New Zealand, it is the hand, followed by the face. the responsibility of the importer to involved with the used tyre • That drinking alcohol stimulates ensure imported used tyres comply industry is required to keep mosquito attraction. A study New Zealand free of these most with MAF standards. MAF requires demonstrated that the number of unwelcome species. all used tyres to be fumigated on mosquito landings increased arrival before the containers are Graham Sandlant significantly after a group of unloaded. On unpacking, the tyres Landcare Research volunteers drunk 350 ml of beer. are then checked by Quarantine [email protected] 7 Arboviruses in New Zealand

What are arboviruses? Arboviruses are arthropod-borne viruses transmitted between susceptible vertebrate hosts (e.g., humans, birds, horses, etc.) by blood-feeding arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, sand flies and biting midges. The good news is that at present there are no known arboviruses of public health significance circulating ende mically in New Zealand. Indeed, New Zealand has only four known arboviruses: one transmitted by mosquitoes, and the rest by ticks.

The tick-borne arboviruses found here are Johnston Atoll virus, Saumarez Reef virus and Hughes group virus. They were all isolated from ticks collected on infested seabirds, and do not cause recognizable disease in their vertebrate hosts. While there are a number of medically important tick-borne arboviruses, we can be thankful none of these occur in New Zealand (as yet).

The only known mosquito-borne arbovirus in New Zealand is the Whataroa virus (an Alphavirus). This virus was first isolated from mosquitoes in South Westland in Zealand ports, e.g., Culex gelidus arboviruses (or other mosquito 1962 and circulates in a (a vector of Japanese borne diseases) in this country. transmission cycle involving both encephalitis) was detected in However, the ability of New native and exotic birds species August this year. The recent Zealand’s endemic mosquitoes to and two endemic mosquitoes, spread of the Australian southern act as vectors for arboviruses has Culiseta tonnoiri and Culex salt-marsh mosquito barely been investigated. pervigilans. (Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus) is Amy Snell a major concern, as this mosquito Ecology and Health Research The potential for arboviral has the capacity to transmit Ross Centre disease entering New Zealand River virus (a Flavivirus). from Australia and other Wellington School of Medicine countries is of concern as exotic None of New Zealand’s native or University of Otago mosquitoes species are introduced mosquito species are [email protected] continually intercepted at New known to have transmitted human 8 Bumbling in the dark

One of the biggest challenges for biosecurity in New Zealand is predicting which stowaways represent the greatest threat to our native ecosystems. This is made all the more difficult by our inadequate Used with kind permission from Andrew Grow Andrew Used with kind permission from knowledge of our native fauna, especially the invertebrates.

Most of our native invertebrates are only found in New Zealand. There are thousands of different species, but it has been estimated only half have been formally named. For the large majority of species, named or unnamed, even the most basic biological information is missing. Therefore, it is very difficult to The forest ringlet butterfly (Dodonidia helmsii). predict the impact of an invasive species on these native invertebrate communities. widespread in New Zealand. The resource or a generalist predator or larvae of cluster flies are earthworm parasitoid. It would be able to We have some showy (by any parasites. We have no data on what achieve high population densities standards) insects, like the forest effect this invasion has had on very quickly, and have highly ringlet butterfly (Dodonidia helmsii). either our introduced or our native dispersible propagules. It might This is a forest remnant dweller (in earthworms because there is no have an established track record of North Shore City, even) with regular monitoring of our serious invasiveness in other caterpillars on species of giant invertebrate fauna. countries. It would be difficult to cutty grass (Gahnia sp.) and forest control or contain. It would need to snowgrasses (Chionochloa sp.). It Contrast this with Britain where be cool-adapted, and able to live in is attacked by two endemic flora and fauna are relatively well rain-forest, if it were to live in New parasitoids. Its numbers have known and monitored. After a New Zealand. It would need to arrive decreased markedly in recent Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus fecund. Sounds like yet another decades, but we do not know why. triangulatus) that also eats social wasp? Dead right. Could it be introduced social earthworms got into northern Britain wasps? (in the early 1960s) its spread and If we want to manage the effect have been documented. The biosecurity threat of introduced Another illustration of the lack of introduced flatworm has reduced invertebrates to our native knowledge problem is the invasion earthworm diversity and population invertebrates, then it is time we put of the cluster fly, Pollenia densities in some areas of Britain – more resources not only into pseudorudis. It appeared in an important change since preventing new pests arriving in Onehunga in the 1980s to the earthworms play a crucial role in New Zealand, but also to consternation of the locals who the soil as nutrient recyclers. discovering and understanding our were upset by swarms of flies unique fauna. awaking from hibernation in attics What sort of insect might pose a and ceiling spaces and falling into threat to native flora and fauna? John Dugdale the rooms below. It and a recently Well, it would have to be a Landcare Research arrived relative are now successful competitor for a [email protected] 9 Ant invaders galore!!

The need for a surveillance It is currently unclear if these We are currently using the risk programme to stop ants getting species pose a risk of assessment tool BIOSECURE (see established in New Zealand has establishment and proliferation in Stowaways Issue 2) to determine if been highlighted by a number of New Zealand. It is possible the these species pose a significant incursions of new high-profile colonies that were found surviving threat to New Zealand pest ants. while conditions were favourable, environments. but may have died out as winter Richard Harris The crazy ant (Paratrichina approached and climatic Landcare Research longicornis), the yellow crazy ant conditions became less favourable. [email protected] (Anoplolepis gracilipes), the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata), and the ghost ant Richard Toft (Tapinoma melanocephalum) were all found during a large-scale surveillance programme set up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to detect Red Imported Fire ant (RIFA). The surveillance was triggered in response to RIFA being detected in March 2001 (see Stowaways Issue 2 for more details). We are happy to say no RIFA were found, but colonies of these other four species were discovered near seaports or at facilities receiving imported cargo at Auckland and/or Tauranga. The crazy ant (Paratrichina longicornis) All four species are common global stowaways and between them have a long rap sheet, Richard Toft including grievous environmental impacts, aggravated stinging, and creating a nuisance in public places. These species are not thought to be established here, and considerable effort is being taken by MAF to make sure they do not become established.

It is very expensive and time consuming for MAF to respond to all these ant incursions, but with the implementation of regular ant- specific surveillance, it is likely even more detections will occur. The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) 10 New kids on the block

Yet another foreign ant species has been discovered in New Zealand. Richard Toft The new arrival, Monomorium sydneyense Forel, was collected at Tauranga during the Fire Ant surveillance programme earlier this year. It was first identified by Dr Disna Gunawardana from MAF’s National Plant Pest Reference Laboratory at Lynfield.

Additional searching indicated the ant was widespread at Sulphur

Point. Samples of ants collected Monomorium sydneyense Forel during previous Argentine ant surveys at the Port of Tauranga by Environment Bay of Plenty and Landcare Research revealed the ant was also present on the Mt Maunganui side of the Port of Tauranga as early as 2 April 2001.

This ant is only 2 mm in length and very easy to miss. However, under the microscope it is easily distinguished from the other Monomorium ants we have here by the appearance of the propodium.

Distribution of Monomorium sydneyense in Australia

So where did this new immigrant come from? Well, like so many of our introduced ant fauna it comes from Australia. There is not a lot of information available on this species but a recent review of Monomorium in Australia reveals that is has wide ranging habits and can be quite common in urban areas.

Richard Harris Landcare Research [email protected]

Richard Toft using a digital microscope camera to photograph ants 11 Argentine ant update

Still on the move transportation networks. The large ‘vechiles’ as diverse as potted Since arriving here in about 1990, gaps in their New Zealand plants, freight, and rubbish. the Argentine ant has been busily distribution indicate jump- Richard Harris extending its range (see dispersal: colonies catching a ride Landcare Research distribution maps below). The between urban centres in [email protected] proliferation of collection records in 2000 corresponds with increased research and Richard Toft management effort in response to the threat this species poses. However, there is no sign of its spread slowing, with recent reports of flourishing infestations in thermal areas of Rotorua and around houses in Taupo, Raglan, and Gisborne.

Unaided, the Argentine ants disperse slowly by budding (queens and a group of workers separate from the parent colony and walk to a new site). However, things progress much faster when the ants make use of human Queen and worker Argentine ant

12 Distribution records for Argentine ants (1998–2002) Update on Eradication/ control trials Richard Toft We have been conducting trials at several sites to develop and test an ant bait that will eradicate entire populations of Argentine ants.

