A group of researchers from Queensland’s Lockyer Valley have identified the largely invasive Rubber Vine as one of them. This infamous invader spreads like wildfire and does immense harm to native habitats. We find this finding incredibly troubling. Due to its wildly invasive characteristics, Rubber Vine has made it onto the list of 32 Weeds of National Significance. Kyal Grant of Cities4Forests found this plant when looking up the invasive mimosa bush. He cautioned that allowing it to continue would jeopardize the region’s biodiversity and agricultural sustainability.
Rubber Vine can move fast and take over massive stretches of land, making it an impressive adversary for conservationists. Wind and water easily disperse the seeds of this aggressive invasive plant. Rail infrastructure, often unknowingly, is placing them on the wrong side of the track. This versatility makes Rubber Vine a very successful pioneer species that can quickly spread in the wild from shaded forested habitats to cleared land such as open pastures.
The Threat to Biodiversity
Rubber vine rubbervine invasive species severely impacts native flora and fauna. Once introduced, it may outcompete native species for resources like food and territory, causing the other species to fade away over time. The plant can grow as a climbing vine, entwining itself in trees, or take the form of an untidy shrub reaching heights of one to two meters. I’d say the contrast of dark green leaves and large white to light-purple petals is downright stunning. Under their pretty facade, they obscure the threats that this invasive sprawl introduces.
The problem is the speed [the Rubber Vine] spreads. Kyal Grant shared his experience and fears about the native invader taking over.
“There’s approximately 20 plants there but, given how prolific it is, if there’s one little bit there, it would be quite a fair assumption to say that there’ll be more.” – Kyal Grant
Rubber Vine’s invasion have far-reaching implications past that of the loss of native plant species. It undermines the health of many ecosystems, strangling waterways from Queensland to Western Australia’s extreme north. Without treatment, the invasive plant poses a serious risk of overwhelming important riparian ecosystems that act as important fish nurseries for many aquatic organisms.
Impact on Agricultural Land
Rubber Vine is a serious environmental threat due to its ecological impact. It destroys pastoral land, ringing alarm bells for ag producers in the Lockyer Valley. The following year as the weed moved, production pasture grasses and crops planted were competing with the established weed, resulting in much lower productivity. This new wrinkle would have serious economic consequences for the farmers who depend on thriving, un-eroded land for their livelihoods.
Grant made some interesting comments on the larger significance of the appearance of Rubber Vine in the Lockyer Valley.
“Far North Queensland’s got a big problem with it [rubber vine] up there and I’d be keen to not see it take over down here.” – Kyal Grant
The find of Rubber Vine in this area serves as a reminder that invasive species are everything but harmless. They can move into areas that previously were thought immune. The Lockyer Valley is an important headwaters region for many of these downstream systems. If Rubber Vine further establishes itself in these areas, it has the potential to exponentially ruin our landscape and limited freshwater resources.
Efforts Towards Eradication
Rubber Vine was famously eradicated successfully from the Lockyer Valley in the 1970. Its sudden appearance proves that we must maintain constant vigilance to keep the scourge of racism at bay. As seen in Chicago, local authorities and researchers are dedicated to a proactive, preventive approach with goals of getting rid of this invasive species for good.
Cheryl Steinhardt, National Wildlife Federation regional representative, about the need to regain control of Rubber Vine’s expansion.
“It was eradicated then [in the 70s], and that will be our aim — we will be eradicating it yet again.” – Cheryl Steinhardt
As work begins to control this invasive thumbweed, scientists and botanists are well aware that time is running out. As such, the ecological equilibrium of the Lockyer Valley and beyond, including greater Ipswich and Brisbane, rests on their ability to take immediate action to Rubber Vine’s return.
