Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 10
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Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i. Information on Risk Assessments Original risk assessment |
| Rubus rosifolius (Thimbleberry, West Indian raspberry, ola'a, roseleaf raspberry) Family - Rosaceae | Answer | Score | |
| 1.01 | Is the species highly domesticated? | n | 0 |
| 1.02 | Has the species become naturalized where grown? | ||
| 1.03 | Does the species have weedy races? | ||
| 2.01 | Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical” | 2 | |
| 2.02 | Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2 | 2 | |
| 2.03 | Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) | y | 1 |
| 2.04 | Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates | y | 1 |
| 2.05 | Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2 | y | |
| 3.01 | Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05 | y | 1 |
| 3.02 | Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | ||
| 3.03 | Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | n | 0 |
| 3.04 | Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2) | y | 2 |
| 3.05 | Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2) | y | 1 |
| 4.01 | Produces spines, thorns or burrs | y | 1 |
| 4.02 | Allelopathic | n | 0 |
| 4.03 | Parasitic | n | 0 |
| 4.04 | Unpalatable to grazing animals | n | -1 |
| 4.05 | Toxic to animals | n | 0 |
| 4.06 | Host for recognized pests and pathogens | n | 0 |
| 4.07 | Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans | n | 0 |
| 4.08 | Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems | n | 0 |
| 4.09 | Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle | y | 1 |
| 4.1 | Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island) | y | 1 |
| 4.11 | Climbing or smothering growth habit | y | 1 |
| 4.12 | Forms dense thickets | y | 1 |
| 5.01 | Aquatic | n | 0 |
| 5.02 | Grass | n | 0 |
| 5.03 | Nitrogen fixing woody plant | n | 0 |
| 5.04 | Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers) | n | 0 |
| 6.01 | Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat | n | 0 |
| 6.02 | Produces viable seed. | y | 1 |
| 6.03 | Hybridizes naturally | y | 1 |
| 6.04 | Self-compatible or apomictic | n | -1 |
| 6.05 | Requires specialist pollinators | y | -1 |
| 6.06 | Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation | y | 1 |
| 6.07 | Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1 | 2 | 0 |
| 7.01 | Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas) | n | -1 |
| 7.02 | Propagules dispersed intentionally by people | y | 1 |
| 7.03 | Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant | n | -1 |
| 7.04 | Propagules adapted to wind dispersal | n | -1 |
| 7.05 | Propagules water dispersed | n | -1 |
| 7.06 | Propagules bird dispersed | y | 1 |
| 7.07 | Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally) | n | -1 |
| 7.08 | Propagules survive passage through the gut | y | 1 |
| 8.01 | Prolific seed production (>1000/m2) | y | 1 |
| 8.02 | Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr) | ||
| 8.03 | Well controlled by herbicides | y | -1 |
| 8.04 | Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire | ||
| 8.05 | Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents) | n | 1 |
| Total score: | 10 |
Supporting data:
| Notes | Reference | |
| 1.01 | No evidence | |
| 1.02 | ||
| 1.03 | There are two varieties of R. rosifolius that differ only in the number of petals. Rubus rosifolius var. commersonii has 9-13 petals, while Rubus rosifolius var. rosifolius has five (Bean, 2001). [No evidence of weediness in the two varieties]. | http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 2.01 | (1)"Native range: Asia, Australia. (2)In Australia where it is native it is found in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest from Tasmania to Qld. | (1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 2.02 | (1)"Native range: Asia, Australia. (2)In Australia where it is native it is found in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest from Tasmania to Qld. | (1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 2.03 | "Grows to 2,200 m elevation in Tahiti (Meyer, 2000). " | http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm |
| 2.04 | (1)"Native range: Asia, Australia. (2)In Australia where it is native it is found in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest from Tasmania to Qld. | (1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 2.05 |
(1)Introduced to Hawaii and Tahiti. (2)Geographical range Native range: Asia, Australia, China, Taiwan. Known introduced range: New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Malaysia, La Reunion, Mauritius, Rapa, Hawai‘i, French Polynesia. |
(1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 3.01 | (1)Invades understory of moist forests." "Very invasive in French Polynesia" (2)" This species has become invasive in Hawai‘i and French Polynesia, where it is capable of intruding into the understory of rainforests. Prickly stems and an ability to form dense thickets make R. rosifolius undesirable in many areas." (3)"General impacts - Threatens many native plants on the Hawai‘ian Islands through overcrowding and competition (US EPA, 2002). Is able to form dense thickets when adequate sunlight is available. Can climb using hooks on the stems and prickles on the leaves (BRAIN, 2002)." | (1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= (3)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 3.02 | "In Hawai‘i, "a common weed in disturbed mesic to wet forest, 60-1,730 m" [Not scored since 3.04 is scored positive] | http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm |
| 3.03 | No evidence | |
| 3.04 | (1)Invades understory of moist forests." "Very invasive in French Polynesia" (2)" This species has become invasive in Hawai‘i and French Polynesia, where it is capable of intruding into the understory of rainforests. Prickly stems and an ability to form dense thickets make R. rosifolius undesirable in many areas." (3)"General impacts - Threatens many native plants on the Hawai‘ian Islands through overcrowding and competition (US EPA, 2002). Is able to form dense thickets when adequate sunlight is available. Can climb using hooks on the stems and prickles on the leaves (BRAIN, 2002)." | (1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= (3)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 3.05 | (1)Rubus argutus (2)Rubus ellipticus and (3)Rubus moluccanus | (1)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=476&fr=1&sts=sss (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=79&fr=1&sts=sss (3)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=994&fr=1&sts=sss |
| 4.01 | (1)sparsely covered with recurved prickles 1-4 mm long with elongate bases. (2)Rubus rosifolius is a prickly shrub that produces edible red berries. | (1)http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/rubus_rosifolius.htm (2)http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |
| 4.02 | No evidence | |
| 4.03 | No evidence | |
| 4.04 | "Goats (Capra hircus) are able to control infestations through grazing. Care must be taken with this approach however, as goats are a known invasive species as well." | http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=500&fr=1&sts= |