Our expertise
As the range, scale and complexity of invasive species management has increased, so too has recognition of the importance of sound science to underpin decision making.
The ecological, social and economic implications of inadequate invasive species control or unsuccessful eradication attempts make rigorous scientific support very important.
Our background
With nearly 400 staff working in a wide range of scientific disciplines, Landcare Research is New Zealand’s leading research agency focused on terrestrial ecosystems. We have a long history of working alongside conservation practitioners and managers on invasive species problems.
Landcare Research scientists work closely with management agencies such as the New Zealand Department of Conservation and regional councils over many years to develop and refine management programmes targeting a wide array of animal pests including Australian brushtail possums, Himalayan tahr, stoats, Vespulid wasps and ‘tramp’ ants. We also have expertise in managing invasive plants, particularly through biocontrol.
We have supported activities such as strategic planning and priority setting, feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis and project design, as well as monitoring and evaluation and independent post-operational reviews. Landcare Research has significant scientific capacity to undertake and support research underpinning invasive species management decision-making.
Advising and supporting agencies endeavouring to manage invasive species is a core activity for Landcare Research. Our New Zealand clients come from all sectors; local and central government, corporates, universities and non-government organisations.
Overseas we are assisting aid agencies, international and national non-government organisations and government agencies in developing their capacity to manage invasives.
Our skills and expertise
As a result of this experience our people have skills and expertise in a wide range of relevant disciplines including:
- Animal pest management – extensive expertise in managing invasive animals (eradication, control, biosecurity) and associated monitoring to detect and evaluate change, at a range of scales and for a variety of pests.
- Wildlife population ecology – world leading expertise in understanding the dynamics of invasive mammal populations, their relationships with native species and multiple pest interactions. We also have considerable expertise in the design and implementation of large-scale ecological experiments.
- Wildlife population modelling – internationally recognised expertise in the design and implementation of a suite of modelling approaches including time series, deterministic, stochastic, epidemiological, spatial simulation and matrix modelling, including Bayesian approaches. We can also undertake mark-recapture estimations of population density.
- Ecological genetics – EcoGene™, another Landcare Research business unit, is a leading international provider of DNA-based diagnostic services for biosecurity and biodiversity. From its Auckland laboratory EcoGene provides a cost-effective and fast service for species identification, mammal pest monitoring and disease screening.
- Baits and toxins – providing comprehensive advisory and assessment services for the development of new and improved baits and toxins that are humane, safe, and cost-effective. We have considerable expertise on currently-used vertebrate pesticides and can provide both analytical testing and specialised advice on the risks and benefits of their application.
- Ecosystem change – undertaking research into ecosystem-level effects of land use changes, such as farmland being retired for conservation, on pest plants and animals, and indigenous biodiversity.
- Biological control of invasive plants – reducing the environmental, economic and social impacts of invasive plants by providing advice and undertaking research on how best to manage them, including a strong focus on developing biological control programmes.
- Trap design, testing and use – developing and improving traps that are humane, safe, and cost-effective. We provide comprehensive advice and design and assessment services based on extensive field expertise.
- Wildlife tracking – Landcare Research’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sirtrack has designed and manufactured telemetry equipment for monitoring more than 550 wildlife species - from small insects through to heavyweights like elephants and whales. Sirtrack products have been put to the test in more than 75 countries around the world.
- Invertebrates – considerable expertise with indigenous and invasive invertebrates in New Zealand and around the Pacific. We have a particular focus on invasive wasps and ants and can undertake invertebrate biodiversity assessments and surveys.
- Birds – we have undertaken extensive research on reducing and managing threats posed to native birds by invasive species. We also have a good understanding of the population dynamics of many bird species and the environmental pressures on seabird populations and island biodiversity.
- Reptiles – developing and delivering monitoring programmes for native skinks and geckos, and control of their predators.
- Social, cultural and economic dimensions – Landcare Research staff have considerable experience in the social elements of invasive species management, including working with indigenous people. We can also assess the economic impacts and opportunities of managing invasive plants and animals.
- Databases and collections – underpinning our advice and research are extensive biological and resource collections and databases, five of which are classified as nationally significant. Our databases and collections include plants, fungi and microorganisms, animals, geospatial data, soils and land environments.
