Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?

When a non-native species succeeds in establishing in a new habitat, one of the possible responses is to attempt its eradication. In the present study, we analysed European eradication programmes against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants (PPWP) from 1945 to date. Our main goal was to id...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sofia Branco, Jacob C. Douma, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Mireia Gomez-Gallego, Benoit Marcais, Simone Prospero, José Carlos Franco, Hervé Jactel, Manuela Branco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2023-05-01
Series:NeoBiota
Online Access:https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/95687/download/pdf/
_version_ 1797823301600411648
author Sofia Branco
Jacob C. Douma
Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Mireia Gomez-Gallego
Benoit Marcais
Simone Prospero
José Carlos Franco
Hervé Jactel
Manuela Branco
author_facet Sofia Branco
Jacob C. Douma
Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Mireia Gomez-Gallego
Benoit Marcais
Simone Prospero
José Carlos Franco
Hervé Jactel
Manuela Branco
author_sort Sofia Branco
collection DOAJ
description When a non-native species succeeds in establishing in a new habitat, one of the possible responses is to attempt its eradication. In the present study, we analysed European eradication programmes against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants (PPWP) from 1945 to date. Our main goal was to identify which factors affect the success of an eradication programme, reinforcing guidelines for future eradication of PPWP. Data on eradication campaigns were obtained from online databases, scientific and grey literature, and Plant Protection Organizations’ reports. Factors influencing eradication success for both arthropods and pathogens were analysed with LASSO regression and decision tree learning. A total of 848 cases officially declared as eradication attempts were documented in our database (8-fold higher than previous reports). Both the number of programmes and their rate of success increased sharply over the last two decades. Only less than 10% of the non-native organisms affecting woody plants were targeted for attempted eradication despite the high economic and ecological impacts caused by some species for which no efforts were undertaken. Almost one-third of the officially declared cases of eradication concerned organisms that were still restricted to the material with which they were introduced. For these cases the success rate was 100%. The success rate of established species was only 50% for arthropods and 61% for pathogens. The spatial extent of the outbreak was the factor that most affected the outcome of eradication campaigns. The eradication success decreased abruptly above 100 ha for arthropods and 10 ha for pathogens. Additionally, other variables were shown to influence the outcome of eradication programmes, in particular the type of environment, with the highest eradication success rate found in nurseries and glasshouses, with successful outcomes increasing if quarantine measures were applied and when monitoring included asymptomatic plants. Particular species traits may reduce eradication success: parthenogenetic arthropods, saprotrophic pathogens, wind dispersal, the possibility to remain asymptomatic indefinitely, and the existence of resting spores or stages. In conclusion, small affected areas, quick response, and efficient implementation of quarantine restrictions, together with particular species traits, may allow a high probability of eradication success. Preparedness at the country and European level would allow a larger number of target species to be included in future eradication programmes.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T10:22:04Z
format Article
id doaj.art-aa5ed9f23b14488f869b96ad170c85eb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1314-2488
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T10:22:04Z
publishDate 2023-05-01
publisher Pensoft Publishers
record_format Article
series NeoBiota
spelling doaj.art-aa5ed9f23b14488f869b96ad170c85eb2023-05-20T08:11:06ZengPensoft PublishersNeoBiota1314-24882023-05-018428131710.3897/neobiota.84.9568795687Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?Sofia Branco0Jacob C. Douma1Eckehard G. Brockerhoff2Mireia Gomez-Gallego3Benoit Marcais4Simone Prospero5José Carlos Franco6Hervé Jactel7Manuela Branco8Universidade de LisboaWageningen UniversitySwiss Federal Research Institute WSLUniversité de LorraineUniversité de LorraineSwiss Federal Research Institute WSLUniversidade de LisboaUniversity of BordeauxUniversidade de LisboaWhen a non-native species succeeds in establishing in a new habitat, one of the possible responses is to attempt its eradication. In the present study, we analysed European eradication programmes against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants (PPWP) from 1945 to date. Our main goal was to identify which factors affect the success of an eradication programme, reinforcing guidelines for future eradication of PPWP. Data on eradication campaigns were obtained from online databases, scientific and grey literature, and Plant Protection Organizations’ reports. Factors influencing eradication success for both arthropods and pathogens were analysed with LASSO regression and decision tree learning. A total of 848 cases officially declared as eradication attempts were documented in our database (8-fold higher than previous reports). Both the number of programmes and their rate of success increased sharply over the last two decades. Only less than 10% of the non-native organisms affecting woody plants were targeted for attempted eradication despite the high economic and ecological impacts caused by some species for which no efforts were undertaken. Almost one-third of the officially declared cases of eradication concerned organisms that were still restricted to the material with which they were introduced. For these cases the success rate was 100%. The success rate of established species was only 50% for arthropods and 61% for pathogens. The spatial extent of the outbreak was the factor that most affected the outcome of eradication campaigns. The eradication success decreased abruptly above 100 ha for arthropods and 10 ha for pathogens. Additionally, other variables were shown to influence the outcome of eradication programmes, in particular the type of environment, with the highest eradication success rate found in nurseries and glasshouses, with successful outcomes increasing if quarantine measures were applied and when monitoring included asymptomatic plants. Particular species traits may reduce eradication success: parthenogenetic arthropods, saprotrophic pathogens, wind dispersal, the possibility to remain asymptomatic indefinitely, and the existence of resting spores or stages. In conclusion, small affected areas, quick response, and efficient implementation of quarantine restrictions, together with particular species traits, may allow a high probability of eradication success. Preparedness at the country and European level would allow a larger number of target species to be included in future eradication programmes.https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/95687/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Sofia Branco
Jacob C. Douma
Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Mireia Gomez-Gallego
Benoit Marcais
Simone Prospero
José Carlos Franco
Hervé Jactel
Manuela Branco
Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?
NeoBiota
title Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?
title_full Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?
title_fullStr Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?
title_full_unstemmed Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?
title_short Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?
title_sort eradication programs against non native pests and pathogens of woody plants in europe which factors influence their success or failure
url https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/95687/download/pdf/
work_keys_str_mv AT sofiabranco eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT jacobcdouma eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT eckehardgbrockerhoff eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT mireiagomezgallego eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT benoitmarcais eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT simoneprospero eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT josecarlosfranco eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT hervejactel eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure
AT manuelabranco eradicationprogramsagainstnonnativepestsandpathogensofwoodyplantsineuropewhichfactorsinfluencetheirsuccessorfailure