Using the New Zealand aquatic weed risk assessment model to manage potential weeds in the aquarium/ pond plant trade
Paul D. ChampionA, John S. ClaytonA, Andrew PetroeschevskyB and Melanie NewfieldC
A National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), PO Box 11-115, Hamilton, New Zealand.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Grafton, New South Wales 2460, Australia.
C Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
Summary
The aquatic weed risk assessment model (AWRAM) has been used as a decision support tool to prevent the importation of potentially invasive aquatic weeds distributed in the international ornamental plant trade. The model has also been used to rank potential weeds already in Australia and New Zealand, supporting management tools such as banning from sale and distribution, and eradication programs. Competition experiments to evaluate the weed potential of aquatic plants where little information on weediness is available are discussed as an additional tool to assist with weed risk assessment.
Keywords: Potential aquatic weeds, ornamental pond and aquarium plant trade, importation, banning sale and distribution.
Plant Protection Quarterly (2010) 25 (2) 49-51.