Controlling mesquite in northern Australia

  1. Researching mesquite in Australia
  2. Ecological research
  3. History of mesquite biological control
  4. Potential for new biological control agents
  5. Fire research and integrated management
  6. Landscape ecology
  7. Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee
  8. Pilbara mesquite
  9. Mesquite weediness elsewhere
  10. Mesquite taxonomy
  11. Publishing History

Landscape ecology

Page 6 of 11

The management of mesquite will be greatly enhanced if we can predict its spread and impact at the landscape scale under a range of land use and management scenarios. Considerable research is required to get to this point.

The infestation in the Pilbara region of Western Australia offers considerable opportunities in this regard. The initial infestation began in the 1930s and rapidly spread.

Considerable remote images are available to help document the spread through the landscape, including aerial photographs at ca decade intervals since the 1940s, together with a wide library of diverse satellite images since the 1970s and a detailed map of current distribution.

In addition, results from ecological research since 1998 will provide also help in developing spread and impact models.

CSIRO, in collaboration with Curtin University, DAWA and the PMMC, is beginning to use this system to address a range of spatial questions.

Aerial shot of a mesquite infestation in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Aerial photography helps document the spread of mesquite.
Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) infestation in East Timor.

Mesquite population explosions often occur after exceptionally wet years.

Ongoing work includes:

  • compiling a spatial database of historical images and environmental data
  • mapping the current mesquite infestation in a quantitative, repeatable fashion using aerial surveys
  • testing new generation remote sensing and analytical tools to determine whether they can be used to accurately map mesquite
  • correlating current mesquite distribution with environmental data to develop a suitability index for mesquite within the Pilbara
  • use satellite images to describe rare, large-scale flood events, and subsequently to explore their potential importance for mesquite spread and establishment.

References

  • Cordo HA, DeLoach CJ. 1987. Insects that attack mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in Argentina and Paraguay: their possible use for biological control in the United States. United State Department of Agriculture, ARS-62. South American Biological Control Laboratory, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
  • De Loach CJ. 1985. Conflicts of interest over beneficial and undesirable aspects of mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in the United States as related to biological control. In: Delfosse ES. (Ed.). Proceedings of VI International Symposium on the Biological Control of Weeds 1984. Minister of Supply and Services. Vancouver, Canada. Pp. 301-40.
  • Impson FAC, Moran VC, Hoffmann JH. 1999. A review of the effectiveness of seed-feeding bruchid beetles in the biological control of mesquite, Prosopis species (Fabaceae), in South Africa. African Entomology Memoir. 1:81-88.
  • Paulsen HA, Ares FN. 1961. Trends and carrying capacity and vegetation on an arid southwestern range. Journal of Range Management. 14: 78-83.
  • Ward CR, O'Brien CW, O'Brien LB, Foster DE, Huddlestone EW. 1977. Annotated checklist of New World insects associated with Prosopis (mesquite). United States Department of Agriculture, Research Services Bulletin. 1557.