Marcus Butler
15 May 2015: How invasive species arrive, spread and impact natural ecosystems is the focus of Richard Duncan’s latest work.
The conservation biologist/ecologist joined the University of Canberra’s Institute for Applied Ecology in 2013 and was appointed a Centenary Research Professor in early 2015.
Professor Duncan is about to embark in an Australian Research Council-funded project to learn more about the threat of invasive plants to native species. The $503,000 research venture will see him and his team take on field work on specially prepared grassland plots right on campus.
“We want to understand how invasive species establish in grasslands and come to dominate native species and then use that understanding to try and change conditions to favour our native species,” he said.
To do that, Professor Duncan and colleagues will plant native grassland species and invasive weeds in plots that have been manipulated in various ways, including some areas being closed off to prevent grazing by kangaroos, and then examine how the native and invasive species interact.
With invasive pests and diseases imposing significant costs on agriculture as well as native ecosystems, Professor Duncan hopes his work will contribute to the fight against invasive species.
“Alongside habitat loss and climate change, invasive species are ranked as the most significant threat to the world’s biodiversity,” he said.
He added that increasing trade and travel around the world means there is a persistent risk of new unwanted species arriving in Australia.
“This is going to be an ongoing battle that requires continuing investment in border biosecurity, rapid response to deal with new incursions and ongoing management of already established species.”
"The challenge is to use our scientific understanding to better understand the problem and how we can deploy our resources to best effect,” Professor Duncan said.
