Download Environmental strategies - MrsMorritt

Environmental strategies
Discuss conservation projects and strategies for maintaining biodiversity and the prevention of extinction including:
o introduced species
o biological control
o reafforestation
o pest control
Controlling introduced species
Feral animals and plants are so successful because they can out-breed, out-eat and out-compete Australian natives, as well as having few natural
predators. Introduced animal pests include cats, foxes, rabbits, goats, pigs and cane toads. Examples of plant pests include Camphor Laurel, prickly
acacia and the prickly pear. Of these feral invaders, many have outstayed their welcome by causing massive damage to the Australian environment.
Animal Introduced Species
Problems this species cause
Introduced species
cats
Conservation projects and strategies
for maintaining biodiversity.
HQ –p119 Few factors limit the distribution of cats.
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/inv
asive/index.html
Habitat:
Management is difficult due to the lack
of effective and humane broadscale
control techniques, and the presence of
domestic cats.
Food:
Infectious diseases:
Fencing areas to exclude cats.
Licensing of domestic cats
How the cat contributes to lack of biodiversity
Sterilisation of cats
HQ –p119 Distributed over most of Australia.
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/fer
als/index.html#control
Felis catus
foxes
Habitat:
Baiting: 1080 poison baits
Shooting
Food:
Vulpes vulpes
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Fencing
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Plant Introduced Species
Introduced species
Camphor laurel tree
Problems this species cause
HQ page 120
Noxious weeds are plants that cause environmental or
economic harm, or have the potential to cause such harm.
List some of the harm that this tree causes.
Conservation projects and strategies
for maintaining biodiversity.
Herbicide Methods
Stem injection (or “tree frilling”)
Basal bark method
Foliar spray
Cut stump (“cut and paint” or “cut, scrape
and paint”)
Control of seedlings
Ringbarking using a hammer
Felling without painting with herbicide
Ringbarking
http://www.northcoastweeds.org.au/camphorkit.htm
Cinnamomum camphora
Arum Lily
Description: Robust clump-forming, perennial herb to 1.5 m
high. Plants with tuberous underground stems (rhizomes)
and fleshy white roots. Leaves with blade 15–50 cm long and
8–25 cm wide, on fleshy stalks 40–110 cm long. Fruit green
or yellow, about 1 cm wide; seeds yellow-orange, about 3
mm wide.
Herbicides - 2,4-D amine
http://agspsrv95.agric.wa.gov.au/dps/version02/01_plant
view.asp?page=1&contentID=7
A common garden plant toxic to stock and humans with
fatalities in both recorded. Naturalised on damp land and
stream banks in temperate Australia. Thrives on sandy soil
with a periodic high water table.
A serious weed along creek lines and in wet areas of south
western Western Australia. Frequently sold in the cut flower
trade. Seeds germinate readily, but do not remain viable from
year to year.
Zantedeschia aethiopica
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Pest Species
Features of a
successful pest
Bufo marinus ( ___________________
_____________________ )
Opuntia stricta ( ___________________
__________________ )
Reason for introduction
High reproductive rate
High dispersal rate of
offspring
Survive in wide variety
of habitats
Competition for
resources with native
flora/fauna
Habitat destruction
Consumption of native
flora and flora
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Biological Control Agents
A management tool for controlling pests using parasites, predators, pathogens and weed feeders.
Investigate an example of a biological control that is being used to control introduced species helping to conserve and maintain biodiversity
of native species and prevent extinction.
Opuntia stricta
Oryctolagus cuniculus
The pest
Damage caused by Prickly pear
Damage caused by rabbits
Features of a
successful biological
control agent
Cactoblastis cactorum
HQ p125
Calicivirus
Reproductive rate of the
biological control agent.
Dispersal rate of
offspring of the
biological control agent.
Biological control agent
survives in narrow
range of habitats.
Low competition of the
biological control agent
for resources with
native flora/fauna.
The biological control
agent has Minimal
effect on habitat
The biological control
agent very specific food
sources
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Pest Control
HQ page 122
Weeds, insects and fungi are classed as pests.
Fungus - Jarrah dieback Phytophthora cinnamomi
In the south-west of WA Jarrah dieback is found in areas receiving more than 400 mm annual
rainfall between Jurien and east of Esperance. Phytophthora dieback is found all around the
Perth metropolitan area. In particular, the Banksia woodlands in the southern and northern
suburbs of Perth, and the Jarrah forest in the eastern metropolitan area are high infested with
the disease.
Phosphite (phosphonate), is a biodegradable fungicide that protects plants against
Phytophthora dieback. Phosphite works by boosting the plant's own natural defences and
thereby allowing susceptible plants to survive within Phytophthora dieback infested bushland.
It is important to note that there is no chemical that will eradicate Phytophthora
dieback, including phosphite.
An integrated approach may combine strategic phosphite treatment, controlling access,
correcting drainage problems and implementing excellent hygiene protocols.
Phosphite controls many species of Phytophthora, including Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Phosphite is not toxic to people or animals and its toxicity has been compared to table salt.
There is a very low pollution risk associated with phosphite. When phosphite is sprayed on to
the foliage of plants, it is applied at a very low rate, so any phosphite that reaches the soil is
bound to the soil and does not reach the water table.
HQ page 135 136
Sustainable Use
Sustainable use means the consumption of resources at a rate that is slower than the resources can be regenerated naturally.
Forests can be used sustainably
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Management strategies
http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/
http://environment.gov.au/biodiversity/conservation/index.html
Over the last 200 years Australia has suffered the largest documented decline in biodiversity of any continent. Despite efforts to manage
threats and pressures to biodiversity in Australia, it is still in decline.
The main threats to our biodiversity are:
loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat
the spread of invasive species
unsustainable use of natural resources
inappropriate fire regimes
changes to the aquatic environment and water flows
Discuss conservation projects and strategies for maintaining biodiversity and the prevention of extinction including management strategies
e.g. national parks, protected zones, licences, open seasons.
Western Shield program
http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/category/45/299/1631/
Western Shield, the Department of Environment and Conservation's leading nature conservation program, is safeguarding Western
Australia's native animals. Launched in 1996, it is now the biggest wildlife conservation program ever undertaken in Australia.
Western Shield is working to bring at least 13 native animal species back from the brink of extinction by controlling introduced predators —
the European fox and feral cat.
Investigate how the Western Shield program is helping to conserve and maintain biodiversity and prevent extinction
Chuditch
http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/5775/1808/
Numbat
http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/
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