ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN CONTROLLING INVASIVE SPECIES

摘要

Invasive species such as plants and insects are a growing threat worldwide and Australia is no exception.Both our agricultural and natural areas are battling these alien invaders.Over the years,many control measures have been tried and one method that has become well-established is biological control.In use in Australia for more than 80 years,it is seen as a 'clean and green' method of sustainable control,that does not require the use of chemicals or destruction of the environment.It is generally accepted that one of the reasons invasive species can run riot in their new environments is their freedom from species that control them in their native range.Providing there are sufficient safeguards,it seems logical to import these natural enemies to manage the invasive species in the introduced range.This is what is referred to as classical biological control(biocontrol).