Addressing weeds threats to biodiversity: Theme: Biology
Addressing research priorities
Would you like to undertake high-impact research that really makes a difference? WABSI consults extensively with end users and stakeholders to identify priority biodiversity science knowledge needs. This helps us develop timely and relevant programs that address critical needs and have a strong pathway to adoption.
Developing projects that address key end user priorities can help maximise project funding opportunities and will lift the impact of your research.
To work with the WABSI collaboration of partners in addressing priority issues, submit a project abstract. (Please demonstrate a clear alignment with one or more priority knowledge gaps.)
THEME – BIOLOGY: FOCAL AREA 3 – ECOLOGY
| OUTCOMES | OBJECTIVES | KNOWLEDGE GAPS |
| The ecology of more of our most threatening weeds is characterised and leveraged to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of prevention and control programs More effective use of environmental drivers for improving weed control outcomes via improving ecosystem resilience A reduction in the facilitation of weed invasions and threats by biotic factors New weed incursions at a variety of scales (state, regional, local) are reduced due to a better understanding and management of dispersal risk and invasion pathways | Generate an improved ecological understanding of weed phenology, population dynamics, genetics and seedbank ecology, and weed response to climate change to underpin more effective control solutions and programs Characterise how environmental drivers, such as altered water regimes and contemporary fire regimes, influence weed presence and abundance and in particular how these relationships can be targeted to implement more effective weed control Quantify how weed impacts are influenced by biotic factors, including both native and non-native animals Establish a greater understanding of weed invasion pathways, both natural and human-mediated, and how to mitigate such risks | Research Topic 8: Weed biology, phenology and seed bank dynamics Research Topic 9: Environmental drivers of weed impacts Research Topic 10: Biotic facilitation and hindrance of weed invasions Research Topic 11: Greater clarity on weed invasion pathways |
THEME – BIOLOGY: FOCAL AREA 4 – IMPACTS
| OUTCOMES | OBJECTIVES | KNOWLEDGE GAPS |
| Weed impacts on market and non-market values provided by native biodiversity are identified and quantified Standardised monitoring and reporting frameworks transform the value of data flowing from weed management programs, particularly in regard to informing cross-tenure assessments Proactive management programs are implemented to prevent risky new weed incursions and to target existing weeds earlier in the invasion curve Conflict weed species are managed in an evidence-based way where impacts on biodiversity are prioritised based on a broader understanding of value | Improved quantification of the full range of weed impacts, including market and non-market values and the relationship between weed abundance and impact Reform the monitoring of weed management programs to generate a standardised reporting system for understanding actual outcomes and investment returns Strengthen our understanding of future weed risks, particularly in regard to climate change, to underpin proactive management or policy decisions to mitigate risk Establish an evidence-based approach to conflict weed species that applies compatible and accountable standards across stakeholder sectors and working together where there is consensus on issues | Research Topic 12: Quantifying the full range of weed impacts Research Topic 13: Effective, standardised monitoring of weed control outcomes Research Topic 14: Understanding future weed risks and impacts Research Topic 15: An evidence-based approach to conflict species |