Invasive Species Presence

AUS-TSW-CON-ISP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 presence/absence
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

A minor, non-dominant component of exotic annual forbs and grasses in the understorey (e.g., <5% total foliage cover) may be present

Metric Definition:

Percentage cover of non-transformative exotic annual forbs and grasses in the understorey.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the maximum acceptable cover of non-transformative exotic annual forbs and grasses in the understorey of high-quality temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands under conservation management.

Justification:

Research in Victorian Mallee parks indicated that even in 'good' condition sites, exotic herbs and graminoids were recorded, suggesting a low-level presence is a persistent feature of contemporary managed landscapes.

Sources (1)

Preview of THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIA, accessed July 15, 2025
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIA, accessed July 15, 2025 Journal

Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (30)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy for the Great Western Woodlands - DBCA Library, accessed July 15, 2025
A Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy for the Great Western Woodlands - DBCA Library, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy for the Great Western Woodlands - DBCA Library, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Approved Conservation Advice for the Buloke ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Approved Conservation Advice for the Buloke ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite: ecosystem monitoring infrastructure and key science learnings - Journal of Ecology and Environment, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Conservation Advice1 for the Plains mallee box woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression, Riverina and Naracoorte Coastal Plain, accessed July 15, 2025
Conservation Advice1 for the Plains mallee box woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression, Riverina and Naracoorte Coastal Plain, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the Buloke ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Controlling invasive species | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 15, 2025
Controlling invasive species | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Controlling invasive species | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,
Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source
Preview of East Australian Mediterranean Woodlands & Temperate Savannas ..., accessed July 15, 2025
East Australian Mediterranean Woodlands & Temperate Savannas ..., accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Plants of the mallee shrublands - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Expert commentary: Invasive species driving Australian biodiversity loss - CSIRO, accessed July 13, 2025
Expert commentary: Invasive species driving Australian biodiversity loss - CSIRO, accessed July 13, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fighting Plagues and Predators - CSIRO, accessed August 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of Fauna | Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve, accessed July 15, 2025
Fauna | Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Fauna | Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve, accessed July 15, 2025

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 Full article: Environmental integrity of forest offsets in a changing climate: embedding future climate in Australia's sinks policy regime, accessed July 15, 2025
Full article: Environmental integrity of forest offsets in a changing climate: embedding future climate in Australia's sinks policy regime, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Full article: Environmental integrity of forest offsets in a changing climate: embedding future climate in Australia's sinks policy regime, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of General Management Plan - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service), accessed July 15, 2025
General Management Plan - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service), accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Government

General Management Plan - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service), accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gluepot Reserve - BirdLife Australia, accessed July 15, 2025
Gluepot Reserve - BirdLife Australia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Gluepot Reserve - BirdLife Australia, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gluepot Reserve - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Gluepot Reserve - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gluepot Reserve - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gluepot Reserve in the Riverland of South Australia. - ExplorOz, accessed July 15, 2025
Gluepot Reserve in the Riverland of South Australia. - ExplorOz, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

General Management Plan - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service), accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of gluepot.org, accessed July 15, 2025
gluepot.org, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gluepot Reserve in the Riverland of South Australia. - ExplorOz, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Great Western Woodlands – Gondwana Link Ltd., accessed July 15, 2025
Great Western Woodlands – Gondwana Link Ltd., accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIA, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY - Your Say South Perth, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,
Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Indigenous Protected Areas - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Indigenous Protected Areas - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Indigenous Protected Areas - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Invasive species and climate change: a framework for predicting species distribution when data are scarce - CSIRO Research, accessed July 15, 2025
Invasive species and climate change: a framework for predicting species distribution when data are scarce - CSIRO Research, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Invasive species and range shifts | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025
Invasive species and range shifts | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Invasive species and range shifts | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025
Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Native Vegetation Integrity Benchmarks: An information sheet - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 12, 2025,
Native Vegetation Integrity Benchmarks: An information sheet - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Victorian Semi-arid Woodlands - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ngarkat Conservation Park - National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, accessed July 15, 2025
Ngarkat Conservation Park - National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 15, 2025
On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Reports - Invasive Species Council, accessed July 15, 2025
Reports - Invasive Species Council, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Reports - Invasive Species Council, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Scottsdale Reserve - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Scottsdale Reserve - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gluepot Reserve - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of The Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite: ecosystem monitoring infrastructure and key science learnings - Journal of Ecology and Environment, accessed July 15, 2025
The Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite: ecosystem monitoring infrastructure and key science learnings - Journal of Ecology and Environment, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

CSIRO – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Southwest Australia Ecoregion - Bibbulmun Track, accessed July 15, 2025
The Southwest Australia Ecoregion - Bibbulmun Track, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

East Australian Mediterranean Woodlands & Temperate Savannas (AU4) - One Earth, accessed July 15, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Must not be at a level that inhibits native species recruitment or alters key ecosystem functions.