Invasive Species Presence

AUS-ASC-LVG-ISP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

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 UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard CompositeFramework Guard CompositeFramework Guard

Evidence & Context

Effective absence of designated high-threat invasive plant and animal species; active management to maintain other non-native species at ecologically insignificant levels.

Metric Definition:

Presence or absence of designated high-threat invasive plant and animal species known to cause ecological harm, assessed qualitatively within a sustainable grazing system in Australian alpine and subalpine pastures.

Benchmark Definition:

The benchmark represents the ecological ideal of minimizing harmful invasive species presence to maintain high environmental health in grazed alpine and subalpine ecosystems.

Justification:

No specific quantitative benchmark for low invasive species presence under verified "best-practice sustainable grazing" in Australian alpine/subalpine complexes was found. The reference value reflects the ecological ideal of minimizing harmful invasives. Grazing is a documented vector and disturbance facilitating weed spread. Best practice must actively counteract this.

Sources (2)

Preview of Australian Alps - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Australian Alps - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025, Government

Alpine sphagnum bogs and associated fens - EPBC Act policy statement 3.16

Preview of NESP (2020) Management of introduced plant species in the Australian Alps Factsheet.

NESP (2020) Management of introduced plant species in the Australian Alps Factsheet.

NESP (2020) Management of introduced plant species in the Australian Alps Factsheet.

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Alpine Grazing Taskforce. (2005). Report of the Alpine Grazing Taskforce. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Alpine Grazing Taskforce. (2005). Report of the Alpine Grazing Taskforce. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of grazing on alpine grassland soil available nutrients across the Tibetan Plateau

Preview of Condition thresholds in Australia's threatened ecological community listings hinder conservation of dynamic ecosystems - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 4, 2025

Condition thresholds in Australia's threatened ecological community listings hinder conservation of dynamic ecosystems - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Condition thresholds in Australia´s threatened ... - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Invasive species - ABARES - DAFF, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Invasive species - ABARES - DAFF, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Why citizen scientists are key in the fight against invasive species - CSIRO, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of Invasive Species - NSW State of the Environment, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Invasive Species - NSW State of the Environment, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

ALPINE - Parks Victoria, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of Invasive Species (Australia) | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Invasive Species (Australia) | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Invasive Species (Australia) | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of ‪John W. Morgan‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬, accessed on May 25, 2025,

‪John W. Morgan‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

‪John W. Morgan‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of LTERN publications catalogued | TERN Australia - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed on May 25, 2025,

LTERN publications catalogued | TERN Australia - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of Management of introduced plant species in the Australian Alps - Science for Saving Species

Management of introduced plant species in the Australian Alps - Science for Saving Species

Direct Evidence Journal

Management of introduced plant species in the Australian Alps - Science for Saving Species

Preview of Managing for biodiversity: Impact and action thresholds for invasive plants in natural ecosystems | SPREP, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Managing for biodiversity: Impact and action thresholds for invasive plants in natural ecosystems | SPREP, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.sprep.org, accessed May 20, 2025

Preview of New pasture plants intensify invasive species risk - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 6, 2025,

New pasture plants intensify invasive species risk - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Athel pine or tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla) - Weed Management Guide - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Preview of New pasture plants intensify invasive species risk - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed on May 25, 2025,

New pasture plants intensify invasive species risk - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

New pasture plants intensify invasive species risk - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of Plant invasions in treeless vegetation of the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Plant invasions in treeless vegetation of the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Impact of Invasive Species in Australia - Australian Animals

Preview of Plant invasions into mountains and alpine ecosystems: current status and future challenges - Montana State University, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Plant invasions into mountains and alpine ecosystems: current status and future challenges - Montana State University, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Plant invasions into mountains and alpine ecosystems: current status and future challenges - Montana State University, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessing alpine vegetation dynamics using long-term ecological monitoring amidst rapid climate change - Griffith Research Online, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Preview of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). (2012). Seven decades of data sustaining the Australian Alps.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). (2012). Seven decades of data sustaining the Australian Alps.

Contextual Support Government

TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed on June 5, 2025

Preview of The effectiveness of weed control in a threatened plant community ..., accessed May 10, 2025,

The effectiveness of weed control in a threatened plant community ..., accessed May 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A checklist of attributes for effective monitoring of threatened species and threatened ecosystems - Charles Darwin University, accessed August 8, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 6 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: Initial establishment and spread of key threatening invasive species indicates compromised state. Optimal Range: Zero presence or functionally absent for key threatening invasive species. Upper Detrimental Threshold: >5% cover for invasive plants or populations causing widespread habitat degradation signify poor condition and ecological harm. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.