CASE STUDY: SMOOTH NEWT UPDATED: NOVEMBER 2017 A case study of the establishment of a new amphibian in Victoria and a failure to proceed with eradication. Species Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). Origin Europe and western Asia. Australian occurrence First detected in Melbourne in June 2011. Found at six sites in 2012 and six sites in 2013, including four of the 2012 sites.1 The extent of its establishment is Skin secretions produced by smooth newts could prove deadly to native birds in Melbourne’s unknown. suburbs. Photo: John Beniston (CC BY-SA 3.0) 2 Potential ecological impacts European smooth newt has low levels or BIOSECURITY ISSUES The smooth newt is the only salamander no tetrodotoxin but because Australian in the wild in Australia (the only member predators ‘have no evolutionary history Summary of an entire amphibian order) and the of exposure to tetrodotoxin … the ISC’s view is that governments have first invasive population of this species in effect of even low doses of this toxin not taken the potential environmental the southern hemisphere, so it is hard to on Australian frog-eating predators impacts of the smooth newt seriously predict likely impacts. Tingley et al. (2014) remains unclear.’ If the toxin is potent, enough. Decision-making was note that ‘On average, exotic species with it could affect a wide range of potential exceedingly slow, with a decision by only distant relatives in their invaded predators (invertebrates, wading birds, the National Management Group to ranges tend to have greater impacts’ snakes, lizards, turtles and mammals not attempt eradication taken at least because the native species probably lack which prey on species occupying similar 22 months after detection, allowing the co-evolved defences against them. environments or are morphologically newt to spread and making eradication similar). much more difficult (perhaps impossible) The smooth newt is able to live in a and costly. The precautionary principle wide range of habitats, and climate A close relative of the smooth newt was ignored and the decision-making matching suggests that large parts of carries chytrid fungus, which has caused lacked transparency and had limited input NSW, Victoria, eastern Tasmania, southern extinctions and declines in Australian from independent experts on ecology South Australia, and south-western frogs, so there is a risk that smooth newts and amphibians. This case particularly Western Australia are particularly suitable will spread the disease. highlights the lack of precaution applied for it. in decisions about whether to eradicate. Potential impacts could arise from Pathways Because the smooth newt has not predation, competition, toxicity and The most likely pathway for establishment established invasive populations in the disease spread. The smooth newt is a is deliberate release or escape from illegal southern hemisphere and there are no generalist carnivore, eating invertebrates, pet keeping. The keeping of smooth salamanders in Australia, there are high crustaceans, and frog and fish eggs and newts is prohibited Australia-wide but it levels of uncertainty about the likely larvae. It may compete with or prey on a used to be allowed. Another possibility is impact. This uncertainty should have wide range of native land and freshwater it arrived as a stowaway with cargo or in a resulted in a higher risk rating and more species. container.3 strongly favoured a decision to attempt eradication. By the time its impacts There is a risk that smooth newts could become apparent it will be far too late to poison their predators (like cane toads eradicate the smooth newt. A decision do). Some salamanders produce a on whether to eradicate the smooth newt neurotoxin (tetrodotoxin) on their skin. should be revisited. Tests have previously shown that the CASE STUDY: Smooth newt | PAGE 1 OUR MISSION To protect the Ecology Australia’s Katie Stevenson in search of the smooth newt in Melbourne. Photo: Andrew Cox environment from harmful new invasive Emergency response on Australian biodiversity, particularly species through The smooth newt was discovered in an frogs and reptiles is ‘somewhat uncertain’. prevention and early In ISC’s view this downplays the extent of outer suburb of Melbourne in June 2011. action. A trapping survey in June-November uncertainty (contrasting with the analysis of Tingley et al. 2014, who emphasise 2011 found it at four locations. Surveys methods. in 2012 found it at additional locations, the unknowns arising from the lack of suggesting it had spread. evolutionary history of salamanders in Australia). The assessment also dismissed Sometime in 2012 the incursion was the potential for the newt to be toxic referred by the Victorian government to to predators (in contrast to Tingley et a Consultative Committee for a decision al 2014, who warn that its effects could under the National Environmental differ on Australian species due to their Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) lack of evolutionary exposure to the on whether it would be eradicated with toxin). national cost-sharing. An FOI request for all National Management Group meeting On 16 April 2013 the Victorian agendas for 2012 showed no evidence Department of Primary Industries that the smooth newt was discussed at completed a NEBRA Preliminary Technical that level. Feasibility Analysis, which concluded that the technical feasibility of eradication In January 2013 the Australian Bureau of was ‘moderate’ or ‘low to moderate’ Agricultural and Resource Economics and depending on how criteria were weighted Science (ABARES) completed a ‘national (but with many unknowns).5 We do significance assessment’, as required not know how valid the conclusion is, under NEBRA.4 The expertise of the although clearly the almost two years authors of this assessment and the extent of inaction since detection, allowing the to which they consulted with experts newt to spread, had by this date greatly are unknown. However, the references undermined the potential for eradication. Stronger biosecurity is vital to protect the highly endemic wildlife suggest the assessment was based Such assessments would engender of Australia and its many special solely on published literature. Given the more confidence if they were subject wild places. This is Lord Howe limited extent of the literature, particularly to peer review by independent experts. Island, where invasive species have with respect to Australia, which has no The NEBRA feasibility assessment shows already caused several extinctions. salamanders, this seems inadequate. The that the criteria need refinement (better Photo: Robert Whyte ABARES assessment ‘did not identify any definition and weightings). likely severe and/or extensive impact’. However, it acknowledged that the impact On a date unknown, at least 22 months CASE STUDY: Smooth newt | PAGE 2 after the newt was detected, a decision was made to not attempt a cost-shared eradication of the smooth newt. Due to a lack of transparency the reasons for not proceeding are unknown. As far as we are aware, the decision-making process did not involve ecological or amphibian experts. In 2016, the Invasive Species Council with pro-bono support from Ecology Australia conducted its own survey. It found that the smooth newt still persists and is breeding in a number of the original sites. We recommend the decision on eradication of the smooth newt be revisited, after a comprehensive survey of the original detection and nearby sites, and with advice from an environmental scientific panel on the significance of the newt impacts and the feasibility of eradication. A smooth newt found in Melbourne’s waterways. Treatment of uncertainty By deciding not to eradicate the smooth making, it may be better to allow public newt, with an independent peer- newt, Australian governments have scrutiny than to keep new outbreaks reviewed assessment of significance and in effect decided to proceed with the secret. feasibility. experiment of allowing a new order of amphibians to establish and spread There has been no information published in Australia. This is despite high levels about the decision-making regarding Decision-making processes of uncertainty about its impacts – due the smooth newt. ISC obtained • Improvements are urgently needed to to the lack of salamanders in Australia some documents after applying for decision-making about eradications and the lack of invasive populations them through FOI. We are gravely – to ensure that decisions are made elsewhere in the world. As Tingley et concerned that the secrecy of decision- quickly, are based on evidence, involve al. (2014) point out, invasive species making under NEBRA and the other consultation with experts and are impacts are on average more severe agreements undermines the quality transparent, with decisions reported when there is a large phylogenetic of decision-making and encourages publicly and all documents made distance between the invader and governments to prioritise short-term available online. native species because there has been financial considerations over the longer- no evolutionary opportunity for native term public interest in environmental Ecological expertise species to evolve defences. Despite protection. the precautionary principle being • Assessments of national significance fundamental to environmental decision- Enforcement and feasibility under NEBRA should be making (and required for decisions done by independent ecological experts under the national environmental law), The smooth newt incursion