Getting ahead of the game: preparing for novel incursions

Abstract

The invasion curve highlights the importance of prevention and quick eradication in preventing establishment of new populations. Surveillance programs aim to prevent new animal pests from arriving in Australia through early detection of stowaways and illegal imports. Detecting new animal pests in the wild following release or escape can be difficult as there is often little local knowledge of their behaviours. To be prepared for these events, toolkits are being developed, applying best practice management techniques refined on established vertebrate pests, to aid in quick detection and capture to prevent establishment following an incursion of these novel pests.

Behavioural information of how species use their micro-environment, shelter preferences, diet and feeding can help to identify techniques to enhance their subsequent detection and capture. While some techniques may be applicable for multiple species there may be key differences which influence how they are applied. Detailed review and examination of behaviours and detection programs in the native range of these species can also highlight critical knowledge gaps. It is important to identify and explore these gaps both prior (to improve the probability of detection and capture) or post incursion (to assess impacts on ecosystems and how the species use the Australian landscapes). Here, I will use several exotic species as examples to describe the approaches undertaken to identify behavioural attributes that can be exploited to enhance detection and capture of likely, high-risk species to Queensland to ‘get ahead of the curve’.