Thicket of Rubus niveus invading native daisy tree forest on the Galapagos Islands

CABI scientist, Kate Pollard, surveying Rubus niveus in Indian Himalayan native range

Species of rust infecting Rubus niveus in Indian Himalayan native range

CABI scientist, Dr. Carol Ellison, discussing Rubus niveus invasion with Dr. Rachel Atkinson

Fruit of Rubus niveus

Species of rust infecting Rubus niveus in Indian Himalayan native range

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Project Overview

So, what’s the problem

Since the Galapagos Islands were discovered in the 16th century, humans have introduced many species of plants and animals. Some of which have become invasive, such as blackberry (Rubus niveus). Introduced in 1968, this non-native species is considered one of the worst weeds affecting the islands. It has now invaded most of the wetter parts of the islands and is estimated to cover more than 30,000 hectares (around 21,500 football pitches). Dense spiny thickets of blackberry can grow up to 3 metres tall, affecting farmland and also preventing the unique native forest dominated by the endemic daisy tree (species from the genus Scalesia) from regenerating.

At present control is a mixture of manual labour and herbicide application, but its fast growth and large seedbank make these methods expensive, labour intensive and not very successful. This has led to heavy and regular use of herbicides or land abandonment.

What is this project doing?

The Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) are partnering with CABI to help protect the iconic Galapagos Islands from an invasive blackberry (Rubus niveus).

With ongoing funding from FEIG (Fondo para el control de las especies invasoras de Galapagos), a trust fund set-up to manage invasive species problems in the archipelago, CABI is working to identify suitable biological control agents for the blackberry.

Classical biological control (or biocontrol) is used worldwide in the battle against widely-distributed non-native invasive species, such as weeds. This method uses living organisms – natural enemies of the invasive species, such as insects and diseases – from the native range of the invasive species. A biological control agent is selected that only attacks the invasive or target species, weakening it and reducing its impact.

A successful biological control agent will keep the invasive plant in check on all sites where present and, importantly, keep the costs of controlling the blackberry significantly lower. It will not only reduce the cost of management for farmers and the GNPD, but also allow the recovery of native vegetation and the subsequent release of agricultural areas so that cultivation can be resumed.

CABI scientists are searching for potential biocontrol agents from the native range of the blackberry (India to China) where it doesn’t cause any problems and only reaches a fraction of the size grows to in its invasive range. Their work will also define more precisely the exact origin of the individual species introduced to Galapagos using genetic markers.

If a suitable agent is found, additional funding with allow for a rigorous 3-5 year testing process to be undertaken. This will ensure that the biocontrol agent for blackberry poses no risk to native, non-target species, as well as related cultivated species like the commercial Andean raspberry on mainland Ecuador, and ornamental roses grown for export.