BACKGROUNDER April 2009 Web: www.invasives.org.au Email: [email protected] Invasive species: One of the top three threats to Australian biodiversity !7# .V#IV#V0V`7#1J0:RV`#.:/#$QJV#V0V`71.V`V#1 #H:J#$Q#4%/ `:C1:#11CC#CQQ@#0V`7#R1cV`VJ 8 – Tim Low, Feral Future1
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n Australia,1invasive species are one of the most < #1/#GVHQI1J$#1JH`V:/1J$C7#HCV:`# .: #]`VR:QJ# Iubiquitous and severe threats to biodiversity. We are ``QI#`VR#`Q6V/#:JR5#1I]Q` :J C75#`V`:C#H: /5#]C:7VR# notorious for having lost by far the highest number of :#RVH1/10V#`QCV#1J# .V#$`V: #I:=Q`1 7#Q`# .V#`I:I- I:II:C$%1J%`VHVJ %IV$5%11 .%`Q6V$%Q`%H: $%^:JR%`:GG1 $% I:Ca#V6JHQJ/8#DQ# .V#V6 VJ # .: #Q .V`#`:H Q`/# Q%$QIV%RV$`VV_%1I]C1H: VR%1J%IQ$ %Q`% .V$V%V6JHQJ$8% HQJ `1G% VR5#1 #1:/#I:1JC7#G7#:I]C1`71J$# .V#VcVH /# Many bird species on islands have been wiped out by Q`#]`VR:QJ#G7#`Q6V/#:JR#H: /8 1J `QR%HVR%`: $5%:JR%:J%V6QH%`%J$%$%.:$%@1CCVR%Qc%``Q$$8% – D.`1$%XQ.J$QJ5%F%$ `:C1:;$%Y:II:C%Z6JHQJ$ =J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%:`V%:J%V$H:C:J$% .`V: 7%=%$ %QJV%V6QH% V.V%V6JHQJ% QCC%Q`%0V` VG`: V%:J1I:C$%1J% .V%]:$ % 1Q% pathogen :.7 Q]. .Q`:#H1JJ:IQI1 threatens hundreds HVJ %`1V$%C:`$VC7%:`1G% VR% Q%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%1J%F%$ `:- Q`%VJRVI1H%]C:J %$]VH1V$6%`Q6V$%:JR%H: $% .`V: VJ% .V% C1:%1JHC%RV$7 V61$ VJHV%Q`%I:J7%IQ`V%I:II:C$6%:JR%1VVR$%:`V% [%%I:II:C$%^ %$]VH1V$5% %$%G$]VH1V$_%R%V% 1JH`V:$1J$C7%RQI1J:J$%J%IV`Q%$%VHQ$7$ VI$5%`%JR:- C:`$VC7% Q%]`VR:QJ%G7%`Q6V$%:JRLQ`%H: $5%11 .% IVJ :CC7%:C V`1J$% .V1`%HQI]Q$1QJ%:JR%`%JHQJ8% `:GG1 $%:C$Q%1I]C1H: VR%:$%:%HQJ `1G%J$%`:H Q`%1J% Globally, invasive species have been recognized as the some cases.5%FH`Q$$%I%H.%Q`%F%$ `:C1:%:CC%J:0V% IQ$ %$V`1Q%$% .`V: % Q%G1QR10V`$1 7%: V`%.:G1 : %CQ$$82 mammals weighing between 35 grams and 5.5 DC1I: V%H.:J$V%1$%:C$Q%`VHQ$J1
The Invasive Species Council campaigns to protect Australia’s environment from invasive species. To find out more about the council visit our website at www.invasives.org.au, or email us: [email protected]. Invasive species: One of the top three threats to Australian biodiversity
Mammals Frogs Darling Downs hopping-mouse Notomys mordax Southern platypus frog Rheobatrachus silus Big-eared hopping-mouse Notomys macrotis Northern platypus frog Rheobatrachus vitellinus White-footed tree-rat Conilurus albipes Sharp-snouted day frog Taudactylus acutirostris Great hopping-mouse Notomys sp. Southern day frog Taudactylus diurnus Gould’s mouse Pseudomys gouldii Northern tinker frog* Taudactylus rheophilus Broad-faced potoroo Potorous platyops Mountain mistfrog* Litoria nyakalensis
