Risk and ethics in biological control

All introduced natural enemies present a degree of risk to nontarget species. Since most biological control programs use relatively host-specific natural enemies, the risk to nontarget species is generally very low, particularly from biological control of weeds, which uses extensively tested and validated host-specificity testing procedures to predict risk. However, many of the published comments about risks of biological control are superficial or misleading, often inappropriately lumping risk from all taxa of agents as “the risk of biological control,” and ignore the potential benefits, rather than dealing with species-by-species risk and benefits. Particularly confounding accurate predictions is the common mixing of parameters of hazard and exposure in discussions of risk. In this paper, traditional risk analysis techniques are discussed and adapted for biological control. How people perceive risk is the key to understanding their attitude to risk. Some of the criticisms of biological control relating to inadequate post-release monitoring are valid and the ethical responsibilities of biological control scientists in this area are also discussed. Biological control scientists should address objectively the criticisms of biological control, continue to review and adjust current host-specificity testing procedures and make appropriate changes. This process will result in better science, ultimately delivering more focused programs, and altering the perception of risk from biological control agents by objective observers

Biological control and the cane toad syndrome. by Ernest S.Delfosse

tag=1 data=Biological control and the cane toad syndrome. by Ernest S.Delfosse. tag=2 data=Delfosse, Ernest S. tag=3 data=Australian Natural History. tag=4 data=23 tag=5 data=6 tag=6 data=Spring 1990 tag=7 data=480-489. tag=8 data=ANIMALS tag=9 data=CANE TOAD tag=10 data=The cane toad is often inappropriately used by opponents of biological control to raise doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Provided by MICAH, Canberra. tag=11 data=1990/2/12 tag=12 data=494 tag=13 data=CABThe cane toad is often inappropriately used by opponents of biological control to raise doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Provided by MICAH, Canberra

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: A SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OPTION FOR INVASIVE SPECIES (PowerPoint Presentation)

Crop Production/Industries,

SOME INVASIVE SPECIES ACTIVITIES IN AUSTRALIA (PowerPoint Presentation)

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Indigenous arthropod natural enemies of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in North America and Europe

Since the establishment of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (St\ue5l) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in North America and Europe, there has been a large, multi-group effort to characterize the composition and impact of the indigenous community of arthropod natural enemies attacking this invasive pest. In this review, we combine 98 indigenous natural enemy datasets spanning a variety of sampling methods, habitats, and geographic areas. To date, the vast majority of H. halys biological control research has focused on the egg stage, using sentinel egg masses to characterize indigenous parasitoid and predator communities and their contribution to H. halys egg mortality. Although egg parasitism and predation levels by indigenous natural enemies are low (typically <10% each) in most surveys, total egg mortality attributable to natural enemies can be higher (typically between 5 and 25%; up to 83%)\u2014even though these values were likely underestimated in most cases because some mortality due to biological control was not recognized. In North America, where the most data are available, it appears that the relative prevalence of different indigenous parasitoid species varies among habitat types, particularly between crop and non-crop habitats. Predator species responsible for egg mortality are much less commonly identified, but appear to include a wide variety of generalist chewing and sucking predators. To date, studies of natural enemies attacking H. halys nymphs and adults are relatively rare. Based on our review, we identify a number of key research gaps and suggest several directions for future research