BACKGROUNDER April 2009 Web: www.invasives.org.au Email: [email protected] Invasive species: One of the top three threats to Australian biodiversity 7 .VIVV0V`71J0:RV`.:$QJVV0V`71.V`V1 H:J$Q% `:C1:11CCCQQ@0V`7R1cV`VJ – Tim Low, Feral Future1 J `QR%HQJ 6JHQJ 1GVHQI1J$1JH`V:1J$C7HCV:` .: ]`VR:QJ n Australia,1invasive species are one of the most Iubiquitous and severe threats to biodiversity. We are ``QI`VR`Q65:J C75V`:CH5 notorious for having lost by far the highest number of =`- I:II:C1J`VHVJ IV511 .`Q6VQ`H: ^:JR`:GG1 a6&Q .VV6VJ .: Q .V``:H Q` QQIVRV$`VV_1I]C1H: VR1JIQ Q` .VVV6JHQJ8 HQJ `1G% 571J$ .VVcVH Many bird species on islands have been wiped out by Q`]`VR:QJG7`Q6V:JRH: 8 1J `QR%HVR`: 5:JR:JV6QH`%J$%.:@1CCVRQc``Q$8 – &@( `;BD J0:10V]VH1V:`V:JVH:C:J$ .`V:7= QJVV6QH >6JHQJ QCCQ`0V` VG`: V:J1I:C1J .V]: 1Q pathogen .7 Q]. .Q`:H1JJ:IQI1 threatens hundreds HVJ %`1VC:`$7VR Q1J0:10( `- Q`VJRVI1H]C:J6Q6V:JRH: .`V: VJ .V 7 V61 VJHVQ`I:J76VVR:`V [ 1JH`7J$J%IV`Q%VHQ7 - C:`$7Q]`VR:7Q6LQ`H: 511 . IVJ 7V`1J$ .V1`HQI]Q1QJ:JR`%JHQJ8 `:GG1 :CQ1I]C1H: VR::HQJ `1G%J$`:H Q`1J Globally, invasive species have been recognized as the some cases.5(( `:C1::CCJ:0V IQ V`1Q% .`V: QG1QR10V`7 V`.:G1 : CQ82 mammals weighing between 35 grams and 5.5 & VH.:J$V1:CQ`VH<VR::JV6 `7- @1CQ$`:I.:0VR1:]]V:`N010V ous looming threat.3 7: RQ6R``VV1C:JR8 The impacts of invasive species have been more severe [Q ( `:C1: .:JQJ:J7QJJVJ 8J1 0%CJV`- ]`VR:7: ^'), cats and 7:QJJVJ ;V1C:JR .:JHQJ- ]1$5:JRHQI]VQJ``QI1J `QR%HVRG1`R:JR nent. And the worst is yet to come with most invasive honeybees. ]VH1V.:7:C [7 Q$R%V Q1J`7 `:J$V5:JR1J V`:HQJ11 .HC1I: VH.:J$VC1@7Q H.7: `:H.QH.7 `1%IRVJR`QG:R1) in considerably worsen their impacts. eastern Australia. The Invasive Species Council contends that along with [QRVJ& I:C:JRR%V Q habitat loss, and now climate change, invasive species 1J`77:1 V``QI HQJ % V .V$`V: V .`V: ( `;J:0- 1J `QR%HVRGC:H@`: 88 cies, ecosystems and ecosystem processes. It is impor- :J Q%JRV` :JR .V`VC:0VV07 Invasive species have been the primary cause of animal 1J0:10V]VH1VGVH:%V .1H: V$7V: VJ ; HQJV`0:QJ`QH%8 0V1QIVQ` .VV01RVJHV% :1J1J$ .VHQJ VJQJ that invasive species are one of the top threats to Aus- tralian biodiversity. @ @ 6Q`I:QJQJ%G]VH1V``: @- QJJQ V .:( `;I:II:CV6JHQJ1V`V: .V1`1Q` 1J]:` Q` .VHQ%J7 1:JQ HCV:`VR:JR1.V`V.%I:J]Q]%C:QJ1V`VCV: 8 V&Q1CV7 5 XD01`QJIVJ0:$ 6DYZ&J$ 9VQ%`HVJ % VV 6:C@:Vc 6:- : 1118VJ01`QJIVJ 8$Q0LRL]`:LLV: VJVRC1 8 pl?wanted=fauna > 7: The Invasive Species Council campaigns to protect Australia’s environment from invasive species. To find out more about the council visit our website at www.invasives.org.au, or email us: [email protected]. Invasive species: One of the top three threats to Australian biodiversity Mammals Frogs Darling Downs hopping-mouse Notomys mordax Southern platypus frog Rheobatrachus silus Big-eared hopping-mouse Notomys macrotis Northern platypus frog Rheobatrachus vitellinus White-footed tree-rat Conilurus albipes Sharp-snouted day frog Taudactylus acutirostris Great hopping-mouse Notomys sp. Southern