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Pest risk analysis and invasive alien plants: progress through PRATIQUE *
Author(s) -
Steffen K.,
Schrader G.,
Starfinger U.,
Brunel S.,
Sissons A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.2012.02539.x
Subject(s) - invasive species , eichhornia crassipes , weed , pest analysis , alien , abiotic component , hyacinth , risk analysis (engineering) , biology , ecology , business , botany , medicine , aquatic plant , environmental health , population , paleontology , macrophyte , census
The EPPO Decision‐support scheme (DSS) for Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) was fundamentally revised by the PRATIQUE EU project. Based on the examples of Polygonum perfoliatum (mile‐a‐minute‐weed) and Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), its applicability for invasive alien plants was tested. By means of a comparison of the risk analysis procedures with EPPO schemes before and after the project, pest group specific enhancements are outlined. For the two plants tested here, documented invasion history as well as biotic and abiotic requirements show that they can establish and spread in Europe and cause damage. PRATIQUE revisions to the EPPO DSS increased transparency, user friendliness and consistency for PRAs on invasive alien plants. This was accomplished through more comprehensive rating guidance, and aspects such as allowing individual risk elements to be documented and summarized to give a conclusive end result.