Reading assignments: biological control

1. Reading assignments: biological control • van Klinken, R. and Raghu, S. 2006. A scientific approach to agent selection. Australian Journal of Entomology 45: 253-258. • Denslow, J., and D’Antonio, C. 2005. After bio-control: assessing indirect effects of insect releases. Biological Control 35:307-318. • Kirby et al. 2000. Biological control of leafy spurge with introduced flea beetles (Apthona spp.). Journal of Range Management 53(3): 305-308.

2. Management • Control • Biological methods • Least public opposition • Number of success stories • Difficulty locating enemy • Non-target effects • Most likely a problem when the invasive species has closely related plants in the invaded area • Monitor non-targets

3. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds

4. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Agricultural impact • Impact to natural areas • Toxicity • Beneficial characteristics • Relatedness to native species • Origin • Extent of invasion

5. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Agricultural impact • Impact to natural areas • Toxicity • Beneficial characteristics • Relatedness to native species • Origin • Extent of invasion • McClay, A. S. 1989. Selection of suitable target weeds for classical biological control in Alberta.  AECV89-RI. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada.

6. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Agricultural impact • Impact to natural areas • Toxicity • Beneficial characteristics • Relatedness to native species • Origin • Extent of invasion • McClay, A. S. 1989. Selection of suitable target weeds for classical biological control in Alberta.  AECV89-RI. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. • Peschken, D. P and A. S. McClay. 1995. Picking the target – a revision of McClay’s scoring system to determine the suitability of a weed for classical biological control, pp. 137-143. In Delfosse E. S. and R. R. Scott (eds.). Proceedings of the VIIIth International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds, Canterbury NZ.

7. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • McClay (1989) and Peschken & McClay (1995) use a scoring system to rate weeds for biocontrol priority. • economic losses (light to very severe) 0-30 pts • Additional points: • Size of the infested area • expected spread • Toxicity • Available means of control • Economic justification.

8. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • McClay (1989) and Peschken & McClay (1995) use a scoring system to rate weeds for biocontrol priority. • economic losses • Biological elements • Geographic origin: more points for non-US weeds

9. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • McClay (1989) and Peschken & McClay (1995) use a scoring system to rate weeds for biocontrol priority. • economic losses • Biological elements • Geographic origin: more points for non-N. Am. weeds • Habitat stability: more points for stable habitats (rangelands VS croplands)

10. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • McClay (1989) and Peschken & McClay (1995) use a scoring system to rate weeds for biocontrol priority. • economic losses • Biological elements • Geographic origin: more points for non-N. Am. weeds • Habitat stability: more points for stable habitats (rangelands VS croplands) • Points added for absence of close native relatives

11. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • McClay (1989) and Peschken & McClay (1995) use a scoring system to rate weeds for biocontrol priority. • economic losses • Biological elements • Geographic origin: more points for non-N. Am. weeds • Habitat stability: more points for stable habitats (rangelands VS croplands) • Points added for absence of close native relatives

12. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • McClay (1989) and Peschken & McClay (1995) use a scoring system to rate weeds for biocontrol priority. • economic losses • Biological elements • Other means: decision of scientists, survey of land managers and weed biologists, political pressures, perceived need, mandate in legislation

13. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents

14. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005. Project Number: 0211-22000-006-00

15. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius)

16. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species

17. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America

18. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent.

19. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent. • presence and abundance related to climate

20. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent. • presence and abundance related to climate • phenology of control agents and hosts

21. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent. • presence and abundance related to climate • phenology of control agents and hosts • type and level of damage on targets

22. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent. • presence and abundance related to climate • phenology of control agents and hosts • type and level of damage on targets • Oviposition and feeding substrates

23. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent. • presence and abundance related to climate • phenology of control agents and hosts • type and level of damage on targets • Oviposition and feeding substrates • overwintering sites

24. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent. • presence and abundance related to climate • phenology of control agents and hosts • type and level of damage on targets • Oviposition and feeding substrates • overwintering sites • Host range tests: primary and closely related hosts, critical hosts

25. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent • Climate modeling to match sources to target populations

26. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent • Climate modeling to match sources to target populations • Introduction of bio-control agents to quarantine sites in US for further testing

27. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Example: USDA ARS project: South American Biological Control Agents to Suppress Invasive Pests in the U.S. began Nov 8 2005 • Targets include: Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebenthifolius) • Literature review to identify promising species • Field surveys in South America • Safety and effectiveness of control agent • Climate modeling to match sources to target populations • Introduction of bio-control agents to quarantine sites in US for further testing • Progress: have ID’d several agents and host species lists for each invasive plant. Prioritization of agents next priority. Import and testing in US projected for 2007-2008.

28. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Laboratory rearing: • Easier, more cost effective, less mortality, more insects? • Not ‘hardened’ to environmental conditions, lower success in releases

29. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Laboratory rearing: • Easier, more cost effective, less mortality, more insects? • Not ‘hardened’ to environmental conditions, lower success in releases • Field rearing: • More difficult, more expensive, fewer insects • Site selection is important (high quality stand of target plant)

30. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Laboratory rearing: • Easier, more cost effective, less mortality, more insects? • Not ‘hardened’ to environmental conditions, lower success in releases • Field rearing: • More difficult, more expensive, fewer insects • Site selection is important (high quality stand of target plant) • ‘quality’ probably outweighs ‘quantity’ in bio-control releases

31. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Release the biocontrol agent

32. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Release the biocontrol agent • Only about 60% of released agents become established (Crawley 1989).

33. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Release the biocontrol agent • Only about 60% of released agents become established (Crawley 1989) • Success affected by climate, size of release, number and timing of releases, predators, weather conditions • Improve success by releasing field-reared agents, matching climate, selecting release site carefully (high density of target plants, few predators)

34. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Release the biocontrol agent • Only about 60% of released agents become established (Crawley 1989) • Success affected by climate, size of release, number and timing of releases, predators, weather conditions • Improve success by releasing field-reared agents, matching climate, selecting release site carefully (high density of target plants, few predators) • Caged releases VS open field releases

35. Management • Control • Biological methods: How to implement? • Identify appropriate target weeds • Identify possible bio-control agents • Rear the bio-control agent • Release the biocontrol agent • Only about 60% of released agents become established (Crawley 1989) • Success affected by climate, size of release, number and timing of releases, predators, weather conditions • Improve success by releasing field-reared agents, matching climate, selecting release site carefully (high density of target plants, few predators) • Caged releases VS open field releases • e.g. Kirby et al 2000: released 80 beetles in 1989, 1000 beetles in 1990. Open release, colonization was successful.

36. Biological control in CA: success rates and references

37. Biological control in CA: cont’d

38. Management • Control • Underlying socioeconomic issues • Introductions = $$$ • Many (most) NIS introduced intentionally

39. Management • Control • Underlying socioeconomic issues • Introductions = $$$ • Many (most) NIS introduced intentionally • Concern about control (esp biological control) • Other economic benefits of invasives – e.g. Purple Loosestrife makes good honey!

40. Management • Control • Underlying socioeconomic issues • Introductions = $$$ • Public sentiment Southwest Willow flycatcher Endangered species; Nests in Tamarisk (nest success lower in Tamarisk Than in native vegetation but Still a concern)

41. Management • Control • Underlying socioeconomic issues • Introductions = $$$ • Public sentiment • Fear of non-native species • IUCN prohibits release of NIS (non-indigenous species) in natural areas… this would mean no biological control • Concern about non-target effects

42. Management • Control • Underlying socioeconomic issues • Introductions = $$$ • Public sentiment • Fear of non-native species • IUCN prohibits release of NIS (non-indigenous species) in natural areas… this would mean no biological control • Concern about non-target effects

43. Management • Eradication Feasibility

44. Management • Eradication • Feasibility: • Biological characteristics: habitat specific; poor dispersal

45. Management • Eradication • Feasibility: • Biological characteristics: habitat specific; poor dispersal • Sufficient resources allocated: Eradicate AND restore

46. Management • Eradication • Feasibility: • Biological characteristics: habitat specific; poor dispersal • Sufficient resources allocated: Eradicate AND restore • Widespread support

47. Management • Eradication • Feasibility: • Biological characteristics: habitat specific; poor dispersal • Sufficient resources allocated: Eradicate AND restore • Widespread support • Prevent re-invasion

48. Management • Eradication • Feasibility: • Biological characteristics: habitat specific; poor dispersal • Sufficient resources allocated: Eradicate AND restore • Widespread support • Prevent re-invasion • Low populations

49. Management • Eradication • Feasibility: • Biological characteristics: habitat specific; poor dispersal • Sufficient resources allocated: Eradicate AND restore • Widespread support • Prevent re-invasion • Low populations