Effects of the Native Environmental Weed Pittosporum Undulatum Vent
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Plant Protection Quarterly Vol.16(3) 2001 117 Acknowledgments Elliot, W.R. and Jones, D.L. (1980). ‘Ency- Moran, V.C., Neser, S. and Hoffman, J.H. I thank David Jones, Trudi Mullett and clopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable (1986). The potential of insect herbiv- Tony Willis for their helpful comments on for Cultivation’, Volume 1. (Lothian, ores for the biological control of inva- a previous version of this paper. Melbourne). sive plants in South Africa. In ‘The ecol- Gleadow, R.M. and Rowan, K.S. (1982). ogy and management of biological in- References Invasion by Pittosporum undulatum of vasions in Southern Africa’, eds I.A.W. Anon. (1996). ‘Invasive plants. Weeds of the forests of central Victoria. III. Effects Macdonald, F.J. Kruger and A.A. the global garden’. (Brooklyn Botanic of temperature and light on growth and Ferrar, pp. 261-8. (Oxford University Garden, Brooklyn, NY). drought resistance. Australian Journal of Press, Cape Town). Auld, B.A. (1981). 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Proceedings of the Ecological Soci- (Hons) thesis, La Trobe University. Protection Quarterly 9, 64-8. ety of Australia 4, 39-54. Australia. This species is now a serious environmental weed across a range of Effects of the native environmental weed Pittosporum habitats outside its natural range in Aus- undulatum Vent. (sweet pittosporum) on plant tralia (Gleadow and Ashton 1981, Mullett and Simmons 1995). Some populations of biodiversity P. undulatum occurring within the species’ natural range are also expanding their dis- Trudi L. Mullett, CRC Weed Management Systems and Centre for Plant tribution and local densities in response to Biodiversity Research, CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT altered ecological conditions (Rose 1997, 2601, Australia. Email: [email protected] Mullett 1999a,b). P. undulatum is a serious invader on other continents and islands throughout the temperate, sub-tropical and tropical zones (Cooper 1956, Richard- Summary undulatum plays an important role in the son and Brink 1985, Cronk and Fuller Pittosporum undulatum is a tall shrub or community ecology of its indigenous 1995, Goodland and Healey 1997). small tree, native to the wet forests of habitats. The species’ dual native and This paper describes aspects of the south-east Australia that is now a serious weedy status often complicates manage- process, impacts and implications of P. environmental weed both within and be- ment of P. undulatum in south-east Aus- undulatum invasion in south-east Aus- yond its natural geographic range. This tralia, especially in its natural range tralia, with emphasis on the species’ ef- adaptable species has exploited changes where many populations are expanding. fects on native plant biodiversity. in natural disturbance regimes and in- An on-going targeted approach to P. creased dispersal opportunities to spread undulatum management is required Distribution from abundant ornamental plantings throughout the species’ current distribu- The natural geographic range of P. into remnant vegetation. Invading pop- tion. undulatum extends seawards of the Great ulations of P. undulatum impose funda- Dividing Range east of Westernport Bay, mental changes on the composition, Introduction Victoria, north to the New South Wales- structure and function of affected com- Pittosporum undulatum Vent. (sweet Queensland border region (Figure 1). P. munities. This species is arguably the pittosporum) is a densely-foliaged, fleshy- undulatum occurs as a natural component most serious native environmental weed fruited, fire-sensitive tall shrub or small of many habitat types throughout this in south-east Australia. However, P. tree, native to the wet forests of south- east area, but is mainly associated with wet 118 Plant Protection Quarterly Vol.16(3) 2001 also opportunistic generalist species and include silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis Latham), satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhyn- chus violaceus Vieillot) and red-whiskered bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus L.) (Cooper 1959, Mullett 1999a,b). Changes to natural fire regimes The natural fire regimes of many south- east Australian ecosystems have been sub- stantially modified since European settle- ment (Williams and Gill 1995). Many fire- adapted communities have become less diverse over time with the decline in re- generation opportunities. Fire-sensitive invaders such as P. undulatum, have been particularly successful invaders of af- fected vegetation types, compounding the displacement of fire-adapted species (Rose 1997, Mullett 1999a). Figure 1. Distribution of Pittosporum undulatum on mainland south-east Inherent plasticity and adaptability Australia. Light shading indicates the broad natural geographic range of Considerable variation in P. undulatum this species, although the species was largely confined to wet forest and habit is evident between the different rainforest environments prior to European settlement. Dark shading habitat types occupied by this species indicates the distribution of invaded habitats both within and beyond the throughout south-east Australia (Mullett species natural geographic range. 1999a). For example, individuals growing in sheltered wet forest environments have expansive, spreading canopies and may forest and rainforest communities Factors contributing to the spread of reach heights of 30 m or more. In contrast, (Gleadow and Ashton 1981, Mullett Pittosporum undulatum individuals growing in harsher environ- 1999a). Ornamental plantings ments such as coastal habitats, are charac- Pittosporum undulatum range expansion Pittosporum undulatum has been an orna- teristically stunted and sheared in form has been particularly extensive in Victoria, mental favourite from the earliest days of and rarely exceed heights of 8 m. The di- where the species has invaded a diverse European settlement in Australia. Bota- versity of habitats now occupied by P. range of vegetation types beyond its natu- nists and gardeners alike enthusiastically undulatum over an extensive geographic ral range (Mullett and Simmons 1995). advocated planting of this ‘sweet scented’, and climate range is indicative of this spe- These include heathlands, heathy wood- ‘fragrant’, ‘hardy’ and ‘adaptable’ species cies’ inherent plasticity and adaptability. lands, grassy woodlands, dry sclerophyll in a range of cultivated settings (Mueller These traits are regarded as important fac- forests, wet sclerophyll forests, coastal 1876, Maiden 1920, Miller 1964, Oakman tors in its continued invasion across a and riparian communities (Gleadow and 1964). The gardening public duly em- range of habitat types and climate regions Ashton 1981, Carr et al. 1992, Mullett