Appendix 1. Consultation with the community prior to application 1. The scope of consultation 2. Positive and adverse effects on the environment 3. Positive and adverse effects on human health 4. Positive and adverse effects on the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with the environment 4.1 Responses from iwi, hapū and other Māori organisations and individuals 4.2 Issues raised in consultation over previous similar proposals 5. Positive and adverse effects on society and communities 6. Positive and adverse effects on the market economy 1. The scope of consultation The applicant is the Dung Beetle Release Strategy Group, comprising farmers and agribusinesses, supported by the MAF Sustainable Fund. Many organisations and individuals were invited to consult on this proposal. Emails or letters were sent to Regional Councils (15), relevant government departments, NGOs and societies, and interested members of the public (21). There was consultation with the ERMA National Māori Network and other Māori stakeholders (152 organisations and individuals), and the project was presented at the ERMA National Maori Network. Information about specific issues was sought from experts, and these personal communications are included below. It is likely that various species of dung beetles will eventually spread or be spread throughout Aotearoa. Consultation was therefore conducted nationally. A letter or email requesting dialogue over this proposal was sent to over 152 organisations and individuals belonging to the ERMANZ Māori National Network. This letter is reproduced below. The proposal was also briefly presented at the National Network Hui at Waiwhetu Marae, Petone in July 2010, and additional input was obtained there. As the first releases of the control agent are expected to be made in the Kaipara region, a hui was hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ngā Rima o Kaipara Trust to discuss any issues arising. All organisations and individuals consulted will be informed when the application has been submitted and opened for public submissions. 2. Positive and adverse effects on the environment Dr Jacqueline Beggs, Auckland University, from notes of a meeting held in 2009. Native dung beetles are present in high numbers in forests, but we know relatively little about them, or about the ecosystems into which these exotic dung beetles will be introduced. I don’t believe there has been sufficient research to enable us to understand the risk that introduced dung beetles could disrupt the fundamental basis of those systems. A general principle of biological control is not to introduce generalist species such as these. Even if the beetles are specific to non-forested areas, what about other native habitats? Appendix 1 Page 1 of 16 Phil Bell, Senior Technical Support Officer (Biosecurity), Department of Conservation I did not get an overwhelming response from DOC’s invertebrate staff, but I have come up with a few questions or areas of interest (many of which you could probably already answer!). There are: - Likelihood of interaction with native dung beetles, particularly any competition, potential displacement, etc? - Likelihood of movement away from pastoral land. Will the exotic beetles ‘hunt out’ dung from forest margins near pasture etc? - Is there a chance of interbreeding with native beetles? - Are the exotic beetles solely dung feeders? Am aware that some overseas dung beetles also eat plants (mainly rotting) and invertebrates. - Where are they likely to be sourced from? Are those areas where the beetles are also used on pastoral land? Any indicators of success/failure? - Will these exotic beetles use bird faeces (such as pukeko)? Could that lead to an adaptation in dung preference and potential move into other habitat? Dr Steve Pawson, Scientist, Scion Research, Canterbury RE: Pawson, S. M., Brockerhoff, E. G., Meenken, E. D., & Didham, R. K. (2008). Non-native plantation forests as alternative habitat for native forest beetles in a heavily modified landscape. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17, 1127-1148. Q: How many unidentified Saphobius sp. (Scarabaeidae) individuals you collected in the pasture pitfall trap sample at the 5m location? This is somewhat important given you found this genus in the ‘transition’ zone between forest and pasture. A: There were three specimens in total in the pasture at 5 m 1 in November 2002 and 2 in Feb 2004. Just to clarify this site was a little interesting in that the fence was about 5 m out from the edge of the forest as we defined forest edge, i.e., drip line of the canopy. Thus the 5m pasture pitfall was in long grass with some regenerating native occurring around it. Thus the fact that the species was not found further out in the 25 and 125 m samples would suggest that it is indeed not capable of surviving in true pasture. Dr Ross Gray, Scientist, AgResearch No native dung beetles in any of my recent samples (Waikato, Manawatu and West Coast Sth Island) only adults I’ve collected have been Black Beetle and Tasmanian Grass Grub…..Also, nothing in the way of native dung beetles