Invasive Species Presence

AUS-TMS-URB-ISP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 presence/absence
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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 Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Benchmark Value: Absence (0% presence/cover)

Metric Definition:

Presence or absence of high-threat invasive species in urban tropical savanna landscapes.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition for high-threat invasive species in urban tropical savanna landscapes, defined as their complete absence.

Justification:

This benchmark is based on explicit, legally-defined management objectives of eradication for species classified as the highest threat under state and territory legislation and the ecological principle that any presence of these species initiates ecosystem degradation.

Sources (4)

Preview of New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF, accessed July 24, 2025,
New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF, accessed July 24, 2025, Government

Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program - DAFF, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Northern Territory's Weeds Management Act 2001
Northern Territory's Weeds Management Act 2001 Government

Management options for gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) in conservation areas of Cape York Peninsula - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014
Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014 Government

Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014

View Source
Preview of Townsville City Biosecurity Plan 2025–2030 - Townsville City Council
Townsville City Biosecurity Plan 2025–2030 - Townsville City Council Journal

Townsville City Biosecurity Plan 2025–2030 - Townsville City Council

View Source

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,
(PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support

(PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025

View Source
Preview of 15 &15 - Wet Tropics Management Authority
15 &15 - Wet Tropics Management Authority
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

15 &15 - Wet Tropics Management Authority

View Source
Preview of 68631 - Clausena excavata - conservation advice
68631 - Clausena excavata - conservation advice
Contextual Support Journal

68631 - Clausena excavata - conservation advice

View Source
Preview of A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia
A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Assessing invasive animals in Australia 2008 - PestSmart

View Source
Preview of Adding Fuel to the Fire: The Impacts of Non-Native Grass Invasion on Fire Management at a Regional Scale | PLOS One - Research journals
Adding Fuel to the Fire: The Impacts of Non-Native Grass Invasion on Fire Management at a Regional Scale | PLOS One - Research journals
Contextual Support Journal

Adding Fuel to the Fire: The Impacts of Non-Native Grass Invasion on Fire Management at a Regional Scale | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source
Preview of Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025,
Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Williams RJ, Duff GA, Bowman DMJS, Cook GD. Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes. In: David Keith, editor/s. Australian vegetation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2017. 368-388.

View Source
Preview of Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

(PDF) Evaluation of genetic markers for the metabarcoding of ...

View Source
Preview of Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025,
Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of Habitat structure facilitates coexistence of native and invasive mesopredators in an Australian tropical savanna - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Wildlife Research
Habitat structure facilitates coexistence of native and invasive mesopredators in an Australian tropical savanna - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Wildlife Research
Contextual Support Journal

Cane Toad Risk Assessment - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland

View Source
Preview of How to prevent invasive species spreading - The Nature Conservancy Australia
How to prevent invasive species spreading - The Nature Conservancy Australia
Contextual Support Journal

How to prevent invasive species spreading - The Nature Conservancy Australia

View Source
Preview of Impacts of Invasive Plants on Native Vegetation Communities in Wetland and Stream Mitigation - MDPI
Impacts of Invasive Plants on Native Vegetation Communities in Wetland and Stream Mitigation - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Invasive Plants on Native Vegetation Communities in Wetland and Stream Mitigation - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Invasive grasses - Forest Service - USDA
Invasive grasses - Forest Service - USDA
Contextual Support

Invasive grasses - Forest Service - USDA

View Source
Preview of Invasive Species in Australia
Invasive Species in Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Nomination for listing the degradation of listed species & communities by urban and semi-urban & other development as a - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Invasive species publications and resources - DCCEEW
Invasive species publications and resources - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Government

Invasive species publications and resources - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases | Australia state of the environment 2021
Invasive species, problematic native species, and diseases | Australia state of the environment 2021
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of invasive alien species on riparian plant communities in South African savanna | Journal of Tropical Ecology - Cambridge University Press

View Source
Preview of Invasive-Species-Report.pdf - Northern Territory parliament
Invasive-Species-Report.pdf - Northern Territory parliament
Contextual Support Journal

Northern Territory Biosecurity Strategy - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of List of invasive plant species in the Northern Territory - Wikipedia, accessed July 6, 2025,
List of invasive plant species in the Northern Territory - Wikipedia, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support

Resource-use efficiency explains grassy weed invasion in a low-resource savanna in north Australia - PMC

View Source
Preview of Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ...
Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ...
Contextual Support Journal

Research and prospects of environmental DNA (eDNA) for detection of invasive aquatic species in East Asia - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF
New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

New resources available for best practice weed management - DAFF

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Protecting Queensland from Invasive Species
Protecting Queensland from Invasive Species
Contextual Support Government

Feral animals - Cairns Regional Council

View Source
Preview of Restricted invasive plants - Business Queensland, accessed August 12, 2025,
Restricted invasive plants - Business Queensland, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Business Queensland

View Source
Preview of Restricted Invasive Plants & Animals - Townsville City Council
Restricted Invasive Plants & Animals - Townsville City Council
Contextual Support Government

Biosecurity | Torres Strait Island Regional Council, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source
Preview of Restricted invasive plants of Queensland
Restricted invasive plants of Queensland
Contextual Support Government

Gamba grass - Brisbane City Council Weed

View Source
Preview of Site of the Month: Howard Springs | TERN Australia
Site of the Month: Howard Springs | TERN Australia
Contextual Support Government

Site of the Month: Howard Springs | TERN Australia

View Source
Preview of Threats and Pests | City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory
Threats and Pests | City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory
Contextual Support Government

Threats and Pests | City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory

View Source
Preview of Weeds & land management | Cairns Regional Council
Weeds & land management | Cairns Regional Council
Contextual Support Government

Pest plants and weeds | City of Gold Coast, accessed July 21, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025,
www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Urban & Developed Use
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 6 Jun 2026

Notes

The benchmark is not derived from field measurements but from legal and policy frameworks. The Lower Critical Threshold is crossed upon establishment of any such species. An optimal range greater than zero is not supported. An upper detrimental threshold exists for some species, e.g., Gamba Grass fuel loads >10 t/ha.