Eastern hare-wallaby Lagorchestes leporides Table 1: Extinctions of Australian vertebrate animals attributed sub- Short-tailed hopping-mouse Notomys amplus stantially to invasive species42. *presumed extinct, but not yet listed as such – last seen in 1991 and 1990 Notomys longicaudatus Long-tailed hopping-mouse respectively Lesser stick-nest rat Leporilus apicalis V6JHQJ$%1J%F%$ `:C1:%^$VV%V:GCV%%`Q`%`%CC%C1$ _8 They are Desert rat-kangaroo Caloprymnus campestris Q%GC:IV%^: %CV:$ %1J%C:`$V%]:` _%`Q`%:GQ% % .`VVR_%:` V`$% Pig-footed bandicoot Chaeropus ecaudatus Q`% .V%0V` VG`: V%:J1I:C%V6JHQJ$%$1JHV%Z%`Q]V:J% Crescent nailtail wallaby Onychogalea lunata HQCQJ1<:QJ5%:JR%:GQ% %QJVR .1`R%Q`% .V%HQIG1JVR%Q`:% Central hare-wallaby Lagorchestes asomatus :JR%`:%J:%^0V` VG`: V$_%$]VH1V$%V6JHQJ$8 Desert bandicoot Perameles eremiana V.V`V%.:0V%:C$Q%GVVJ%V6JHQJ$%Q`%1J0V` VG`: V$%H:%$VR% Lesser bilby Macrotis leucura by invasive species, but these are not listed under the `VRV`:C%VJ01`QJIVJ :C%CV$1$C:QJ8%iQ`%V6:I]CV5% .V% Eastern bettong (mainland) Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi CQ$$%Q`% 1Q%$J:1C%:JR%%GVV CV%$]VH1V$%``QI%MQ`R%KQ1V% Burrowing bettong (inland) Bettongia lesueur graii =$C:JR%1$%:`1G% VR% Q%]`VR:QJ%G7%GC:H@%`: $8 Brush-tailed bettong (south-east Bettongia penicallata penical- mainland) lata Threats to species Rufous hare-wallaby (south-west Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus V.V`V%:`V% 1Q%I:1J% .`V: $% Q% .V%HQJJ%:QJ%Q`%$]V- mainland) cies in Australia… Banded hare-wallaby Lagostrophus fasciatus albipilis [%CQ$$%Q`%.:G1 : %T% .1$%I:7%`V$%C %``QI%HC1I: V% Western barred-bandicoot Perameles bougainville fasciata H.:J$V5%:H01V$%Q`%.%I:J$%Q`%J: %`:C%V0VJ $6 Christmas Island rat Rattus macleari [% .V%1J `QR%HQJ%Q`%:C1VJ%$]VH1V$%1.1H.%]`V7%QJ% Rattus nativitatis Christmas Island rat :JR%HQI]V V%11 .%J:0V%$]VH1V$%`Q`%`QQR%:JR% habitat Birds – Australian Academy of Science11 Vinous-tinted thrush Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus V.`V: VJVR%$]VH1V$%: %`1$@%``QI%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%.:0V% Robust white-eye Zosterops strenuus JQ %GVVJ%HQI]`V.VJ$10VC7%1RVJVR8%F% %$ : V%Q`%VJ- Lord Howe gerygone Gerygone insularis 01`QJIVJ % .VIV%`V]Q` %JQ VR%:% Q :C%Q`% % .`V: VJVR% Grey fantail (Lord Howe Island) Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina :J1I:C$%:JR% %]C:J %$]VH1V$%^ .Q$V%C1$ VR%:$% .`V: VJVR% Norfolk Island ground-dove Gallicolumba norfolciensis %JRV`%`VRV`:C%VJ01`QJIVJ :C%CV$1$C:QJ_%: %`1$@%``QI%: % least one invasive species.12%e% %:%G`1V`%`V01V1%G7%d:%C% Tasman starling (Lord Howe Island) Aplonis fusca hulliana cQ1JV7%1RVJVR% %`VRV`:CC7%C1$ VR%$]VH1V$%: %`1$@%=%$ % Tasman starling (Norfolk Island) Aplonis fusca fusca from weed invasions, so the total number of federally Grey-headed blackbird Turdus poliocephalus polio- .