recorded in any of my data running back up to three years. Dr Trevor Jackson, Scientist, AgResearch, Lincoln Q1: What is the likely frequency of pathogens passing between scarabaeid species? Are there generalist pathogens or are they relatively host specific? Appendix 1 Page 2 of 16 A: Scarab pathogens are usually moderately to highly host specific. This could be due to the evolution of their hosts in microbial rich environments. It is (highly) unlikely that they would act as incubators and pass on diseases to native species. Q2: Can you think of any resident pathogens that are likely to do well in exotic dung beetles, especially given the specialist habit of DB? A: Possibly some of the more unusual nematodes that are associated with Scarabaeinae (Thelostomatids for example). These are not common in native scarabs (mostly Melolonthinae) and unlikely to pose any threat to native species. Q3: Dung beetle populations are likely to get quite high. Do you think there are significant new risks for native scarabaeid populations here mediated through pathogens? A: No, because there will be considerable space separation except with the outbreak pest species like grass grub and manuka beetle in improved pastures. But in this situation they would be multiplying native pathogens and exerting some control in modified habitats susceptible to native pests. Stephen Thorpe, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland … I have been involved in a number of different projects (including Olly's) involving native dung beetles (Saphobius spp., and the rare Saphobiamorpha spp.) Never once have I seen any evidence that they venture outside native bush….. Jenny Dymock, private consultant, Northland. Author of first application to import an exotic dung beetle (Onthophagus binodis) into New Zealand. 27 July 2010: The latest correspondence I have found on the application from MAF is dated 20 Nov 1996 from Dr Kevin Corrin, National Manager, Animal Quarantine, MAF Agricultural Authority. The Agricultural Security Consultative Committee, Technical subcommittee (Invertebrates) met on 12 Nov 1996 to discuss the proposal ..... ‚The main concern of the committee was the possible impact of the beetle on earthworm pops‛....... They recommended delaying the decision until after a conference to be held by AgR..... I attended that conference on 27 Feb 1997..... Dr Jo Springett spoke on earthworms and concluded ‚the effect of dung beetles removing dung as a food source for earthworms is to reduce the potential earthworm food by less than 10%. It is unlikely that this would significantly decrease positive effects of EW on soil structure and root distribution. If dung beetles were active mainly in summer their effect on earth worms would be even less and dung removal from the soil surface during summer would be assured‛. 27 July 2010: I have .... letters from MAF. One is dated 20 Nov 1996 from Dr Kevin Corrin, National Manager, Animal Quarantine, MAF Agricultural Authority. The Agricultural Security Consultative Committee, Technical subcommittee (Invertebrates) met on 12 Nov 1996 to discuss the proposal. ‚The main concern of the committee was the possible impact of the beetle on earthworm pops‛. They recommended delaying the decision until after a conference to be held by AgResearch. The last correspondence I have is a letter from Kevin Corrin on 9 Jan 1997... where they again state the concern was about earthworms. The conference was held on 27 Feb 1997. Appendix 1 Page 3 of 16 Unfortunately I don’t have any other records of correspondence from MAF. I can’t remember receiving an outright refusal. Maybe I just gave up at that stage. Dr Adrian Davis, Scarab Research Group, University of Pretoria, South Africa; John Feehan, Director, SOILCAM, Hackett, ACT, Australia; Dr Bernard Doube, Principal, Dung Beetle Solutions Australia, Bridgewater, South Australia; Dr Jean-Pierre Lumaret, Professor, Department of Ecological Systems Dynamics, Paul Valéry University, Montpellier, France; Dr James Ridsdall-Smith, Senior Scientist, CSIRO, Western Australia. A series of questions regarding habitat specificity of exotic beetles introduced into Australian pastures were presented to dung beetle experts (Adrian Davis, Bernard Doube, John Feehan, Jean-Pierre Lumaret, James Ridsdall-Smith) who have in the past or continue to work with species that were introduced into Australian pastures. Their responses to the following questions are presented below: Q1: Do you know of any cases where any of the introduced dung beetles listed above have been found in habitats other than pasture? For instance, deeply shaded forest, broken canopy scrub/forest, dense scrub/bush/rain-forest flanking pasture, etc? If so, where? Q2: Is there any evidence that the habitat preferences of any of the introduced dung beetles has changed since introduction? Q3: Alternatively, have any been found in habitats that were not predicted? Q4: Do you know of anyone stating that dung beetles are not beneficial, and if so why do they hold that view? Dr Adrian Davis: Adrian was a member of the CSIRO Dung Beetle project team in South Africa.