LONGWALK RESEACH SUBJECT

INTRODUCED FLORA
Provide an overview of methods that bushwalkers can
reduce impact and strategies to stop the spread of
introduced species (300)
While Australia has very strong ethics about treading lightly when
we are out walking in the Australia bush. It is very easy to
unwittingly spread weeds and diseases that can end up killing
wildlife and the natural environment. Bushwalkers can spread
invasive weeds and diseases in many different ways. The most
common way for them to spread is on the boots of the hiker as they
may have walked through introduced flora without realising and the
seeds can get caught in their boot while they continue walking.
Other ways invasive weeds can spread is on wet fishing gear, bike
wheels or even on the dirty rims on a car.
Strategies:
- Thoroughly check footwear, waders, equipment, bikes, boats
and vehicles for mud, soil, algae and plant material before
arriving at or leaving each location.
-

Clean your boots, socks, waders, equipment, bikes, boats and

vehicles by scrubbing in local or town water before arriving at
and leaving each location. Ensure all mud, soil and debris is
removed and left on site.

Disinfect the soles of your footwear using a spray bottle filled

with disinfectant before entering and leaving a location. Use
methylated spirits (70-100%), bleach (dilute to 25%) or F10
solution. Wait for one minute then step forward to avoid
recontamination of footwear.

Before use at another location, completely dry all waders,

footwear, equipment, boats and vehicles.

Avoid clothes or footwear that capture weed seed. Sock

protectors and gaiters are easily available these days.

Keep to walking tracks to avoid spreading diseases into

untracked areas, especially on wet ground.

Pick off seeds from shoes and clothes, and check your gear to
make sure seeds are not hiding in pockets or on velcro straps.

It is important that bushwalkers wash their clothing after

traveling through the bush where introduced flora could be
present.

When travelling on your journey, it is good to keep an eye out

for invasive species, identify them if possible and report them
to the respective management group in the area.

It is equally important to stop the spread of weeds in our natural

environment that bushwalkers and people seeking recreation to
wash their shoes, cars, bikes etc. As this is the best way to keep the
Australian bush as natural and native as it can be.
Provide an overview of how management of the introduced
species vary from the heavily visited areas compared with
the wilderness sections of the snowy river? (300)
There are several different factors that could affect the
management of the introduced flora in the heavily visited areas of
the Kosciuszko National Park, compared to that of the wilderness
sections of the Snowy River. Some of these factors are the funds,
accessibility and the variability. As the heavily visited area of the
Australian Alpine region would have the most money spent on them
as conservation and protection is a focus on the public area rather
than the wilderness sections as it would have very low tourism and
would have minimal disturbance. To gain access to highly visited
areas of the park roads and toilets were built meaning that
management of this area would be quite a lot different to the
untouched wilderness sections of the snowy. As the highly visited
areas are more likely to be affected by invasive species from
humans spreading seeds while out visiting the environment which
would lead to more money and time being spent to manage the
area to meet park standards. The area that is highly visited will most
likely have more weeds and introduced species due to human
disturbance but it some people also believe that the area may be
less weed infested as humans may stand on the introduce species
and kill them. It may also be seen that the wilderness areas would
need more management, as they have no human interaction and
are therefore growing wild.
Provide an overview of 3 introduced species (One for each
area) include: When, how, why they were introduced. Their
impact and the management practices utilised to control
them? (200 ea)

Alpine: ORANGE HAWKWEED

(Pilosella aurantiaca)

Description:
-

It has orange flowers, with

square-edged petals, which
make the flowering plants very
easy to identify.
Distinguishing features of
nonflowering plants include the
presence of stolons or also
known as runners as they are
sometimes horizontal to the
ground.
The presence of short black
hairs on the stems and leaves. Leaves usually grow towards
the ground but under grazing pressure and harsh conditions
they lie flat.
Orange hawkweed is also known as devils paintbrush, red
devil and grim-the-collier

Introduction:
-

It is believed to have been introduced to Tasmania as a garden

plant early in the 20th century but was not recorded in
mainland Australia until much later.
Most likely introduced by Europeans, as it grows natural across
central and northern Europe.

By 1999 it had spread to the Victorian Alps and in late 2003

hit the Kosciuszko National Park.

