Application Form to Release New Organisms
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APPLICATION FORM RELEASE Application to import for release or to release from containment new organisms under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Send by post to: Environmental Protection Authority, Private Bag 63002, Wellington 6140 OR email to: [email protected] Application number APP201710 Applicant Greater Wellington Regional Council Key contact Richard Grimmett Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica www.epa.govt.nz 2 Application to import for release or to release from containment new organisms Important This application form is to seek approval to import for release or release from containment new organisms (including genetically modified organisms). The application form is also to be used when applying to import for release or release from containment new organisms that are or are contained within a human or veterinary medicine. Applications may undergo rapid assessment at the Authority’s discretion if they fulfil specific criteria. This application will be publicly notified unless the Authority undertakes a rapid assessment of the application. This application form will be made publicly available so any confidential information must be collated in a separate labelled appendix. The fee for this application can be found on our website at www.epa.govt.nz. If you need help to complete this form, please look at our website (www.epa.govt.nz) or email us at [email protected]. This form was approved on 1 May 2012. May 2012 EPA0160 3 Application to import for release or to release from containment new organisms 1. Brief application description Provide a short description (approximately 30 words) of what you are applying to do. To introduce the Honshu white admiral butterfly (Limenitis glorifica) as a biological control agent for the weed Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). 2. Summary of application Provide a plain English, non-technical description of what you are applying to do and why you want to do it. Japanese honeysuckle, (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), is a weed of concern throughout New Zealand but particularly in the North Island. It is named in the Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS) of 11 regions. The National Biocontrol Collective comprises 13 regional councils and the Department of Conservation (DOC). It has determined that biological control is the most likely means of achieving environmentally acceptable and cost- effective management for Japanese honeysuckle in New Zealand. Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) makes this application on their behalf. Landcare Research staff and Japanese collaborators have provided the research described in the application. Richard Hill & Associates prepared the application and managed the application process. Japanese honeysuckle stems twine around other plants in thick tangled curtains. Underlying trees and shrubs can be completely smothered, and shading can prevent the establishment of new plants beneath. This leads to a simplified vegetation structure with lower biodiversity. The secondary effects of these structural changes on ecosystem function are not well known, but are likely to be severe. DOC has designated this species as one of their 18 A-category invasive weeds. It is only sporadic in Northland, but is abundant on public land in the rest of the North Island. It is less common in the south of the South Island (Tom Belton, DOC, pers. comm.). In 1998, Japanese honeysuckle was seen as a serious threat to at least some Protected Natural Areas in 70% of DOC conservancies (Williams and Timmins 1998). The distribution of Japanese honeysuckle within all regions is still limited, and it is important to reduce the ability of this weed to extend its range within those regions. DOC and other weed managers can no longer manage the risk posed by Japanese honeysuckle using conventional means because the number of infested sites is growing, because many are too remote to be feasibly accessible, and because off-target damage to underlying vegetation from the use of herbicides over wide areas is unacceptable. Biological control is an appropriate tactic to use against this weed because agents are self- dispersing and can locate isolated host plants that are unknown to weed managers. The aim of the biological control programme is to: 1. Remove a significant proportion of the foliage every year, directly reducing the shading effect that causes the death of underlying plants May 2012 EPA0160 4 Application to import for release or to release from containment new organisms 2. Reduce the productivity of the plant and so limit its ability to expand existing infestations 3. Reduce the amount of seed set that could lead to new infestations. Landcare Research has identified several potential control agents for control of Japanese honeysuckle (Paynter (2012)). This application proposes the introduction of the first control agent, the Honshu white admiral butterfly, Limenitis glorifica Fruhstorfer (Nymphalidae). Japanese honeysuckle is a serious weed in several countries (http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=158&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN ) but this is the first biological control programme mounted against this weed anywhere. Because introduced natural enemies are established in the environment, their effects are widespread and persist from year to year. The application explains the expected positive effects of biological control of Japanese honeysuckle including: Long-term mitigation of damage to New Zealand's native ecosystems (Section 6.1) Reduced invasion of uninfested sites, and within existing sites (Section 6.1) Reduced control costs to managers of reserved land and to the general public (Section 6.5) Improved allocation of resources to maintain biodiversity values (Section 6.7) Introduced natural enemies must be safe to import if this weed management tactic is to be environmentally acceptable. Significant adverse effects on environmental or on economic values would occur if the Honshu white admiral attacked valued native or introduced non-target plants. History shows that plants closely related to the target plant are the species most likely to be damaged by control agents (Sheppard et al. 2005). The application presents evidence from field observations in Japan and from laboratory experiments in Japan and New Zealand to indicate that significant adverse effects are highly unlikely. There are no native species in the same family in New Zealand, and so none will be at risk from this white admiral (Landcare Research 2013c). Selected tests conducted in containment in New Zealand supported this conclusion (Landcare Research 2013c). Indeed there are no native plants in the same order, and so the relationship between Japanese honeysuckle and native plants is very remote (Landcare Research 2013b). The results of all tests are summarised in Section 6.2, and the data can be found on the Landcare Research website (Landcare Research 2013c). Although tests cannot rule out some feeding on non- target Lonicera species, this has not been observed in the home range of the butterfly, and no significant harm to the aesthetic value of ornamental honeysuckles (other than Japanese honeysuckle) is expected (Section 6.6). 3. Describe the background and aims of the application This section is intended to put the new organism(s) in perspective of how they will be used. You may use more technical language but please make sure that any technical words used are included in a glossary. The biological control programme against Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) aims to limit the shading effects of the weed by reducing its biomass, to slow its vegetative spread, and to reduce seed production. Japanese honeysuckle is a deceptive weed because it is a plant familiar to householders, with appealing flowers May 2012 EPA0160 5 Application to import for release or to release from containment new organisms and fragrance. Its importance as a weed is often underestimated (Williams and Timmins 1998). It is a perennial vine that spreads by rhizomes, above-ground runners, and sometimes by seeds. Stems twine around other plants in thick tangled curtains. Japanese honeysuckle can infest forests but has most impact climbing over shrublands or low canopy trees, especially on forest margins. It may form a complete blanket over small trees and shrubs in coastal situations, e.g. manuka, hebe and ribbonwood. It is seen as an increasingly troublesome species of shrubland, forest margins and open roadsides. Figure 1. Japanese honeysuckle infestation, Matata, Bay of Plenty. Figure 2. Japanese honeysuckle growing over low vegetation. May 2012 EPA0160 6 Application to import for release or to release from containment new organisms Trees and shrubs can be killed by competition from Japanese honeysuckle, and native seedlings are unlikely to establish beneath. This leads to a simplified vegetation structure with lower local biodiversity (Williams and Timmins 1998). The secondary effects of these structural changes on ecosystem function are not well known, but are likely to be severe. In dense forest or scrub, it can dominate the understorey where the forest or scrub is sufficiently open, or where light gaps form. It does not appear capable of climbing tall trees with thick stems. Adverse effects in forest habitats may therefore be limited and temporary, but it cannot be assumed that processes of natural succession will result in the disappearance of Japanese honeysuckle (Williams and Timmins 1998). Japanese honeysuckle is distributed from Northland to Stewart Island. It occurs widely on public and private land, and is still relatively common as a cultivated plant in older gardens despite its Unwanted Organism status and being listed on the NPPA. On public conservation land Japanese honeysuckle predominantly occurs on marginal sites including forest, but the conservation values most vulnerable appear to be those associated with open scrub, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands and riparian margins, scrub and open sites in riparian areas, along roadsides, around settlements, in coastal areas, and around farmland and exotic forestry areas (Tom Belton, DOC, pers. comm.) (Figures 1, 2). It is rampant in the urban environment, on hedgerows and on roadsides (Williams and Timmins 1998; Standish 2002).