Module 4
Fighting back!
Learning Outcomes
• At the end of this module you should be able to:
– identify and understand IAS management goals
– state some examples of successful eradications
– understand that IAS can be successfully eradicated or controlled
Fighting Back!
• The worldwide problem of IAS is serious
BUT
the outlook is not all doom and gloom!
• Around the world people are fighting back against unwanted invaders
What are the goals of IAS management?
• There are four options:
– Prevention
– Early detection & rapid response
– Eradication
– Control / Mitigation
Red Imported Fire Ant
Why manage IAS?
• Must have specific goals, such as:
– protecting an endangered species
– conserving biodiversity
– protecting human health
Eradication
• Campbell Island
– an 11,000 hectare sub-Antarctic island infested with 200,000 rats
– eradication necessary to protect rare native wildlife
– completed using 120 tonnes of rat bait dropped by helicopter
– the largest island eradication of rodents
Campbell Island teal Ship loading rat bait
Eradication
Increasing size of New Zealand islands from which rats have been eradicated
• Eradication of IAS on large islands is now possible due to:
– better techniques
– improved technology
– years of experience
Control
• Lake Wilson, Hawaii
– invaded by the aquatic weed Salvinia molesta
– multi-agency task force set up to address the problem
– used herbicide and mechanical removal to clear 38,000 m³ of weed from lake
– requires monthly maintenance to prevent regrowth
Before After
Mitigation
• Possum browsing
– threatens rare native New Zealand mistletoe plants
– individual trees are ‘tinned’ to prevent possums from climbing them
metal barrier on trunk
The way forward
• Eradication is now an achievable goal in many situations
• Often more than one species can be eradicated at a time
• Getting institutional buy-in is important
Summary
• Apathy is not an option!
• Techniques & resources for eradication are constantly improving
• There are numerous success stories from around the world
• Eradication is hard work but the results are worth it!
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