Jagungal Wilderness Area in Kosciuszko National Park.

Impact:
-

Orange Hawkweed spreads by runners over short distances

and by seed over larger areas.
Orange hawkweed invades disturbed areas (eg roadsides,
drains, residential areas, ski-fields, grasslands, pastures and
alpine meadows).
It is currently on Alert List for Environmental Weeds
In alpine areas orange hawkweed can outcompete native
plants and disturb local ecosystems. It fills the spaces
between grass tussocks that are necessary for the
regeneration and survival of native species.

Management practices:

The most ideal way to manage Orange Hawkweed would be to

eraticate it. But it would be very difficult to find the very last
weed to be able to do that.
The control process would start with destroying the flower
heads to prevent the plant from spreading, then applying
herbicide to reduce regrowth.
Detector dogs can increase the ability to find the smallest
fragments of a plant, making them a potentially powerful tool
to help eradicate weeds like the Orange Hawkweed.
Video of detector dogs:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pestsweeds/OrangeHawk
weed.htm

OX- EYE DAISY

(Leucanthemum
vulgare)

Description:
-

A single flower 1 to 2 inches across

is at the end of a long, mostly
naked flower stalk at the top of the
stem.
White petals (ray flowers) and a
golden yellow button shaped centre
disk.
OX- EYE DAISY
Leaves can be up
to 5 inches long and
NOT IN
around of an
inch wide, generally
FLOWER
spoon to spatula
shaped with narrow
lobes or large teeth and a long stalk usually darkish green
coloured.
The yellow centre becomes a head of dry, brown, ribbed seeds
Each flower produces up to 200 seeds.

Introduction:
-

Ox-eye daisy is a perennial herb from

Europe that spreads primarily by seed,
but also by shallow creeping roots also
known as rhizomes.
Ox-eye daisy is a weed in over 40
countries.
Within the Tantangara Area of
Kosciuszko National Park.
The population has spread rapidly since
bushfires in 2007.
Most likely introduced as a garden plant
by the Europeans.

Impact:
-

OX- EYE
Mature plants can produce up to 26,000
DAISY IN
seeds, which are dispersed by animals,
FLOWER
vehicles and water.
The weed is not palatable to cattle and affects pastoral lands
by reducing the quality of the land as they usually grow in
dense bunches.
Dense bunches lead to displacing native species.
Mostly impacts roadsides and cleared land, but the most
concerning thing is the species aggressively invading
undisturbed subalpine grasslands, snow gum, woodlands and
wetlands in Kosciuszko National Park.

Management practices:
-

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is undertaking

a dual ox-eye daisy containment and asset protection program
in Kosciuszko.
They are investigating methods to assist native flora to
compete with ox-eye daisy by introducing the native flora to
the area.
Link to control program:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nswnationalparks/sets/7215762
9157471036/

BLACKBERRY

(Rubus fruticosus)

Description:
- Blackberries are semi-deciduous,
scrambling shrubs with tangled,
prickly stems.
- Blackberry stems are erected or
semi-erect, usually green purplish
or red.
- Stem is covered with straight or
curved prickles/ thorns.
- Blackberry flowers are 2-3 cm in
diameter, growing in clusters on side branches
- The berries are 1-3 cm diameter, changing colour from green
to red to black as it ripens.
Introduction:
- Blackberries come from a European origin.
- Introduced from Britain into NSW for its fruit and for making
hedgerows.

It escaped into the wild and by the 1880s was recognised as a

significant weed.
Baron von Mueller (the government botanist) decided that in
order to control soil erosion, blackberries should be planted
along all creeks and river banks.

Impact:
- Blackberries grow in dense bunches leading to its complete
dominance of the understorey and
eventually the canopy making the
native species compete with it to
survive.
- Blackberries are spread mainly by birds
and foxes and in water, such as creeks.
- Fire hazard.
- The plant's strong prickles make it
hazardous and unpalatable to grazing
animals
- As they are prone to growing along
water sources they may also restrict access to watercourses in
forestry operations and for grazing animals and for people
completing recreational activities.
Management practices:
- The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is in
charge or management.
- Application of a registered herbicide.
- Physical removal.
- Mulching.
- Monitoring.
- Burning them.
- Introducing blackberry-leaf rust fungus, which weakens the
blackberries.