PARENT SESSION
Symposium 13: Prediction and prioritization of future invasive species
Organized by: RN Mack and M Lonsdale
Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 517 A, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Identifying invasive plants: A practicable evaluation protocol for Pacific Islands.
Daehler, Curtis*,1, Denslow, Julie2, 1 University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, HI2 USDA Forest Service Institute of Pacific Island Forestry, Hilo, HI
ABSTRACT- At least 5000 plant species have been introduced to tropical Pacific Islands, and new species are being intentionally imported every year. More than half of plants invasive in Hawaii and the Pacific were intentionally introduced for horticulture, agriculture or forestry purposes. We tested a modified version of the Australian / New Zealand weed risk assessment (WRA) system and found that it can be used to identify more than 90% of major pest plants on Pacific Islands. Eighty-five percent of non-pest plants were also correctly identified. While not perfect, the WRA is the best currently available tool for screening proposed new introductions. For plants that have already been introduced, we developed an objective protocol that considers WRA results, time since introduction, extent of planting, and specific field observations to evaluate current plant invasiveness and to identify species most likely to become harmful invaders. Our objective has been to provide an accurate assessment of current plant invasiveness and future risks; however, the decision to import, grow or control a plant can also depend on economic, esthetic and cultural values, leading to a more complex decision-making processes that is beyond the scope of the WRA.
Key words: invasion, prediction, risk assessment, tropical