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Review of the Threat Abatement Plan to Reduce the Impacts of Tramp Ants on Biodiversity in Australia and Its Territories 2006–2011

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Review of the Threat Abatement Plan to Reduce the Impacts of Tramp Ants on Biodiversity in Australia and Its Territories 2006–2011 Review of the Threat Abatement Plan to reduce the impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories 2006–2011 1 of 49 1. Executive summary Tramp ants are a diverse group of about 35-40 ant species which have established widely across the globe. They easily get transported and establish outside their native range. They can arrive on Australia’s doorstep through many transport pathways, and once here can affect ecosystems, social and cultural values, and human health. At least six tramp ant species are considered to be of national priority because of their impact or potential impact on biodiversity. Management activities to minimise their damage include preventing entry, monitoring high-risk areas, removing new invaders, and managing areas with established tramp ants. Estimates of the costs to Australia from the red imported fire ant are $1.5 billion annually (Antony et al., 2009) and $79 million annually for electric ant (Antony, 2006) if left uncontrolled.1 Red imported fire ants were listed as a key threatening process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in 2003. A key threatening process was also listed for yellow crazy ant on Christmas Island in 2005. A threat abatement plan was developed to address the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) key threatening process and to include five other high priority tramp ant species (tropical fire ant (S. geminata), little fire ant/electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata), African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala), yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) and Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). The Australian Government released the Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories (referred hereafter as the tramp ant plan) in 2006. Its goal is to minimise the impact of invasive tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories, by protecting threatened native species and ecological communities, and preventing further species and ecological communities from becoming threatened under the EPBC Act. It is a requirement of the EPBC Act that threat abatement plans be reviewed at intervals of not longer than five years. The Australian Government has implemented the tramp ant plan as it applied to Commonwealth areas, and sought cooperation of the state and territory governments and other stakeholders to implement the tramp ant plan as it applied to them. The Australian Government has supported key national level actions in the tramp ant plan, usually in partnership with other stakeholders. Key national actions included coordination and funding for nationally cost shared eradication programs for red imported fire ants and electric ants. Research was carried out into detection; eradication; management tools; and ecological impacts to improve understanding around better combating the entry and potential spread of tramp ants. Other actions include pre-border and border quarantine 1 Estimates for other tramp ants (yellow crazy ant, tropical fire ant, African big headed ant and Argentine ant) have not been undertaken. 2 of 49 inspections of cargo and high-risk items; import entry requirements or exclusions on specific commodities; and the training of quarantine personnel. As part of the national red imported fire ant and electric ant eradication programs a wide range of research has been undertaken by Biosecurity Queensland in partnership with research institutions. The research has contributed to an improved understanding of the biology of these ants, where they came from, how they spread, how best to find them and how to eradicate them. The main research activities have been on biology, genetics, on- ground surveillance, remote sensing, bait efficacy and modelling. The CSIRO also has undertaken a range of research including ways to improve the likelihood of ant eradication, better approaches to management, and the ecological impacts of tramp ants. In reviewing the tramp ant plan it is considered the six objectives of the tramp ant threat abatement plan have been met to varying degrees. The first four objectives focus on the scientific knowledge and biosecurity response capacity around border protection, risk assessment, preparedness and emergency response. Good advances in science and improved biosecurity arrangements have been made with the two nationally cost shared programs on red imported fire ants and electric ants. A better understanding of yellow crazy ant, tropical fire ant and African big headed ant especially around northern Australia has developed from efforts by the CSIRO, while over the last five years the Argentine ant has received minimal attention. In terms of objectives five and six on stewardship and coordination, the red imported fire ant and electric ant programs have done well in developing community awareness and engagement. This is much less the case with the other four tramp ants, with the exception of some small community projects. Government coordination has worked well for the two cost shared eradication programs with a national committee operating, but it is limited to these two tramp ants. Action on a wider set of priority ants would benefit from coordination through some level of government collaboration. The two goals of the tramp ant threat abatement plan (to minimise the impact of invasive tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories by protecting threatened native species and ecological communities; and to prevent further species and ecological communities from becoming threatened) have been met for red imported fire ant and electric ant where their spread has been significantly reduced as a result of action from national eradication programs. However it needs to be noted that they are not yet eradicated so still pose a threat. For yellow crazy ants active attention has occurred in places where localised eradication was considered feasible with the threat reduced in these areas, but the threat remains in other locations where there are unmanaged infestations. For the other three tramp ants (tropical fire, African big headed and Argentine ants) while there are some examples of containment at specific locations, they are otherwise found at isolated sites across Australia and continue to have a growing impact on biodiversity. It is concluded that since 2006 reasonable progress has been made against the goals, objectives and a number of the actions in the tramp ant plan. The potential for impact on 3 of 49 biodiversity has reduced for red imported fire ant, electric ant and to a certain extent for yellow crazy ants. However, in comparison the remaining three tramp ants - tropical fire, African big headed and Argentine ants - have had little attention with only a small amount of action targeting specific sites. Isolated sites remain in a large number of locations present across Australia. Continued efforts are required by the Australian Government in partnership with state and territory governments, research organisations and other stakeholders to make further progress against the goals, objectives and actions of the tramp ant plan. 4 of 49 Table of Contents (Part 1 – Review) 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................... 2 2. PURPOSE OF REVIEW ................................................................................ 6 2.1 Approach ....................................................................................................... 6 3. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................ 7 3.1 Purpose of the threat abatement plan ......................................................... 7 3.2 Statutory requirements of a threat abatement plan .................................. 8 3.3 Pest management responsibility .................................................................. 9 3.4 Implementation of the tramp ant plan ........................................................ 9 3.5 Tramp ant impacts ...................................................................................... 10 3.5.1 Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) ....................................................................10 3.5.2 Yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) ....................................................................11 3.5.3 Electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) .......................................................................12 3.5.4 Tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) ........................................................................12 3.5.5 African big headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) ..........................................................13 3.5.6 Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) .............................................................................13 4. ASSESSMENT OF ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN AGAINST OBJECTIVES .. 14 4.1 Introduction to Actions (species focus) ..................................................... 14 4.1.1 Red imported fire ant ....................................................................................................14 4.1.2 Yellow crazy ant ...........................................................................................................15 4.1.3 Electric, tropical fire, African big headed and Argentine ants ......................................15 4.2 Introduction to Actions (geographical, institutional, research)............. 15 4.3 Assessment of actions undertaken against objectives .............................. 16 5. FUNDING
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