HAFIZ MAQBOOL AHMED S5026985 “REVIEW OF INVASIVE WEED PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA: CASE STUDY BULWER - MORETON ISLAND” (7181ENV) APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT Dr. Peter Davey MASTER OF ENVIRONMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 Aims of the project 3 Objective of the project 3 Original project targets 4 Literature review 4 Research question 5 Methodology to be adopted 5 Equipment 5 Council treatment 5 Data analysis 6 Bibliography 6 REVIEW OF INVASIVE WEED PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA: CASE STUDY BULWER - MORETON ISLAND INTRODUCTION Invasive weeds “sensu Kolar and Lodge, 2001” are serious issue and big problem to the ecosystem throughout the world “Mack et al., 2000”. Habitually, invasive weeds are larger in size and have high densities as compared to native populations and this is thought that they affect the environment at high rate because of their higher densities and larger size “Torchin et al., 2003 cited by Wright, 2005”. In the high area of conservation value the weeds are the major threat to biodiversity. Unluckily, individuals may be involuntarily dispersing and introducing seeds of weeds on their clothing when they visit these areas. Data shows that seeds of weeds can translocate with other places with the clothing. A total of 287 of the types are listed as foreigners in one or more countries in Europe, 211 are naturalized outlandish plants in Australia, 156 are invasive kinds/harmful weeds in North America, 97 are foreign species in India, 33 are disturbing species in China and 5 are confirmed weeds/intruders in South Africa “Ansong & Pickering, 2014”. Clothing of hikers can carry the seeds maximum distance of 13 km, but the people travel in buses, cars, train, planes and boats can carry the seeds much long distances “Ansong & Pickering, 2014”. The type of material the clothing is made from, the type of clothing, the number and location of the seeds on plants, seed traits such as adhesive and attachment structures are the factors that affect this type of seed dispersal. Areas which are specific for tourists using is increasing including popular protected areas, in remote regions may be great risk of biological attacks by weeds with seeds carried on clothing “Ansong & Pickering, 2014”. AIMS OF THE PROJECT The basic aim of the project is to assist the native fauna which is under threat because of invasive weeds • A systematic review of invasive weed management OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT • History of this problem • List of weeds (Bulwer has 29 Noxious Weed Species but focus on the 2 main invasive weeds) • Regulations National, State and Local acts and rules • Discuss the 2 Species at Bulwer that are threatening National eg. Asparagus Fern, Pricky Pear • Methods of Control of 2 main weed threats • Weedicide vs physical removal include Advantages and Disadvantages • Solutions to this biosecurity issue ORIGINAL PROJECT TARGETS The main target of the project is five invasive species  Prickly Pear “Opuntia stricta”  Asparagus Fern “Asparagus aethiopicus” LITERATURE REVIEW The four factors that explain and define the invading species are 1. The analysis of ecology of invasive weeds 2. Introducing the latest and updated methods for the change in distribution of invasive weeds and to assess the current status of these weeds 3. Clarifying and explaining the thinking of the society about the invasive species 4. Establishing the effect of global change on the successful proliferation of invasive species “Mooney. 2005”. Invasive species are affecting more than causing extinction. They can also:  Modify behaviour of other species  Disrupt mutualisms and epiphytic situations  Hybridize with native species  Compress niche sizes  Alter nutrient cycling regimes “Mooney. 2005”. The use of herbicides is unquestionably successful for removal of weeds but only some people know about the effects of blanket spray for the purpose of removing weeds. However many are familiar with the effect of herbicides on the aquatic ecosystem such as estuaries, coastal marine waters, rivers, aquifers, lakes and ground water which are used on land sites. Microalgae and phytoplankton are playing vital role in the survival of macro invertebrate and fish. The bioaccumulation or uptake of herbicides by microorganisms can have bad consequences for the food web of aquatic life “Zhang, Qiu, Zhou, Jin, & Yang, 2011”. The distribution and abundance of invasive species has influenced by the climate. The invasive plants could shift with a management practices and altering climate may need to shift in response by the habitat suitability. Anecdotal evidence recommends that groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia) has dropped in plenty over the past 50 years in Australia, co-incident with the introduction of a group of organic control agents. While there is a hypothesis that biological control may be responsible for this decline,—that long-term amendment in the favorability for groundsel bush has changed growth condition due to the climate throughout its Australian range. There is a prediction that what may happen to the upcoming spreading of this species, using a bioclimatic modeling technique (CLIMEX). The scientist found a significant decline in the favorability for growth of B. halimifolia over the past 50 years at twenty nine (29) locations in Australia. Under the prediction of IPCC future climate scenario (increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall), the favorability for growing of B. halimifolia will remain to fall in Queensland and its scattering may move extra south into New South Wales and Victoria “Sims-Chilton, Zalucki, & Buckley, 2010”. RESEARCH QUESTION The affect of invasive weeds on the yield of crops? How they affect the life? Which methods are useful to remove them? Which measures we should use to protect the spread of invasive species in National Park? How much type of weeds is in Moreton Island, Bulwer? METHODOLOGY TO BE ADOPTED Hand extraction will be the practice for the removal of invasive weeds in Bulwer because the use of herbicides can cause aquatic and environmental harm. The method to eradicate weeds from Bulwer depends on the type of invasive species. Normally contractors use roundup. Basal bark spraying is good method to control the growth of Climbing Asparagus Fern. Count number of five weeds in selected area and check the growth of invasive weeds and remove these weeds through hands in Bulwer, Moreton Island. During the removing process of weeds, make sure that you are not dispersing their seeds on other places and also remove them properly to make sure the entire root ball system has been removed to avoid reemerge. After removing weeds, put them in garbage bag to secure the seeds and root balls in the bags. Dispose these garbage bags in green waste section of Bulwer Dump. EQUIPMENT The main equipment used for this project will include:  Hand Written Checklist on Clipboard  Hand Weed Removal Device COUNCIL TREATMENT The Brisbane City Council is applying two spray treatments every year across all Council land which includes Cowan Cowan, Kooringal and Bulwer. Systemic herbicides are normally used to kill the invasive weeds because the more intense contact herbicides can burn the foliage. Systemic herbicides have less poison as compared to contact herbicides but these are unable to kill the seed. The council contractors use both ‘Starane’ (Fluroxypyr), and ‘Brush Off’ (Metsulfuron Methyl). DATA ANALYSIS BIBLIOGRAPHY Ansong, M., & Pickering, C. (2014). Weed seeds on clothing: a global review. Journal of environmental management, 144, 203-211. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.05.026 Mooney, H. A. (2005). Invasive alien species: a new synthesis. Washington: Island Press. Sims-Chilton, N. M., Zalucki, M. P., & Buckley, Y. M. (2010). Long term climate effects are confounded with the biological control programme against the invasive weed Baccharis halimifolia in Australia. Biological Invasions, 12(9), 3145-3155. doi:10.1007/s10530-010-9705-z Wright, J. T. (2005). Differences between native and invasive Caulerpa taxifolia: a link between asexual fragmentation and abundance in invasive populations. Marine Biology, 147(2), 559-569. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-1561-5 Zhang, S., Qiu, C. B., Zhou, Y., Jin, Z. P., & Yang, H. (2011). Bioaccumulation and degradation of pesticide fluroxypyr are associated with toxic tolerance in green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Ecotoxicology, 20(2), 337-347. doi:10.1007/s10646-010-0583-z