As reported previously (Stowaways Issue 2) an initial treatment with the bait kills most Argentine ants in an infested area. On Tiritiri Matangi Island and at Port Nelson, two of the initial trial sites, intensive searching identified areas where Argentine ants remained and these areas have been treated again. The good news is that these remaining infestations were very small compared with the area of the original infestations. The bad news is that when the ants are in Argentine ant face such low numbers, they are very hard to find, and it requires intensive search effort over large Richard Harris An application to register the ant areas to locate them. To improve Landcare Research bait we have been trialing is being both the reliability and efficiency of [email protected] prepared for ERMA (the mop-up operations, our research is Environmental Risk Management Help on its way (we hope) now focusing on the best methods Authority). Should the application to locate Argentine ants when they Help may soon be at hand for all be successful, the ant bait will be are present in such low numbers. those with Argentine ant problems. widely available this summer.

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Coming soon A mosquito key that will help officials and keen amateurs identify members of the mosquito family.

13 Sea containers: Plugging New Zealand’s leaky border

Invertebrates are ideal stowaways – they are small and can often survive

long periods without food or water. Jacqueline Beggs And where better to hide than inside a sea container, with the promise of a free ride to a new location.

There has been a 180% increase in the number of sea-containers entering New Zealand in the last 12 years, and the range of countries from which the containers originate has also increased. In 2001/02, c. 425 000 sea containers were imported from Australia, China, North America, Europe, SE Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific islands. About 160 000 of the containers are imported empty. Unloading a container ship at Port Tauranga In a recent review of 11 000 sea containers MAF (www.maf.govt.nz/ Following the review, MAF has must occur within 8 hours and no biosecurity/border/papers/sea- revised the import health standard container will leave the port until it container-review/index.htm) found relating to sea containers. The new has MAF approval. The changes that about 6% of loaded containers standard requires all containers be mean a massive increase in had live regulated organisms inside. inspected internally and externally, biosecurity effort, involving up to 10 This means over 15 000 containers certified by the exporter and 000 transitional facilities (where every year are arriving in New checked again by a MAF- containers are unpacked) and up Zealand with potential pests inside. accredited person, either during to 15 000 MAF-accredited persons. Until this year, MAF inspected only discharge or on the wharf at the In addition, MAF is also developing 24% of containers, and the review port of arrival. Any contaminated a new tool to identify high-risk estimates only 4% of live insects or containers will be separated and containers, based on historical spiders were detected. That leaves inspected by a MAF biosecurity inspection information. High-risk many thousands escaping our inspector. Inspection and treatment containers will require checking by border security. such as washing or fumigation an inspector before leaving the port area. They will receive a six-sided Bugs Cockroaches (Hemiptera) 6% (Blattodea) 4% external inspection and possible

Butterflies & moths Other 15% treatment depending upon the risk (Lepidoptera) 10% status.

The new standard is being Bees, waps & ants (Hymenoptera) 12% phased in from September 2003, with final implementation by 31

Beetles December 2003. (Coleoptera) 35% Flies & mosquitoes Jacqueline Beggs (Diptera) 18% Landcare Research Insects Found in Containers (223 Species in 16 Orders) [email protected] 14 What else do container ships bring into New Zealand?

