Australian Journal of Botany (2008) 56, 477-486

S. Barrett, B.L. Shearer, C.E. Crane and A. Cochrane (2008)
An extinction-risk assessment tool for flora threatened by Phytophthora cinnamomi
Australian Journal of Botany 56 (6), 477-486
Abstract: A risk-assessment tool was used to investigate the risk of extinction from disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi to 33 taxa from the Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia. Criteria used to score risk of extinction were the direct impact of P. cinnamomi on taxa, number of extant or extinct populations, percentage of populations infested by P. cinnamomi, proximity and topographical relationship of populations to P. cinnamomi, proximity of populations to tracks and the number of additional threatening processes. Direct impact scores were derived from mortality curves determined from the survival of taxa after soil inoculation with P. cinnamomi in a shade-house environment. On the basis of the total extinction risk score, nine taxa had a 'very high', five had a 'high', six a 'moderate', eight a 'low', four a 'very low' and one 'no' risk of extinction. Whereas the methodology confirmed the current threatened status of nine taxa, it also identified five taxa, not currently listed, to be at 'high' risk of extinction. Other threatening processes identified included fire, herbivory, aerial canker disease and climate change. These combine with P. cinnamomi to push taxa further towards extinction. Quantification of risk of extinction identifies taxa at risk and allows for prioritisation of management actions for currently threatened flora. This risk-assessment methodology combined glasshouse inoculation with habitat and ecological data, current in situ disease impact and proximity to disease and vectors, to enable a more comprehensive assessment of extinction risk and may be used in other areas with endemic flora threatened by P. cinnamomi.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Colin Crane, Bryan L. Shearer

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics
population dynamics/ epidemiology

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytophthora cinnamomi		Australia (Western)