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Biological Control: Choosing the Target
Weed
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Biological
Control Home | Key Resources
Steps in
a Weed Biological Control Program | Choosing Target
Weed | Native-range Surveying
| Choosing Best Potential Agent
| Host-specificity Testing
| Mass-rearing, Release
and Evaluation | Non-target
Impacts
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Weeds are identified by clients/stakeholders i.e. farmer
groups, Landcare groups and Government Agencies, as priority
targets for biological control. It is recommended that
one group or agency prepared a submission for the Australian
Weeds Committee, proposing a specific weed as a target
for biological control. It is the responsibility of
the Committee to ensure that all interest groups, including
agricultural, environmental and community based, that
may be affected by the proposal are consulted and comments
taken into account. The Committee will then make a recommendation
to the Natural Resources and Management Standing Committee
(formerly SCARM) via the Land & Water Biodiversity
Committee, either to declare the weed a target for biological
control or to submit the weed to consideration under the
Biological Control Act where significant conflict of interest
is identified.
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Not all weeds are acceptable targets for biological control.
Research is sometimes required to determine the appropriateness
of proposed targets for biological control. For example
it may be more appropriate to manage the weediness of
particular invasive species by addressing specific factors
such as enhancing competition by changing pasture composition,
instead of embarking on a comprehensive biological control
program. Some weed may also not be appropriate for biological
control because they are very closely related to Australian
native species. In these instances, it can be difficult
to find agents that are sufficiently host-specific and
not pose a threat to the closely-related plant species.
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As the establishment of biological control programs requires
significant resources, often millions of dollars over
10-20 years, biological control is usually only considered
for high priority weeds (e.g. Weeds
of National Significance in Australia). These weeds
cause significant damage to both agricultural and natural
ecosystems on a national scale.
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Aerial photo of an infestation of mimosa
in the Northern Territory (Australia),
a high priority weed for biological control.
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Biological
Control Home | Key Resources
Steps in
a Weed Biological Control Program | Choosing Target
Weed | Native-range Surveying
| Choosing Best Potential Agent
| Host-specificity Testing
| Mass-rearing, Release
and Evaluation | Non-target
Impacts
|
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