Biological control of invasive Phragmites australis will be detrimental to native P. australis

Abstract

Phragmites australis biological control is intended to address a major invasion in North America and is likely to change the ecology of vast areas of coastal and inland wetlands. However, the real risks to the native North American genotypes of P. australis (as indicated by recent research summarized above) may not have been fully considered, particularly the extirpation of native populations or the eventual extinction of the native North American lineage altogether. The concerns we raise need to be considered in the process of developing and approving the release of biological control agents and the entire approval process would benefit from greater transparency and wider input from Phragmites researchers globally.