Grey Coupland

In recent years growing numbers of fast-growing ‘mini forests’ have been planted around the world using an approach for rapid urban greening known as the ‘Miyawaki method’. Originating in Japan, the Miyawaki method was first developed as a relatively novel ecological engineering approach to the afforestation of industrial and degraded landscapes. However, in recent years escalating climate impacts and loss of biodiversity has inspired a new generation of Miyawaki forest practitioners working globally in diverse ecological contexts. In this paper, we discuss the Miyawaki forest movement's evolution, and discuss its introduction into Australia through the lens of three Australian-based practitioners. Connecting Australian practitioners with the work of global practitioner networks, we explore the methods, practices and collaborations involved in the making of Miyawaki forests, before turning to how their value is being captured. We draw from a multi-species cities perspective to explore the multi-dimensional values and benefits of Miyawaki forests, which span both human and more-than-human ‘well-beings’ as sites of human–nature gathering, but also requiring collaboration across ecological, cultural and social spheres in order to be sustained over time.

1. Biosecurity activities primarily include pre-border and border quarantine, post-border surveillance and post-border eradication. Budget allocated to quarantine and surveillance activities ultimately influence the expenditure and success rate of eradication campaigns. Optimal portfolio allocation examined in previous research is susceptible to potential severe uncertainties existing in ecology and in the behaviour of invasive species itself. These uncertainties, together with a limited budget, make it difficult for decision makers to allocate the total management budget to each biosecurity activity in a robust manner.

2. Info-gap decision theory is applied to model the severe uncertainty in invasive species management, and robust optimize the total management cost.
This research shows that using a combination of pre-border and border quarantine (to reduce the incursion probability) and post-border surveillance (to enable early detection and rapid response), enables decision makers to be more robust to potential uncertainty. Further, it is reported that investment in quarantine that is more cost-effective should outweigh that in surveillance, in line with precautionary principle.

3. Increasing the estimated population threshold for surveillance detection also gains more robustness.

4. Synthesis and applications: Portfolio allocation options developed in this research provide decision makers with a way to manage the invasive species spatially, cost-effectively and confidently by allocating the total management budget in a robust manner. The methods outlined in this research can not only be applied to invasive species, but also the conservation of endangered species that are constrained by severe uncertainty in ecological modelling and limited resources.

Fuzzy logic presents a promising approach for Species Distribution Modelling by generating a value that can be used for comparative purposes termed ‘environmental favourability’. In contrast to ‘presence probability’, ‘environmental favourability’ remains robust regardless of species prevalence. This characteristic facilitates effective comparisons across species with varying levels of prevalence. In this study, presence probability was predicted using three commonly used Species Distribution Models: Generalised Linear Model, Generalised Additive Modelling, and Boosted Regression Trees for two beetle species, Euwallacea fornicatus and Euwallacea perbrevis in Australia. Fuzzy logic was then employed to derive environmental favourability values based on these models. Additionally, Maxent modelling was included to compare prediction outputs and facilitate a comprehensive analysis. Model performance was evaluated using standard metrics (Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, True statistical skill, Correct classification rate), as well as Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The research explored fuzzy similarity, fuzzy intersection and potential biotic interaction of these closely related borers, and revealed a favourable distribution pattern for Euwallacea fornicatus across Australia. This study supports the efficacy of fuzzy logic in Species Distribution Modelling and highlights the value of environmental favourability function in enhancing the comparative analysis of the geographical relationship across species. This approach offers a more nuanced perspective on Species Distribution Modelling.

Biodiversity offsets are used worldwide to provide environmental compensation for the impacts of development and to meet the goals of sustainable development. Australia has embraced the use of offsets and its offset methodologies have been used as models by other jurisdictions. However, the maturity of offset requirements in Australia is unknown. To understand this, development referrals submitted under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) between October 2011 and September 2017 were reviewed to determine if offset requirements in Australia were improving in complexity, transparency and/or environmental outcomes (termed maturity) over time. Despite the implementation of dedicated policy in Australia in 2012, our analysis showed that offset requirements were not on a trajectory towards improvement (maturity) over the 6-year period examined. There was no evidence to suggest the type of offsets required and compensation for impacts to specific species and habitats increased in complexity over time. The level of detail included for offset requirements, mandatory commencement dates and requirements for ecological outcomes similarly did not increase over time. Consequently, dedicated legislation for offsets is recommended to remedy these omissions and enable effective functionality for biodiversity offsets through the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services.

Introduction pathway studies generally describe the diverse routes by which non-indigenous species (NIS) can be introduced but rarely consider multiple introduction pathways occurring simultaneously. In this study, multiple pathways of NIS introduction were investigated during an industrial development on a remote island off the Australian coast. Fifteen introduction pathways were categorized in association with importing locality and the type of cargo they transported. The number and types of detection events for each introduction pathway were recorded during biosecurity inspections, cargo clearances, and surveillance conducted between 2009 and 2015. In total, more than 600,000 biosecurity inspections were completed, with 5,328 border detection events recorded constituting less than 1% of the biosecurity inspections. The border inspection events were classified as animals, plant material, soil, and organic matter, with 60% identified as dead or non-viable and 40% as alive. Of those detections, 2153 were classified as NIS, consisting of 659 identified species. Live NIS detected at the border constituted only 2% of the detections. Cargo vessel and inward-bound passenger numbers peaked during the major construction period and were associated with an increase in the number of live NIS detections. All introduction pathways have complexities, unique structural aspects, and niche areas that supported NIS in surviving the effects of treatment and evading detection during the mandatory compliance inspection. This study highlights that biosecurity incursions can be minimized if a systems approach is adopted to complement traditional and other biosecurity surveillance measures.

