Objectives / research strands
![](https://oldwww.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/image/0019/43327/objectives_banner.jpg)
The Beating Environmental Weeds research is varied and extensive. It covers multiple environmental weed control techniques, including herbicides. We have highlighted below the research objectives that involve biological control.
Objective 1: Improved weed targeting
Improved weed prioritisation
- Creation of a National Weeds Distribution Database
- Applying an MDiG (Molecular Dispersal in GIS) spread model to a significant weed (Buddleja davidii)
Improved Targeting of weeds for biocontrol
- Quantitative analysis of weed biocontrol success
Objective 2: Improved environmental weed management
Improved tools
- Population modelling of biocontrol agents (heather beetle)
- Population modelling of weeds (Scotch broom)
- Evolution in weed biocontrol (Scotch broom seed size)
- Expanding the biocontrol tool box (potential use of bacteria and viruses)
- Microbial ecology on/inside plants (how these microbes may affect weeds and biocontrol agents)
- Impact of predation on biocontrol agents (impact of Argentine ants on boneseed leaf-roller)
- Impact of parasites/diseases on biocontrol agents (methodology for detection of microsporidia in heather beetle, and hygienic collection and rearing methods)
- Impact of biocontrol agents on non-target plants (St. John’s wort beetles)
Biodiversity and ecosystem benefits
- Optimising biodiversity outcomes from weed management (assessing biodiversity benefits from weed control)
- Ecosystem benefits of weed management (assessing long term effects of broom biocontrol on the ecosystem)