Early and Pre-emptive Intervention in Weed Biological Control: An Argument for Swifter Action to Aid Conservation Efforts

Authors: Smith, Melissa; CANAVAN, KIM - University Of The Free State; MINTEER, CAREY - University Of Florida; LIEURANCE, DEAH - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/19/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The delay in management for invasive plants costs billions in damages. Although the most efficient expenditures are in prevention, these are generally lacking and are primarily geared towards biosecurity screening and surveillance. Herein, we argue that as part of risk assessments and horizon scanning exercises to identify likely invaders, we incorporate biological control into those surveys. By utilizing biological control earlier or pre-emptively, we decrease the potential damages and costs associated with controlling invasive plants.

Technical Abstract: Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a frequent consequence of global connectivity and present significant threats to biodiversity, amplifying impacts from global climate change and habitat loss. Integrated management efforts for landscape-level plant invasions often include some combination of cultural, chemical, and biological control. The former two have well established protocols and development pipelines for rapid responses to new invasions. Biological control of IAPs, however, is often employed only after the invaded region has reached some arbitrary but intolerable level of negative impact that triggers efforts to develop agents to provide control. Despite mounting evidence that investments in prevention and proactive approaches to IAPs are the most cost effective, most expenditures, including those for biological control development, continue to be in the post-invasion reactive phase. Herein, we provide support for the earlier investigation and implementation of biological control for IAPs. A potential framework for this approach would pair prioritization methods (e.g., risk assessments and horizon scanning) to identify targets with extensive literature searchers for known herbivores or foreign range surveys and early host range tests. In addition, resource sharing among regions and nations with similar climates and risks would alleviate the onus of investment from any one party. Finally, investments into conservation and training opportunities between nations further incentives maintain natural resources for potential biological control. By developing and implementing biological control earlier in the invasion process, countless impacts and costs are lessened.