Shipping moves over 80% of the The International Maritime world’s commodities and transfers Organization is responsible for approximately 3 to 5 billion tonnes developing measures to address of ballast water internationally invasive species in ballast water each year. and has several initatives underway including the Ballast water is absolutely essential introduction of the International to the safe and efficient operation of Convention for the Control and modern shipping, providing Management of Ships’ Ballast Ecological Society Award for his balance and stability to unladen Water and Sediments. outstanding contribution to applied ships. However, it may also pose a ecology. serious ecological, economic and From: http://globallast.imo.org health threat. Nigel completed his PhD at the University of East Anglia in 1977 The introduction of invasive marine Obituary: Dr Nigel Barlow and in 1979 arrived in New species into new environments in Zealand working initially in ships’ ballast water and attached to Dr Nigel Barlow died on 4 June Palmerston North and for the last 12 ships’ hulls has been identified as 2003 aged 53 after a courageous years for AgResearch Limited at one of the greatest threats to the battle with cancer. Over the last 25 Lincoln. That Nigel moved to world’s oceans. years Nigel made an enormous Canterbury was no coincidence; contribution to New Zealand he had an abiding love of the It is estimated that at least 7 000 ecosystem science through the use mountains of which he made different species are being carried of mathematically based computer meticulously detailed scale models in ships’ ballast tanks around the models to understand how and why but most of all, he never lost his world. Most species do not survive animal populations fluctuate. In enthusiasm for climbing the peaks the trip. However, some species do, particular, he worked on wasp in the Southern Alps and and there are many examples of a population dynamics and produced elsewhere. As a true polymath species establishing in a new models to predict population Nigel was enthusiastic about all environment, displacing native fluctuations and effects of natural history and geography species, and even altering whole introduced control agents. Nigel generally. In particular he ecosystems, e.g., in southern was also involved in research on a developed a detailed knowledge of Australia, the Asian kelp Undaria number of other major pest bird-winged butterflies. He pinnatifida is invading new areas species, such as grass grub and published on these extraordinary rapidly, displacing the native vertebrate pests like possums. His butterflies and at the same time seabed communities. contribution was critical to the produced expert films and videos development of ecologically illustrating their natural history. acceptable ways of dealing with Nigel was incredibly enthusiastic Download this Issue of such problems. That Nigel was and had an excellent eye for detail. Stowaways and other back exceptionally capable was At work he was resistant to issues from our website: reflected in his consistent ability to bureaucratic interference and very gain funding from the prestigious good at his science. His motivation http:// Marsden Fund. He was also an and diverse interests were www.landcareresearch.co.nz/ excellent scientific writer. He was contagious and he graciously research/ the editor of the New Zealand passed on his abilities and insights biosecuritystowaways/ Journal of Ecology and later, the to his students and numerous index.asp London-based publication the admiring colleagues. Journal of Applied Ecology. In 1996 Nigel received the New Zealand Stephen Goldson 15 Recent Publications

Barker, G.M.; Stephens, A.; Hunter, C.; Rutledge, D.; Harris, R.J.; Larivière, M.-C.; Gough, J. D. 2003: BIOSECURE : A spatially explicit model for assessing risk association with alien organisms in New Zealand indigenous ecosystems. In: Goldson, S.L.; Suckling, D.M. eds. Defending the green oasis: New Zealand biosecurity and science. Proceedings of a New Zealand Plant Protection Society Symposium, Centra Hotel, Rotorua, August, 2002. Christchurch, New Zealand Plant Protection Society. Pp. 73–91.

Barlow, N.D.; Beggs, J.R.; Barron, M.C. 2002: Dynamics of common wasps in New Zealand beech forests: A model with density dependence and weather. Journal of Animal Ecology 71: 663–671.

Beggs, J.R.; Rees, J.S.; Harris, R.J. 2002: No evidence for establishment of the wasp parasitoid, Sphecophaga vesparum burra (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: ) at two sites in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 29: 205–211.

Harris, R.J.; Rees, J.S.; Toft, R.J. 2002: Trials to eradicate infestations of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in New Zealand. In: Jones, S.C.; Zhai, J.; Robinson, W.H. eds. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Urban pests. Blacksburg, Virginia, Pocahonta Press. Pp. 67–74.

Harris, R; Ward, D. Sutherland, M.A. 2002: A survey of the current distribution of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, in native habitats in New Zealand, and assessment of future risk of establishment. Unpublished Landcare Research Contract Report: LC0102/105 to Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Biosecurity Authority.

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Editor: Jacqueline Beggs

Editorial assistance: Anne Austin/Richard Toft

Layout: Nicolette Faville

Cartoons: Anne Rose

Line drawings: Rebecca Wagstaff

Production: Kerry Barton

Published by: Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd Private Bag 6 Nelson

This information may be copied and distributed to others without limitations, provided Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd 2003 and the source of the information is acknowledged. Under no circumstances may a charge be made for this information without the expressed permission of Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd 2003. 16