Prioritization of alien plant targets for biological control in South Africa's offshore sub-Antarctic islands

Abstract Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a significant threat to the biodiversity and ecological functioning of the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (PEIs); however, weed biological control has not yet been implemented as a management tool. The PEIs have had 23 alien plants recorded, of which se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Canavan, Kim, Paterson, Iain Douglas
Other Authors: South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2023
Subjects:
Geology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Oceanography
Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Prince Edward Islands
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102023000135
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102023000135
Description
Summary:Abstract Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a significant threat to the biodiversity and ecological functioning of the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (PEIs); however, weed biological control has not yet been implemented as a management tool. The PEIs have had 23 alien plants recorded, of which several are considered beyond eradication and therefore could benefit from the release of safe and effective biocontrol agents. We used the South African Biological Control Target Selection (BCTS) system to provide a ranked list of the target species in order of priority for further biocontrol research. The highest-scoring species, and therefore those that should be considered first to be targeted, were Sagina procumbens and Cerastium fontanum . No biocontrol agents for IAPs have been released in any climate with as consistent low temperatures as in the PEIs, so the climatic compatibility of agents will be essential prior to any decision to release. However, with very few native species present on the PEIs, the programmes would involve limited host specificity testing, which would improve the feasibility and speed with which new biocontrol agents could be developed. Biocontrol may offer an environmentally safe and sustainable method of reducing the negative impacts of these priority species and thus warrants further investigation.

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