The Importance of Core Biological Disciplines in Plant Biosecurity
Knowledge associated with biological disciplines, particularly Entomology (including Acarology), Plant Pathology (including Bacteriology, Mycology, Nematology, and Virology), Malacology, and Weed Science, is critical to understand and study pests of agric
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The Importance of Core Biological Disciplines in Plant Biosecurity Susan P. Worner, Robert C. Venette, Mark Braithwaite, and Erhard Dobesberger
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Introduction Overview of Biological Knowledge Needed to Conduct a Pest Risk Analysis
Increased tourism and trade, coupled with a changing climate are resulting in biodiversity loss and undocumented detrimental economic, social and environmental impacts from invasive alien species. Both managed and natural ecosystems are at risk and the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of every nation are threatened. Biosecurity programmes facilitate trade by analysing the risks associated with the movement of plants and plant products and mitigating those risks through various risk management methodologies. Sound biological knowledge is essential to the conduct of a reliable and accurate Pest Risk Analysis (Chap. 9). Plant biosecurity programmes cannot exclude all non-native species because of the large trade volume, the number of species involved and the associated biological diversity. The economic benefits of trade, weighed against the risk posed by invasive alien species, often influences decisions involving importations. Here we highlight themes common to each of the core biological disciplines and explain how a thorough understanding of these disciplines can improve the biosecurity of a nation involved in trade and travel. S.P. Worner (*) • M. Braithwaite Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Canterbury, New Zealand e-mail: [email protected] R.C. Venette Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 1561 Lindig Street, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA E. Dobesberger 906-1300 Pinecrest Road, Ottawa K2C 3M5, Canada G. Gordh and S. McKirdy (eds.), The Handbook of Plant Biosecurity, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7365-3_4, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht (outside the USA) 2014
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Many human activities (airline travel, international mail, commercial trade), have the potential to move undesirable pest species into areas where they are not native, where they become established and cause significant harm to agriculture and natural resources. The negative consequences of some human activities involving trade or travel may far exceed the benefits. With respect to plant biosecurity, some of those activities are more likely to lead to the invasion of species with the potential to cause significant ecological, economic, or social harm. The challenge for biosecurity officials is to permit activities that have net benefits and to prohibit, or strictly regulate, activities that may be detrimental. We mitigate the potential threat and damage from unwanted organisms through Pest Risk Analysis, and begin by identifying species that are “most dangerous.” Accurate evaluation of the threat that species pose requires comprehensive knowledge about species and their responses to management. We must evaluate each species’ taxonomy, distribution, biology, environmental requirements, introduction pathways, and potential to im
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