`V: VJVR%$]VH1V$%: %`1$@%``QI%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%1Q%CR% cephalus be much larger.13 Southern boobook (Norfolk Island) Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata Southern boobook (Lord Howe Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria Island) %F%$ `:C1:J%e1Q$VH%`1 7%b`Q%]%^ _8 Long-tailed triller (Norfolk Island) Lalage leucopyga eucopyga %iQ` 7RJ1JV%]C:J %$]VH1V$%:`V%C1$ VR%:$%V6JH %%JRV`% .V%ZdeD%FH %^.]7LL 1118VJ01`QJIVJ 8$Q08:%LH$1RG1JL$]`: L]%GC1HL]%GC1H .`V: VJVRC1$ 8 Red-crowned parakeet (Macquarie Cyanoramphus Novaezelandiae ]C-1:J VRYQ`:3iMoQFZZV=^DV) Island) erythrotis i1 7R`Q%`%:J1I:C%$]VH1V$%^%G1`R$5%%``Q$$5%:JR% %I:II:C%$]VH1V$_%:`V%C1$ VR% :$%V6JH %%JRV`% .V%ZdeD%FH %^.]7LL1118VJ01`QJIVJ 8$Q08:%LH$1RG1JL$]`: L Buff-banded rail (Macquarie Gallirallus philippensis mac- ]%GC1HL]%GC1H .`V: VJVRC1$ 8]C-1:J VRY`:%J:). Island) quariensis %eVH@I:J%:JR%F%$ `:C1:J%FH:RVI7%Q`%RH1VJHV%$ :c%^ _8 %DQ`@%V %:C8%^ _8% %cQ1JV7%^ _8
Page 2 Threatened plant Threatened animal Endangered ecological Total* species species communities Anthropogenic destruction & 495 225 69 (96%) 820 (87%) disturbance of native vegetation Introduction of alien species 362 200 68 (94%) 657 (70%) Anthropogenic modification and 343 177 66 (92%) 611 (65%) degradation of abiotic factors ‘Natural’ phenomena 336 85 15 (21%) 449 (48%) Anthropogenic destruction & 0 121 4 (6%) 133 (14%) disturbance of native fauna Diseases 29 34 8 (11%) 75 (8%) Other threats 16 0 6 (8%) 2 (2%)
Table 2: Threatened biodiversity in New South Wales encompassed by each of the seven major threat categories in the threat hierarchy (Coutts- Smith and Downey 2006). *Note the total also includes threatened populations, which were not included in this table.
This conclusion is supported by a cursory review of the .V%J%IGV`%Q`%G1Q$VQ$`:].1H%$%G`V$1QJ$%`V]Q`J$% .V% C1$J$%:R01HV%`Q`%=%$ % .V%H`1H:CC7%VJR:J$V`VR%]C:J $% threat and the third-highest threat based on numbers of and animals listed under federal environmental legis- $]VH1V$%]V`%$%G`V$1QJ%`V]Q` VR% Q%GV% .`V: VJVR8%Z6QH% C:QJ8%o`%%H`1H:CC7%VJR:J$V`VR%:J1I:C% :6:%C1$ VR% weeds were the fourth-highest threat according to the %JRV`% .V%ZdeD%FH 5%:GQ% % .`VVR_%:` V`$%^JY _%.:0V% J%IGV`%Q`%G1Q`V$1QJ$%`V]Q`J$% .V% .`V: 818 1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%C1$ VR%:$%:% .`V: 8%o`% %H`1H:CC7%VJR:J- $V`VR%]C:J %$]VH1V$%C1$ VR%%JRV`% .V%ZdeD%FH 5%HCQ$V% Q% -.`V: ,1 Q1VHQCQ$1H:C1HQII%J1V, .:C`%^JY _%.:0V%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%C1$ VR%:$%:% .`V: %^ .V% F%0V`7%C:`$V%]`Q]Q`QJ%Q`% .`V: VJVR%VHQCQ$1H:C%HQI- remainder are mostly threatened by disturbance or sto- I%J1V$%:`V%: %`1$@%``QI%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$8%o`% .V%% H.:$H%V0VJ $%GVH:%$V% .V7%.:0V%0V`7%$I:CC%]Q]%C:QJ$% C1$ VR%%JRV`% .V%ZdeD%FH 5%IQ`V% .:J% %]V`%HVJ %^JY _% :JR%:`V%.1$.C7%`V$ `1H VR%1J%R1$ `1G%QJ_815 .:0V%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%JQ VR%:$%:% .