Title: ISC backgrounder on the invasion risks of introducing new genetic variants of exotic plants and animals
The Invasive Species Council (ISC) have developed a background paper on the risks of introducing new genetic variants of exotic plants and animals. The ISC argue that most of the focus in assessments of proposed imports of plants and animals into Australia is at a species level. This means that once a species is a permitted import, new genetic material (new subspecies, cultivars, biotypes) can usually be introduced into the environment without assessment. Many species permitted import into Australia are already serious weeds or pests (they are permitted because they were already established in Australia when the current system of risk assessment was implemented). It has been assumed that permitting different variants of a species that is already a weed or pest can’t do much more harm. But recent evidence shows that introducing new genetic material can facilitate invasion and create a much worse problem. This justifies requiring assessment of the risks of importing new genetic material. The full backgrounder can be read by clicking here.
Article: WeedsNews41 (permalink) Date: 19 May 2009; 12:39:23 PM AEST