Invasive species eradication campaigns often fail due to stochastic arrival events, unpredictable detectability and incorrect resource allocation. Severe uncertainty in model parameter estimates may skew the eradication policy results. Using info-gap decision theory, this research aims to provide managers with a method to quantify their confidence in realizing successful eradication of particular invasive species within their specified eradication budgets (i.e. allowed eradication cost) in face of information-gaps. The potential introduction of the Asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus to Barrow Island, Australia is used as a case study to illustrate the model. Results of this research demonstrate that, more robustness to uncertainty in the model parameters can be earnt by (1) increasing the allowed eradication cost (2) investment in pre-border quarantine and border inspection (i.e. prevention) or (3) investment in post-border detection surveillance. The combination of a post-border spatial dispersal model and info-gap decision theory demonstrates a novel and spatially efficient method for managers to evaluate the robustness of eradication policies for incursion of invasive species with unexpected behaviour. These methods can be used to provide insight into the success of management goals, in particular the eradication of invasive species on islands or in broader mainland areas. These insights will assist in avoiding eradication failure and wasteful budget allocation and labour investment.

Appropriate inspection protocols and mitigation strategies are a critical component of effective biosecurity measures, enabling implementation of sound management decisions. Statistical models to analyze biosecurity surveillance data are integral to this decision-making process. Our research focuses on analyzing border interception biosecurity data collected from a Class A Nature Reserve, Barrow Island, in Western Australia and the associated covariates describing both spatial and temporal interception patterns. A clustering analysis approach was adopted using a generalization of the popular k-means algorithm appropriate for mixed-type data. The analysis approach compared the efficiency of clustering using only the numerical data, then subsequently including covariates to the clustering. Based on numerical data only, three clusters gave an acceptable fit and provided information about the underlying data characteristics. Incorporation of covariates into the model suggested four distinct clusters dominated by physical location and type of detection. Clustering increases interpretability of complex models and is useful in data mining to highlight patterns to describe underlying processes in biosecurity and other research areas. Availability of more relevant data would greatly improve the model. Based on outcomes from our research we recommend broader use of cluster models in biosecurity data, with testing of these models on more datasets to validate the model choice and identify important explanatory variables.

Kenya and some other African countries are threatened by a serious pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the false codling moth. The detection of T. leucotreta is quite difficult due to the cryptic nature of the larvae during transportation and is therefore a concern for Australia. This insect is a known pest of agriculturally important crops. Here, Maxent was used to assess the biosecurity threat of T. leucotreta to Australia. Habitat suitability and risk assessment of T. leucotreta in Australia were identified based on threatened areas under suitable climatic conditions and the presence of hosts in a given habitat. Modeling indicated that Australia is vulnerable to invasion and establishment by T. leucotreta in some states and territories, particularly areas of western and southern Australia. Within these locations, the risk is associated with specific cropping areas. As such, invasion and establishment by T. leucotreta may have serious implications for Australia’s agricultural and horticultural industries e.g., the fruit and vegetable industries. This study will be used to inform the government and industry of the threat posed by T. leucotreta imported via the cut flower industry. Targeted preventative measures and trade policy could be introduced to protect Australia from invasion by this pest.

This study examines how access to the academic curriculum creates patterns of inequality in Australian schools. Examining students’ access to the academic curriculum gives an indication of how schooling is structured to support students in pursuing higher education opportunities. To date, little research attention has been given to the opportunities schools offer students to access the academic curriculum in order to enter university. Using administrative data on students and schools, we find that there are fewer average curriculum subjects, and less complexity in the subjects offered, in schools with low levels of socio-educational advantage. We argue that curriculum differentiation across schools is a systemic constraint that students in schools with higher levels of socio-educational disadvantage face in progressing to university because these schools are less able to provide students with access to core academic curriculum subjects in the final year of secondary school. Previous research has highlighted the social differences reflected in both educational access and outcomes due to the marketisation of schools and policies of school choice. Our findings indeed demonstrate that there are relationships between access to the academic curriculum, school socio-educational advantage and the social composition of schools, and these factors have important educational policy implications.

Cyantraniliprole is the first diamide insecticide to have cross‐spectrum activity against a broad range of insect orders. The insecticide, like other diamides, selectively acts on ryanodine receptor, destroys Ca2+ homeostasis, and ultimately causes insect death. Although expression regulations of genes associated with calcium signaling pathways are known to be involved in the response to diamides, little is known regarding the function of calmodulin (CaM), a typical Ca2+ sensor central in regulating Ca2+ homeostasis, in the stress response of insects to the insecticide. In this study, we cloned and identified the full‐length complementary DNA of CaM in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), named BtCaM. Quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction‐based analyses showed that the messenger RNA level of BtCaM was rapidly induced from 1.51‐ to 2.43‐fold by cyantraniliprole during 24 h. Knockdown of BtCaM by RNA interference increased the toxicity of cyantraniliprole in whiteflies by 42.85%. In contrast, BtCaM expression in Sf9 cells significantly increased the cells’ tolerance to cyantraniliprole as much as 2.91‐fold. In addition, the expression of BtCaM in Sf9 cells suppressed the rapid increase of intracellular Ca2+ after exposure to cyantraniliprole, and the maximum amplitude in the Sf9‐BtCaM cells was only 34.9% of that in control cells (Sf9‐PIZ/V5). These results demonstrate that overexpression of BtCaM is involved in the stress response of B. tabaci to cyantraniliprole through regulation of Ca2+ concentration. As CaM is one of the most evolutionarily conserved Ca2+ sensors in insects, outcomes of this study may provide the first details of a universal insect response to diamide insecticides.