`V: %1J% .V%C1$J$%:R- F% %^R%$ %R7%G7%F:`QJ%DQ%$RRI1 .%:JR%d:%C% 01HV8%%FHHQ`R1J$% Q%R: :%``QI% .V%%M:JR%:JR%: V`% cQ1JV7%`Q%JR% .: %1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$%1:$% .V%$VHQJR% QV$Q%`HV$%F%R1 5%`V`:C%:J1I:C$%:JR%V6QH%1VVR$%1V`V% .1$.V$ %G`Q:R% .`V: %H: V$Q`7%`Q`%G1QR10V`$1 75%:cVHJ$% .V%$VHQJR%:JR% .1`R%.1$.V$ % .`V: %`V$]VH0VC7%`Q`% %]V`%HVJ %Q`% .V%$]VH1V$%:JR%VHQCQ$1H:C%HQII%J1V$% threatened ecosystems based on the number of biogeo- V6:I1JVR%^ .Q$V%C1$ VR%%JRV`%^R%CV$1$C:QJ_ %^$VV% $`:].1H:C%$%G`V$1QJ$%`V]Q`J$% .V% .`V: %^$VV%V:GCV%_8% Table 2). The highest threat category – anthropogenic =J% .V% %$ %R7%G7%DQ%$RRI1 .%:JR%cQ1JV75% %]V`% RV$ `%HQJ%:JR%R1$ %`G:JHV%Q`%J:0V%0V$V :QJ%T%:`- HVJ %Q`%VJR:J$V`VR%^R%VHQCQ$1H:C%HQII%J1V$%1V`V% `VH VR% %]V`%HVJ 8%KQ1V0V`5%1.VJ%HQI]:`VR%11 .%1JR1- :R0V`$VC7%:cVH VR%G7%1J0:$10V%$]VH1V$5%]`VRQI1J:J C7%G7% vidual threats such as land clearing, invasive species was weeds. the greatest threat. Close to half of threatened species ^ %]V`%HVJ _%1V`V% .`V: VJVR%G7%1VVR%1J0:$1QJ5%:JR% % A very common threat scenario for ecological communi- per cent by feral animals. V$%1$% .: % .V7%.:0V%GVVJ%$`V: C7%`VR%HVR%1J%V6 VJ %G7% land clearing and that fragments are then highly suscep- Threats by invasive species are highly ubiquitous – one GCV% Q%1VVR%1J0:$1QJ8% of the top three, based on frequency across Austra- C1:J%G1Q`V$1QJ$%^$VV%V:GCV%_8%FJ:C7$1$%Q`%R: :%``QI% .V% %^:QJ:C%M:JR%:JR%: V`%QV$Q%`HV$%F%R1 %`Q%JR% Threats to islands that feral animals were the highest threat based on D.V#I:=Q`1 7#Q`# .V# .`V: VJVR#Q`#V6JH # :6:#`Q`# G1`R/a#:`V#QJ#1/C:JR/#1.V`V#]`VR: Q`/5#Q VJ#`:H1C1- : VR#G7#.:G1 : #RV/ `%HQJ5#.:0V#H:%/VR#Q`#:`V# H:%/1J$#I://10V#RVHC1JV/8 V.V%ZdeD%FH %1$% .V%GJ01`QJIVJ :C#:`Q VHQJ#:JR#!1QR10V`/1 7#HQJ/V`0:- QJ#4H # . T%R V].VJ%b:`JV%:JR%b:G`1VC%D`Q1CV75%V.V%FHQJ% %M1$J$$%Q VJ%]`Q01RV%`:1`C7%H%`$Q`7%1J`Q`I:QJ%:GQ% % .`V: $5%Q`% .V% dC:J%`Q`%F%$ `:C1:J%e1`R$ .`V: $%:`V%]QQ`C7%@JQ1J5%$Q% .V7%:`V%1JR1H:0V%QJC78%V.V%CV0VC$%Q`% .`V: %:`V% HQJ$1$ VJ %11 .% .Q$V%1J% .V%R8%F%$ %R7%Q`%$]VH1V$%C1$ VR%%JRV`% .V%R%ZJR:J- $V`VR%R]VH1V$%FH % %`Q%JR% .: %.:G1 : %RV$`:R:QJ%Q`%CQ$$% .`V: VJVR% % ]V`%HVJ %Q`%$]VH1V$%V6:I1JVR5%:JR% .: %:C1VJ%$]VH1V$%1V`V% .V%$VHQJR%I:=Q`% .`V: 5%:cVHJ$% %]V`%HVJ %Q`% .V% Q :C%^1CHQ0V`%V %:C8% _8% %DQ%$RRI1 .%:JR%cQ1JV7%^ _8 %DQ`@%V %:C8%^ _8% %FC .Q%$.%$:C1J1 7%.:$%`VHV10VR%I%H.%$`V: V`%:VJQJ%11 .%RVR1H: VR%^QY% %DQ%$RRI1 .%:JR%cQ1JV7%^ _8 programs, it was found to threaten only four species. %b:`JV%:JR%D`Q1CV7%^_8
Page 3 Invasive species: One of the top three threats to Australian biodiversity
Threatened Threatened Threatened Riparian zones DIWA wetlands species species ecosystems s &ERAL