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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410393
Research Project: Biological Control of Invasive Pests in Agroecosystems and Wetland, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystems in the Far Western U.S.

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: Prioritizing weeds for biological control development in the western USA: Adaption of the biological control target selection system

Author
item WINSTON, RACHEL - Mia Consulting, Llc
item SCHWARZLANDER, MARK - University Of Idaho
item HINZ, HARIET - Centre For Agriculture & Biosciences International (CABI)
item Pratt, Paul

Submitted to: BioControl
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2024
Publication Date: 2/14/2024
Citation: Winston, R.L., Schwarzlander, M., Hinz, H.L., Pratt, P.D. 2024. Prioritizing weeds for biological control development in the western USA: Adaption of the biological control target selection system. BioControl. 69:335–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-024-10243-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-024-10243-8

Interpretive Summary: Nonnative invasive plants (weeds) negatively impact native biodiversity, ecosystem services, agriculture, and the economic interests and health of humans. Since 1902, biological weed control has been employed as a cost-effective and sustainable management option for weeds in the USA. However, biological control is not appropriate for all weeds, nor is sufficient funding available to develop biological control for all weed species. Researchers in South Africa recently developed a Biological Control Target Selection (BCTS) system as an objective, transparent, and simple approach to prioritizing weeds as targets for biological control. The system includes multiple attributes pertaining to the 1) impact and importance of the target weed, 2) likelihood of achieving success, and 3) the investment required to develop and implement biological control. Attributes are scored based on available literature, and the overall score for each weed is used to rank species according to their potential to result in successful biological control programs. This paper describes the adaptation of the BCTS for application to weeds in the western USA not already targeted for biological control.

Technical Abstract: Nonnative invasive plants (weeds) negatively impact native biodiversity, ecosystem services, agriculture, and the economic interests and health of humans. Since 1902, biological weed control has been employed as a cost-effective and sustainable management option for weeds in the USA. However, biological control is not appropriate for all weeds, nor is sufficient funding available to develop biological control for all weed species. Researchers in South Africa recently developed a Biological Control Target Selection (BCTS) system as an objective, transparent, and simple approach to prioritizing weeds as targets for biological control. The system includes multiple attributes pertaining to the 1) impact and importance of the target weed, 2) likelihood of achieving success, and 3) the investment required to develop and implement biological control. Attributes are scored based on available literature, and the overall score for each weed is used to rank species according to their potential to result in successful biological control programs. This paper describes the adaptation of the BCTS for application to weeds in the western USA not already targeted for biological control.