The scientific field of the biological control of alien invasive plants (AIP) has developed rapidly over the last 100 years in various countries (Morin et al. 2013) but, are some countries performing better than others? Biological control looks to diminish the negative consequences of alien invasive plants. For example, biological control reduces alterations of biotic and abiotic processes produced by AIP occurring within the ecosystem (Richardson and van Wilgen 2004). Major sites of invasion like the United States of America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have therefore been at the forefront of scientific progress in the field of biological control (Julien and Griffiths 1998; Cock et al. 2010). Interestingly, scientific advancement in the field has been a product of connected but distinct histories and conditions (Palmer et al. 2010). Alien invasive plants have influenced the natural environmental systems through the loss of biodiversity as well as economic loss in both South Africa and Australia with various introductions and subsequent naturalisations (Groves 2002; Morin et al. 2005; Morin et al. 2013).This paper will aim to provide an overview comparison of the major differences between the Australian and South African scientific field of biological control of alien invasive plants. The scientific field will be defined here as all the components within the practise of biological control as well as the sub-disciplines that may affect the practise although these sub-disciplines (eg. Legislation) will not be focused on to the same degree. Components of the scientific discipline such as general differences, successes and failures, biological techniques and innovations, agent selection, host specificity testing,... ... middle of paper ... ... simulated herbivory to predict the efficacy of a biocontrol agent: the effect of manual defoliation and Macaria pallidata Warren (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) herbivory on Mimosa pigra seedlings. Australian Journal of Entomology 45:324-326. Witkowski, E. T. F. and Garner, R. D. 2008. Seed production, seed bank dynamics, resprouting and long-term response to clearing of the alien invasive Solanum mauritianum in a temperate to subtropical riparian ecosystem. South African Journal of Botany 74:476-484. Zimmerman, H. G. and Neser, S. 1999. Trends and prospects for biological control of weeds in South Africa. African Entomology Memoir 1:165-173. Zimmermann, H. G., Moran, V. C. and Hoffmann, J. H. 2004. Biological control in the management of invasive alien plants in South Africa, and the role of the Working for Water programme. South African Journal of Science 100:34-40.
The most effective weed kill was found by examining how fast and effectively each weed kill treatment killed its group of seventeen weeds which were separated into one of three foam boxes over a period of five days. The most successful method was found to be one of the natural methods, boiling water. The next best method was the herbicide and then the least successful method was the vinegar solution which killed none of its weeds.
Invasive species as a whole have become a nuisance to many habitats and ecosystems around the world. What defines an invasive species is the following. It must be a species that is foreign to the habitat it resides in, have no natural predators which allow it to reproduce in such a rapid manner, and out compete native animals of food and shelter (Rosenthal 2011). These characteristics are what create such high populations of these invasive species in various habitats around the globe.
Invasive species are non-native organisms that occupy habitats and disrupt the natural ecological cycles of the habitat. They threaten the biodiversity of an ecosystem and are biological pollutants Invasive species introduced into new habitats usually maximize their reproduction in their new home and crowd out native species. Their lack of natural predators in their new community allow for a proliferation in growth and expansion as a result of their abundant food supply. Once they are established, invasive species can rarely be eliminated because their new habitat is favorable for their survival.
Rachel Carson’s use of the of the term ‘biocides’ signifies the whole rhetoric of her book. These so-called pesticides and herbicides are not merely killing herbs and insects as their names suggest, but rather they are committing murder against the whole biological spectrum on earth. We should call them as they are, biocides. Biocides that are harming each and every single living creature on this planet of ours, leading to their elimination. From humans and mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians, to the tiny ants and bees, we are all being killed slowly on different rates. All eventually reaching a mutual doom, which is the destiny of the whole biological phenomena if one succumbs. That is due to interdependence and interconnectedness of all living species on
Did you know that you happen to be surrounded by invasive species? These species are animals that come into areas they do not belong in. The articles, “Invaders among Us,” and “Invader Alert,” show this. They harm the environment, cost tons of money in damage and extermination, and they have to be prevented.
