biosecurity built on science
Integrating knowledge of distribution, hosts and impacts of Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust) in Australia
Laura FernandezPhD Student
Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre
biosecurity built on science
Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust)Described in Brazil (1884) Detected in NSW (2010) Agonis flexuosa
www.apstas.comNed Klopfenstein
biosecurity built on science
Myrtaceae in Australia~ 2250 spp.
Atlas of Living Australia / www.ala.org.au / by Rachael Gallagher
> 300 known susceptible spp.
biosecurity built on science
Genera of Australian MyrtaceaeEucalyptus ~ 850 spp. Melaleuca ~200 spp. Callistemon 37 spp.
biosecurity built on science
Negative impacts
Rhodamnia rubescens Syzygium jambos
R. Makinson A. Carnegie
Rhodamnia rubescens
L. Fernandez
Chamelaucium uncinatum
L. Fernandez
Rhodamnia rubescens
biosecurity built on science
It is important to have updated information on the distribution and impacts of invasive species
decisions
quarantine, management and control
Survey
biosecurity built on science
Myrtle rust survey
• Ethical approval from Macquarie University• Qualtrics software from Macquarie University
biosecurity built on science
Myrtle rust survey
• 548 emails
• National Parks, Botanical Gardens, councils, forestry corporation, nurseries and bush regeneration groups• NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS, NT
• Survey sent December 2015 - closed February 2016
biosecurity built on science
Myrtle rust survey• Number of questions: maximum 10 • To be responded in 10 minutes or less
biosecurity built on science
Myrtle rust survey1 - Have you seen evidence of myrtle rust in your area?Yes 2 - Localities? 3 - Plant community type?4 - Plant species? Severity? Tissues?5 - Control? 6 - Threat? No
7 - Have you received information?8 - Work for local government..?9 - Are you willing to be contacted?10 - Comments
biosecurity built on science
Results• 254 responses (surveys started), 200 surveys completed
1 - Have you seen evidence of myrtle rust infection on plants in your area?
Yes No123 131
NSW 63 44QLD 15 7VIC 4 35TAS -- 12NT -- 4ACT -- 5 82 107
biosecurity built on science
• At what localities have you observed myrtle rust?
Four new Local Government Areas(LGAs) were detected:
New LGAs for myrtle rustNSW Singleton
Muswellbrook QLD Burdekin
Gladstone
Map by Katherine Berthon
biosecurity built on science
Plant community type / Land use types: 78 responses
Garden
locati
on
Stree
t tree
s
Park / M
unicipal
parklan
d
Plant n
ursery
Plantings
/ plan
ted Sy
zygium
Botanica
l gard
ens
Ornamen
tals
02468
101214 13
3 32 2
1 1
Artificial
Rainfores
t
Tall o
pen fo
rest
Wet scl
erophyll
fores
t
Coastal
woodland
Swam
p Scler
ophyll Fo
rest
Riparian
/ Cree
k / Rive
rbanks
Wet scl
erophyll
gully
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Natural
biosecurity built on science
Can you remember which plant species you have seen infected?
People named 50 species of 13 genera
Rhodamnia rubescens 27Melaleuca quinquenervia 13 Syzygium jambos (exotic) 12 Rhodomyrtus psidioides 10
Five reported new host species: Lophomyrtus obcordata Kunzea parvifolia Leptospermum myrtifolium Eucalyptus amplifolia Lophostemon confertus
biosecurity built on science
Control?
Threat?
No: 41Yes: 31
Yes 41 R. rubescens and R. psidioidesDon’t know 14No 12Probably 8
biosecurity built on science
- Who will benefit from my research? Respondents, natural resource managers, park rangers, scientists, community > open channels of communication with stakeholders
- How I will deliver it to end-users? send results back to respondents, publish in scientific journals, available online, recommendations for managers
- How will they use my research? Including new susceptible species in host species list, adding new locations into current distribution, accurate management
- End-user’s perspective quote 1: “If we know where it is currently and how fast it is spreading this would be valuable information to have (Lane Cove NSW Gov.)”
quote 2: “I don't know how to ID it but would like to learn/ know more about it (Biosis – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting)”
biosecurity built on science
Future – Next steps of my research• Chapter 1: Introduction• Chapter 2: Integrating knowledge of distribution, hosts and impacts of Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust)
in Australia
• Chapter 3: Assessing susceptibility of Australian species to Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust) • Chapter 4: Impacts of Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust) on rainforest native
communities • Chapter 5: Impacts of Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust) after fire• Chapter 6: Conclusion
biosecurity built on science
Acknowledgements- Supervisors Michelle Leishman, Angus Carnegie and Geoff Pegg - Rachael Gallagher and Katherine Berthon
For more information, please email: [email protected]
Thank you!