Invasive Species Presence

AUS-TMI-CON-ISP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary CompositeFramework Guard

Evidence & Context

Final Benchmark Specification Indicator Name: Invasive Species Presence Reference Value: Absence of key transformative invasive vertebrate predators (Rattus rattus, Mus musculus) and super-colony forming ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Pheidole megacephala).

Metric Definition:

Presence or absence of key transformative invasive vertebrate predators (Rattus rattus, Mus musculus) and super-colony forming ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Pheidole megacephala) on Australian tropical/subtropical maritime islands.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the absence of key invasive vertebrate predators and super-colony forming ants, indicating the highest ecological health state for tropical and subtropical maritime islands under conservation management.

Justification:

The benchmark is based on the verified absence of key transformative invasive predators, as achieved by the Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project and officially declared in 2023. Confidence is High due to the project's rigorous, independently verified monitoring and the rapid, quantified ecological recovery observed post-eradication, which validates this state as one of high environmental health.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australia's Lord Howe Island declared free of introduced rats and mice following a successful eradication operation

Australia's Lord Howe Island declared free of introduced rats and mice following a successful eradication operation GreyLiterature

Lord Howe biosecurity investment locks in rodent-free recovery - Invasive Species Council, accessed August 2, 2025,

Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

A Landscape Approach to Invasive Species Management - PMC - PubMed Central

Preview of Ant species accumulation on Lord Howe Island highlights the increasing need for effective biosecurity on islands - NeoBiota, accessed August 2, 2025,

Ant species accumulation on Lord Howe Island highlights the increasing need for effective biosecurity on islands - NeoBiota, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ant species accumulation on Lord Howe Island highlights the increasing need for effective biosecurity on islands - NeoBiota, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Biosecurity Strategy - December 2022 | Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 2, 2025,

Biosecurity Strategy - December 2022 | Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Christmas Island Marine Park Management Plan - 2025 - Australian ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Christmas Island Marine Park Management Plan - 2025 - Australian ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Christmas Island Marine Park Management Plan - 2025 - Australian ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Christmas Island Yellow Crazy Ant Control Program - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025,

Christmas Island Yellow Crazy Ant Control Program - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Christmas Island Yellow Crazy Ant Control Program - DCCEEW

Preview of Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Islands Of The Great Barrier Reef - Tropical North Queensland

Preview of Draft Christmas Island Biodiversity Conservation Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Draft Christmas Island Biodiversity Conservation Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Draft Christmas Island Biodiversity Conservation Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Forests of East Australia - Threats | CEPF, accessed August 2, 2025,

Forests of East Australia - Threats | CEPF, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Invasive Species 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Government funding to increase biosecurity measures - Lord Howe Island Museum, accessed August 2, 2025,

Government funding to increase biosecurity measures - Lord Howe Island Museum, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island – protecting paradise - Invasive Species Council, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Introduced and Invasive Species - Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society, accessed August 2, 2025,

Introduced and Invasive Species - Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Introduced and Invasive Species - Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Invasive Species 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 2, 2025,

Invasive Species 2021 | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Invasive species in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 6, 2025,

Invasive species in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Invasive species in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025

Preview of Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases ..., accessed May 20, 2025,

Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases ..., accessed May 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

National RD&E Priorities for Invasive Plants and Animals, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Island conservation - Invasive Species Council, accessed August 2, 2025,

Island conservation - Invasive Species Council, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Invasive Species in Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe biosecurity investment locks in rodent-free recovery - Invasive Species Council

Lord Howe biosecurity investment locks in rodent-free recovery - Invasive Species Council

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Biosecurity Strategy - December 2022 | Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe Island – protecting paradise - Invasive Species Council

Lord Howe Island – protecting paradise - Invasive Species Council

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Checkpoint program 2023 | Lord Howe Island Board - NSW Government, accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Lord Howe Island claims national award for being 'on the cusp' of record rat eradication, accessed August 2, 2025,

Lord Howe Island claims national award for being 'on the cusp' of record rat eradication, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Operation - Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe Island Phasmid - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Lord Howe Island Phasmid - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Lord Howe Island Phasmid - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Operation - Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, accessed August 2, 2025,

Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Operation - Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Operation - Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project

Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's Lord Howe Island declared free of introduced rats and mice following a successful eradication operation, accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Norfolk Island - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Draft Christmas Island Biodiversity Conservation Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Norfolk Island Pest and Disease Survey 2021 to 2023 – invasive marine species survey results - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Norfolk Island Pest and Disease Survey 2021 to 2023 – invasive marine species survey results - Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Christmas Island Marine Park Management Plan - 2025 - Australian ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan (NIRCPMP ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Norfolk Island Regional Council Pest Management Plan (NIRCPMP ..., accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Lord Howe Island declared free of introduced rats and mice following a successful eradication operation, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,

The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Government funding to increase biosecurity measures - Lord Howe Island Museum, accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Weed Eradication Program | Lord Howe Island Board - NSW Government, accessed August 2, 2025,

Weed Eradication Program | Lord Howe Island Board - NSW Government, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Introduced and Invasive Species - Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of What does it take to protect paradise? Ask Australia's Lord Howe Island - Adventure.com, accessed August 2, 2025,

What does it take to protect paradise? Ask Australia's Lord Howe Island - Adventure.com, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island claims national award for being 'on the cusp' of record rat eradication, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of www.dcceew.gov.au, accessed August 2, 2025,

www.dcceew.gov.au, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Christmas Island Yellow Crazy Ant Control Program - DCCEEW, accessed August 2, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

The functional range for these key species is binary: the Upper Detrimental Threshold is any confirmed breeding population, as even a small number represents a critical threat requiring a full-scale response. The Lower Critical Threshold is the biological event of establishment (e.g., a single pregnant female), which moves the system from a containable incursion to a state of active degradation. The Optimal Range is a state of 'Vigilant Zero'—sustained absence maintained by a permanent, well-resourced biosecurity and surveillance system. Achieving this benchmark may reveal a secondary 'invasion debt' (e.g., an increase in weeds), requiring ongoing adaptive management of less transformative invasive species.