Invasive Species Presence

AUS-TGP-FOR-ISP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 60 to 80 %

Optimal Range: 60 to 80

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard LowerThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Studies have shown that ecosystem responses to invasion can be non-linear, with some properties like native species richness remaining relatively stable until an invader achieves very high abundance. For example, one field study on the impacts of Lantana camara found that significant loss of native plant species richness occurred only after Lantana cover exceeded a threshold zone of 60% to 80%.

Metric Definition:

Cover percentage by a dominant invasive species.

Benchmark Definition:

Range of cover percentage by a dominant invasive species indicating ecological collapse in temperate grassy woodlands and plains under production forestry.

Justification:

Based on ecological studies showing non-linear species loss.

Sources (1)

Preview of Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ...

Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ...

Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ..., accessed August 9, 2025,

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence

(PDF) Impacts of tree invasion on floristic composition of subtropical grasslands on the Bunya Mountains, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,

A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The impacts of invasive plant species on biodiversity of Australian rangelands

Preview of A Systematic Review of the Impact of Invasive Alien Plants on Forest Regeneration in European Temperate Forests - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025,

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Invasive Alien Plants on Forest Regeneration in European Temperate Forests - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Invasive Alien Plants on Forest Regeneration in European Temperate Forests - Frontiers, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.lls.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Effectiveness of best practice management guides for improving invasive species management: a review - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 9, 2025,

Effectiveness of best practice management guides for improving invasive species management: a review - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Humane management of invasive species - DAFF, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025,

Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fighting plagues and predators to protect Australia's biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Grassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Grassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grassy woodlands | Landscape Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Grassy Woodlands of the Goulburn Broken Catchment, accessed August 9, 2025,

Grassy Woodlands of the Goulburn Broken Catchment, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Grassy eucalypt woodland of the Victorian volcanic plain - listing advice

Preview of INVASIVE GRASSES WEED FACT SHEET, accessed August 12, 2025,

INVASIVE GRASSES WEED FACT SHEET, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Invasive Plants in Australia: What You Can do to Control the Spread, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of Invasive Plants in Wisconsin - The Nature Conservancy, accessed August 9, 2025,

Invasive Plants in Wisconsin - The Nature Conservancy, accessed August 9, 2025,

Irrelevant GreyLiterature

A report on silvicultural guidelines for the 2024- 2033 Forest Management Plan to the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF

Preview of O'Loughlin, T., O'Loughlin, L. S., Michael, D. R., Wood, J. T., Waudby ..., accessed July 10, 2025

O'Loughlin, T., O'Loughlin, L. S., Michael, D. R., Wood, J. T., Waudby ..., accessed July 10, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

O'Loughlin, T., O'Loughlin, L. S., Michael, D. R., Wood, J. T., Waudby ...

Preview of Reducing Risk, Securing the Future NSW Invasive Species Management Review Preliminary Report August 2024

Reducing Risk, Securing the Future NSW Invasive Species Management Review Preliminary Report August 2024

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Restricted invasive plants - Business Queensland, accessed August 12, 2025,

Restricted invasive plants - Business Queensland, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Two new reports reveal the true cost of managing invasive species ..., accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of The importance of temperate woodland in travelling stock reserves for vertebrate biodiversity conservation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

The importance of temperate woodland in travelling stock reserves for vertebrate biodiversity conservation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

The importance of temperate woodland in travelling stock reserves for vertebrate biodiversity conservation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 6, 2025

Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - Luke S. O'Loughlin, accessed August 9, 2025,

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - Luke S. O'Loughlin, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The importance of travelling stock reserves for ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Unassisted invasions: understanding and responding to Australia's high-impact environmental grass weeds - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 6, 2025,

Unassisted invasions: understanding and responding to Australia's high-impact environmental grass weeds - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

INVASIVE GRASSES WEED FACT SHEET - Centre for Invasive ..., accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of Victoria's Forests - Forestry Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,

Victoria's Forests - Forestry Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Victoria's Forests - Forestry Australia, accessed August 9, 2025,

Preview of White Box-Yellow Box- Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands and derived native grasslands information guide - DCCEEW, accessed August 9, 2025,

White Box-Yellow Box- Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands and derived native grasslands information guide - DCCEEW, accessed August 9, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

White Box-Yellow Box- Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands and derived native grasslands information guide - DCCEEW, accessed August 9, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 21 Mar 2026

Notes

Represents a catastrophic shift to a novel, degraded ecosystem state from which recovery is difficult or impossible.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-FOR-ISP family.