All discussions regarding the phenomenon of invasive species will inherently result in the consensus that they are an unwanted or an even evil entity. Ever since the age of exploration humans have been primary dispersers of these so called “exotic” species (Mooney and Cleland 2001). Famous examples include the release of cane toads in Australia (Urban et al., 2008); the rainbow trout (Fausch 2008) and the Japanese Kudzu vine in the southern U.S. (Blaustein 2001) and zebra mussels in the great lakes of Canada (Nalepa and Schloesser 1992). However, documented marine invasions compared with
When people think of invasive species, they normally do not think of the human species, but why not? There is a large debate about whether or not humans are an invasive species. Before people debate whether or not the human race is an invasive species, they should know the definition of one. The legal definition of an invasive species in the United States is “an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (Zielinski). The International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, defines an invasive species as “animals, plants or other organisms introduced by man into places outside their natural range of distribution, where they become established and disperse, generating a negative impact on the local ecosystem and species” (Zielinski).
Zipkin, Elise F., Kraft, Clifford E., Cooch, Evan G., and Sullivan, Patrick J., “When Can Efforts to Control Nuisance and Invasive Species Backfire?,” Ecological Applications, Vol. 19, No. 6 (2009): 1585-1595, accessed October 11, 2013. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40346271.
The term invasive species is described as a species that is introduced into an area in which it is not native. This species has the potential to cause a negative effect to the native species and other biotic factors in those surroundings (Invasive Species, n.d). Any kind of living organism can be a potential invasive species, including the seeds and eggs of an organism (Invasive Species, n.d). These species can be brought into an area any number of ways but are usually a result of human activity (Invasive Species, n.d). Although, it has been discovered that protected areas can be impacted by invasive species, possibly more so than non-protected areas (Hoopes et al., 2013).
This essay has therefore discussed the most popular classes of plant chemical defences, namely terpenes, phenolics, nitrogen-based defences and allelopathy. The effects of these defences on herbivores has also been touched on. Many of these compounds produced by plants have later been extracted by humans for use as insecticides. Compounds such as tannins are also used in the wine industry. These chemicals thus have a very strong economic influence.
Invasive species, (also known as invasive alien species or simply alien species) are defined as any organism (plant, animal, pathogen, or other living thing) that is alien (non-native) to an ecosystem, which can cause adverse economical, ecological, or health effects to native species and/or humans. The roots of these problems all stem from the massive negative ecological impact these organisms are having on the environment (CBD, 2009). For all animal extinctions where the cause is known since the 1600’s, invasive alien species have been a contributing factor 40% of the time (CBD, 2006); the second most contributing factor to extinctions after loss of habitat (GC, 2013). By eliminating native species through competition for resources, predation, and transmittal of disease, invasive species continue to reduce biodiversity in almost all ecosystems around the world (CBD, 2009). In the future, this problem may worsen, and if no action is taken, could lead to a cascading ecological problem so large that whole communities or even ecosystems could collapse.
Based on the information provided by Medical Ecology and the Center for Disease Control and
Instead of using pesticides in farming a better alternative would be biological control. This is when a natural predator is released into the crop growing area as a result the number of pests can be reduced.
The main goal of vector control is to eliminate all of the population. But it is not easy as we say to accomplish this goal. However, if the selection pressure that is put on a population is greater, the susceptibility may be lost also will faster. If the individuals possessing susceptible genes emigrate from untreated areas, they will dilute and compete with the resistance genes in the overall population. We need detect the resistance at an early stage and also must do an early step in a vector control programme so that timely management can be implemented and the significance of immigration of untreated insects can be estimate. We also must consider the risk of insecticide resistance during planning a resistance management programme.
American Medical Association. (1997, August 6). Why Should We Be Concerned About BiologicalWarfare?. CDC.gov. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/spoxclincian/contents