day frog Taudactylus diurnus Gould’s mouse Pseudomys gouldii Northern tinker frog* Taudactylus rheophilus Broad-faced potoroo Potorous platyops Mountain mistfrog* Litoria nyakalensis Eastern hare-wallaby Lagorchestes leporides Table 1: Extinctions of Australian vertebrate animals attributed sub- Short-tailed hopping-mouse Notomys amplus stantially to invasive species42. *presumed extinct, but not yet listed as such – last seen in 1991 and 1990 Notomys longicaudatus Long-tailed hopping-mouse respectively Lesser stick-nest rat Leporilus apicalis V6( `>Q``%CCC1 _8 They are Desert rat-kangaroo Caloprymnus campestris QGC:IV^: CV: 1JC:`$V]:` _`Q`:GQ% .`R_V` Pig-footed bandicoot Chaeropus ecaudatus Q` .V0V` VG`: V:J1I:CVDQ]V:J Crescent nailtail wallaby Onychogalea lunata H<:RRQ` .VH: Central hare-wallaby Lagorchestes asomatus :JR`:%J:^0V` VG`: V_]VH1VV6JHQJ8 Desert bandicoot Perameles eremiana >V.:0V:CQGVVJV6JHQJQ`1J0V` VG`: VH:%VR Lesser bilby Macrotis leucura by invasive species, but these are not listed under the `VRV`:CVJ01`QJIVJ :CCV$1C:`Q`V6:I]CV5 .V Eastern bettong (mainland) Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi CQQ` 150V Burrowing bettong (inland) Bettongia lesueur graii C:JR1:VR Q]`VR:7: 8 Brush-tailed bettong (south-east Bettongia penicallata penical- mainland) lata Threats to species Rufous hare-wallaby (south-west Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus >V:`V 1QI:1J .`V: Q .VHQJJ%:- mainland) cies in Australia… Banded hare-wallaby Lagostrophus fasciatus albipilis [:T7V%C ``QIHC1I: V Western barred-bandicoot Perameles bougainville fasciata H.:J$V5:H01VQ`.%I:JQ`J: %`:CV0VJ6 Christmas Island rat Rattus macleari [ `QR%HQJQ`:C1VJ]VH1V1.1H.]`V7 Christmas Island rat Rattus nativitatis :JRHQI]V V11 .J:0V]VH1V`Q``QQR:JR habitat Birds – Australian Academy of Science11 Vinous-tinted thrush Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus >V: VJVR]VH1V: `1@``QI1J0:10V]VH1V.:0V Zosterops strenuus Robust white-eye JQ GVVJHQI]`V.VJ107( : - Lord Howe gerygone Gerygone insularis 01`QJIVJ .VIV`V]Q` JQ VR: Q V: VJVR Grey fantail (Lord Howe Island) Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina ]VH1V^ .QVC1 VR: .`V: VJVR Norfolk Island ground-dove Gallicolumba norfolciensis %JRV``VRV`:CVJ01`QJIVJ :CCV$1C:QJ_: `1@``QI: least one invasive species.12Z``7Y:%C Tasman starling (Lord Howe Island) Aplonis fusca hulliana X7 VRV`7 VR]VH1V:= Tasman starling (Norfolk Island) Aplonis fusca fusca from weed invasions, so the total number of federally Grey-headed blackbird Turdus poliocephalus polio- .`V: VJVR]VH1V: `1@``QI1J0:10V]VH1V1Q%CR cephalus be much larger.13 Southern boobook (Norfolk Island) Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata Southern boobook (Lord Howe Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria Island) ( `Z7V Long-tailed triller (Norfolk Island) Lalage leucopyga eucopyga `7R ]VH1V:`VC1 VR:VDYZ&(.7LL 1118VJ01`QJIVJ 8$Q0LRL]`:LLV: VJVRC1 8 Red-crowned parakeet (Macquarie Cyanoramphus Novaezelandiae -:J Y3`5}9(ZD>N&>) Island) erythrotis ` 7R` VC1 VR :VDYZ&(.7LL8VJ01`QJIVJ 8$Q0LRL]`: L Buff-banded rail (Macquarie Gallirallus philippensis mac- LV: VJVRC1-:J Y:%J:). Island) quariensis Z( `(:RVI7: : & X7 Page 2 Threatened plant Threatened animal Endangered ecological Total* species species communities Anthropogenic destruction & 495 225 69 (96%) 820 (87%) disturbance of native vegetation Introduction of alien species 362 200 68 (94%) 657 (70%) Anthropogenic modification and 343 177 66 (92%) 611 (65%) degradation of abiotic factors ‘Natural’ phenomena 336 85 15 (21%) 449 (48%) Anthropogenic destruction & 0 121 4 (6%) 133 (14%) disturbance of native fauna Diseases 29 34 8 (11%) 75 (8%) Other threats 16 0 6 (8%) 2 (2%) Table 2: Threatened biodiversity in New South Wales encompassed by each of the seven major threat categories in the threat hierarchy (Coutts- Smith and Downey 2006). *Note the total also includes threatened populations, which were not included in this table. This conclusion is supported by a cursory review of the .VJ%IGV`Q`G1Q$VQ$`:].1H%G`V$1QJ`V]Q`J$ .V C1J$:R01HV`= .VH`1H7V`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 QGV .`V: DQH C:}7V`VR:J1I:C :6:C1 VR weeds were the fourth-highest threat according to the DYZ&(:GQ% .`R_V`Y 0V J%IGV`Q`G1Q`V$1QJ`V]Q`J$ .V .`V: 818 1J0:10V]VH1VC1 VR:: .`V:} 7- $V`VR]C:J ]VH1VC1 DYZ&(Q .`V: QVHQCQ$1H:CHQII%J1V Y 0V1J0:10V]VH1VC1 VR:: .`V: ^ .V (7$V]`Q]Q`QJQ` .`V: VJVRVHQCQ$1H:CH- remainder are mostly threatened by disturbance or sto- I%J1V:`V: `1@``QI1J0:10} H.:HV0VJ GVH:%V .V70V07QJ C1 DYZ&( Y :JR:`7V `1H VR1JR1 `1G%QJ_815 .:0V1J0:10V]VH1VJQ VR:: .`V: 1J .VC1- ( N:77(&R:Y:%C (Q`R1J$ QR: :``5: V` X7Q%JR .: 1J0:10V]VH1V1: .VVHQJR 9VQ%`(V`:C:J1I:C:JRV6QH1VVR1V`V .1$.V G`Q:R .`V: H: V$7Q`G1QR10V`75:cVHJ$ .VVHQJR:JR .1`R.1$.V .`V: `V]VH07Q` Q` .V]VH1V:JRVHQCQ$1H:CHQII%J1V threatened ecosystems based on the number of biogeo- V6:I1JVR^ .QVC1 N:QJ_ ^VV $`:].1H:C%G`V$1QJ`V]Q`J$ .V .`V:> Table 2). The highest threat category – anthropogenic 77&R:X7 RV `%HQJ:JRR1 %`G:JHVQ`J:0V0V$V :T- HVJ Q`VJR:J$V`N:QCQ$1H:CHQII%J1V1V`V `VH 0V0V`51.VJHQI]:`- :R0V`7cVH 70:10V]VH1V5]`VRQI1J:J77 vidual threats such as land clearing, invasive species was weeds. the greatest threat. Close to half of threatened species _1V`V .`V: 7VVR1J0 A very common threat scenario for ecological communi- per cent by feral animals. V1 .: .V70VGVVJ$`V:7VR%HVR1JV6 VJ7 land clearing and that fragments are then highly suscep- Threats by invasive species are highly ubiquitous – one GCV Q1VVR1J0:1QJ8 of the top three, based on frequency across Austra- C1:JG1Q`>(71Q`R: :``QI .V N5: 9VQ%`(Q%JR Threats to islands that feral animals were the highest threat based on &=VJVRQ`V66` a5 VJ`- : VRG7.:G1 : RV5:%VRQ`:`V H:%1J$I:10VRVHC1JV8 >DYZ&()J01`QJIVJ :C`Q *- . T:VV&Q1CV7>( 5 VJ]`Q01RV`77Q`I:QJ:GQ% .`V: 5Q` .V Y( `ZR .`V: :`77V1JR1H:07>VCQ` .`V: :`V HQJ1 VJ:(7 :D- $V`:( Q%JR .: .:G1 : RV$`:R:QJQ`CQ .`V: ]V`HVJ Q`]VH1VV6:I1JVR5:JR .: :C1VJ]VH1V1V`V .VVH= .`V: 5:c Q` .V Q Q0V`V &R:X7 & (7VHV10VRI%H.$`V: V`:VJQJ11 .RVR1H: N9B &R:X7 programs, it was found to threaten only four species.