Murrumbidgee River with lucerne and wheat crops near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

Murrumbidgee River with lucerne and wheat crops.

Biodiversity: benefits and threats

CSIRO is helping to manage the increasing threat from invasive species and the benefits to agriculture from ecosystem services.

  • 11 February 2010 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

Our research focuses on branches of applied ecology and bioeconomics which underpin an understanding of the impacts of beneficial and invasive organisms at species, landscape and industry scales.

We are involved in research on:

  • developing landscape scale ecological management systems for invasive species, beneficial invertebrates and biodiversity in agricultural and native ecosystems
  • analysing ecological and economic risks of plant biosecurity and invasive species threats at species, landscape and industry scales
  • developing innovative approaches to modelling the distribution of biodiversity at multiple scales so we can predict and manage the impacts of global change.

Current activities

The Invasion Biology and Functional Ecology Program is involved in a range of research activities and projects. Some examples are:

WeedsChannel_Ento_Teaser

We have a history of biological control successes and our scientists are using their expertise to find more natural enemies of introduced weeds.

Using artificial neural networks to predict invasive species

Artificial neural networks, specifically self organising maps (SOM's) can provide an objective method to help assess worldwide pest species assemblages and biosecurity risks.

Managing invasive insects

CSIRO is developing biological control techniques for the management of some of Australia’s main insect pests. This will help reduce the amount of pesticide used and provide control at a landscape level.

Biosecurity and invasive species

To help protect Australia's ecosystems, CSIRO is undertaking invasive species research at pre-border, border and post-border level.

Managing our biodiversity and natural resources

Our research aims to better understand the ecological processes and organisms that support agriculture and native vegetation. The work is important to their management as ecologically sustainable systems.

Learn more about the research undertaken by CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences.