The Capacity of Groups within the Community to Carry out Plant Pest Surveillance Detection

Abstract

A set of trial exercises was run to compare pest surveillance capabilities of the Department of Agriculture and Food's entomology and plant pathology staff (all with some degree of field survey experience) with persons from various community groups. Information indicating a comparable level of confidence in the use of community members for surveillance, to complement professional staff capacity, is provided.

A field experiment characterizing variable detection rates during plant surveys

“…Nevertheless, we expect that our preferred model may overestimate detection rates for 3 main reasons. First, observers were exposed to a substantially higher quantity of targets than in a typical survey, where it is possible to search for days without detecting a new infestation, and the higher reward rate may have boosted their motivation (Hartley et al., 1989; Mangano et al., 2011). Second, observers’ awareness that they were being assessed may have increased their vigilance (Moore et al., 2011).…”

“…Targets were placed in the plots at uniform, randomly generated spatial coordinates. Using a higher number of targets would have been possible and yielded more replication, but hawkweeds typically occur at very low densities on the Bogong High Plains, and we hoped to avoid substantial changes in search behavior that might arise from high reward rates (Hartley et al., 1989; Mangano et al., 2011; Moore et al., 2011).…”

“…Live targets, from threatened plants (Alexander et al., 2012) to snakes (Christy et al., 2010), have been used, although target mimics can provide enhanced control and, in the case of invasive species, reduced biosecurity risk. For example, harmless look‐alike plants have been used to represent weeds (Hartley et al., 1989); paint, holes, and tags to represent fungal and insect damage (Bulman et al., 1999; Hauser et al., 2016a; Mangano et al., 2011); and marbles to represent sessile crabs (Delaney & Leung, 2010). For the purpose of more generalized understanding of detection, researchers have painted snail shells to create fictitious pests (Mangano et al., 2011) and deployed coins (McCarthy et al., 2013), gloves, and garbage bags (Robe & Frost, 2002) as targets.…”

“…For example, harmless look-alike plants have been used to represent weeds (Hartley et al, 1989); paint, holes, and tags to represent fungal and insect damage (Bulman et al, 1999;Hauser et al, 2016a;Mangano et al, 2011); and marbles to represent sessile crabs (Delaney & Leung, 2010). For the purpose of more generalized understanding of detection, researchers have painted snail shells to create fictitious pests (Mangano et al, 2011) and deployed coins (McCarthy et al, 2013), gloves, and garbage bags (Robe & Frost, 2002) as targets. Whether the detection rate of these mimics is transferable to real targets is generally unknown, although Pirtle et al (2021) tested and confirmed their mimic resemblance by using real and simulated leaf damage.…”

Model‐based search strategies for plant diseases: a case study using citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri)

“…During an incursion response, managers need to determine rapidly the extent of the incursion by inspecting exposed areas (Mangano et al, 2011). Exposure pathways are any means that allow the entry or spread of a pest between areas of interest (AOI) and include 'trace events' (i.e.…”