Abstract
We evaluated the applicability of the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (AWRA) system in Japan. Native weeds (n = 117) and introduced plants (n = 142), whose weed status was classified by 20 plant experts, were assessed using a slightly modified version of the AWRA system designed to fit Japanese conditions. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the system, when classifying two-thirds of the 259 taxa as weeds or non-weeds, was plotted and the area under the ROC curve was calculated. The area was 0.88 and significantly greater than 0.5. Thus, the validity of the system to classify plants was proven. The best cut-off level for the WRA score using Youden’s index was 10. When taxa whose AWRA scores were greater than 10 were regarded as weeds, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.88 and 0.78, respectively. These values were verified with the remaining one-third of the taxa. From these findings, the modified AWRA system was considered to be effective for use in Japan. However, further studies are required to set the best cut-off level in terms of maximising the benefits gained from using the system. A second screening test associated with the cut-off level also needs to be developed.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Hiroaki Ikeda, Kazuyuki Ito, Kouji Fujii, Hideaki Fushimi, Toshio Katsuki, Kano Koide, Noboru Kuramoto, Hiroaki Matsui, Kazuhito Matsuo, Reiichi Miura, Tetsuro Matsubara, Kikuhiko Mizusaki, Mistuo Mizuta, Tetsuro Muraoka, Shingo Taniguchi, Toru Tominaga, Shuji Uemura, Toshiya Yoshioka, Osamu Watanabe and Yasushi Watanabe for their classification of taxa tested. A part of the study was done when the senior author was visiting CSIRO Entomology with a grant from NARO. The study was mainly supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan within the Promotion of Science and Technology Program.
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Appendix
Appendix
List of taxa used in the validation of the AWRA system
Taxa | Weed status classified by experts | WRA Score | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
Epiphyllum oxypetalum | n | −5 | Introduced |
Musa × paradisiaca | n | −5 | Introduced |
Dendrobium nobile | n | −3 | Introduced |
Magnolia denudata | n | −3 | Introduced |
Nepenthes mirabilis | n | −3 | Introduced |
Sinningia speciosa | n | −3 | Introduced |
Lycoris radiata | m | −2 | Introduced |
Ginkgo biloba | n | −2 | Introduced |
Chimonanthus praecox | n | −1 | Introduced |
Cinnamomum loureiroi | n | −1 | Introduced |
Zanthoxylum schinifolium | m | 0 | Native |
Armeria maritima | n | 0 | Introduced |
Callistemon glaucus | n | 0 | Introduced |
Clethra barbinervis | m | 1 | Native |
Ananas comosus | n | 1 | Introduced |
Daphne odora | n | 1 | Introduced |
Diospyros kaki | n | 1 | Introduced |
Forsythia suspensa | n | 1 | Introduced |
Platycladus orientalis | n | 1 | Introduced |
Zingiber officinale | n | 1 | Introduced |
Alnus firma | m | 2 | Native |
Cryptotaenia japonica | m | 2 | Native |
Staphylea bumalda | m | 2 | Native |
Cedrus deodara | n | 2 | Introduced |
Firmiana simplex | n | 2 | Introduced |
Linum virginianum | n | 2 | Introduced |
Platanus orientalis | n | 2 | Introduced |
Solanum melongena | n | 2 | Introduced |
Rhus sylvestris | m | 3 | Native |
Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana | n | 3 | Introduced |
Populus × canadensis | n | 3 | Introduced |
Eurya japonica | m | 4 | Native |
Campsis grandiflora | n | 4 | Introduced |
Canna × generalis | n | 4 | Introduced |
Morus bombycis | m | 5 | Native |
Sasa kurilensis | m | 5 | Native |
Sedum bulbiferum | m | 5 | Native |
Impatiens balsamina | n | 5 | Introduced |
Lycopersicon esculentum | n | 5 | Introduced |
Basella rubra var. alba | m | 6 | Introduced |
Citrullus vulgaris | n | 6 | Introduced |
Cornus florida | n | 6 | Introduced |
Juglans regia | n | 6 | Introduced |
Trachycarpus fortumei | m | 7 | Introduced |
Aesculus hippocastanum | n | 7 | Introduced |
Cunninghamia lanceolata | n | 7 | Introduced |
Tibouchina urvilleana | n | 7 | Introduced |
Achyranthes fauriei | m | 8 | Native |
Rhus javanica | m | 8 | Native |
Viola mandshurica | m | 8 | Native |
Phlox paniculata | n | 8 | Introduced |
Tropaeolum majus | n | 8 | Introduced |
Phyllostachys heterocycla | s | 9 | Introduced |
Actinidia arguta | m | 9 | Native |
Cocculus trilobus | m | 9 | Native |
Justicia procumbens | m | 9 | Native |
Valerianella locusta | m | 9 | Introduced |
Punica granatum | n | 9 | Introduced |
Calystegia japonica | s | 10 | Native |
Aeginetia indica | m | 10 | Native |
Aralia elata | m | 10 | Native |
Ixeris debilis | m | 10 | Native |
Sonchus brachyotis | m | 10 | Native |
Mahonia japonica | n | 10 | Introduced |
Sesamum indicum | n | 10 | Introduced |
Zizyphus jujuba var.inermis | n | 10 | Introduced |
Houttuynia cordata | s | 11 | Native |
Macleaya cordata | s | 11 | Native |
Nothoscordum fragrans | m | 11 | Introduced |
Smilax china | m | 11 | Native |
Viscum album var.coloratum | m | 11 | Native |
Oxalis corymbosa | s | 12 | Introduced |
Cleome hassleriana | m | 12 | Introduced |
Clerodendrum trichotomum | m | 12 | Native |
Eriocaulon robustius | m | 12 | Native |
Geranium carolinianum | m | 12 | Introduced |
Lilium formosanum | m | 12 | Introduced |
Bischofia javanica | n | 12 | Introduced |
Ficus carica | n | 12 | Introduced |
Passiflora caerulea | n | 12 | Introduced |
Calystegia hederacea | s | 13 | Native |
Potamogeton distinctus | s | 13 | Native |
Boehmeria nipononivea | m | 13 | Native |
Bothriospermum tenellum | m | 13 | Native |
Eleocharis congesta | m | 13 | Native |
Gnaphalium affine | m | 13 | Native |
Lemna paucicostata | m | 13 | Native |
Mirabilis jalapa | m | 13 | Introduced |
Nelumbo nucifera | m | 13 | Introduced |
Pinellia ternata | m | 13 | Native |
Sisymbrium orientale | m | 13 | Introduced |
Sisyrinchium rosulatum | m | 13 | Introduced |
Vandellia angustifolia | m | 13 | Native |
Vicia villosa subs. varia | m | 13 | Introduced |
Proboscidea louisianica subsp.louisianica | n | 13 | Introduced |
Artemisia princeps | s | 14 | Native |
Eclipta prostrata | s | 14 | Native |
Eleocharis kuroguwai | s | 14 | Native |
Acalypha australis | m | 14 | Native |
Duchesnea chrysantha | m | 14 | Native |
Rubus parvifolius | m | 14 | Native |
Sagina japonica | m | 14 | Native |
Dioscorea batatas | n | 14 | Introduced |
Agropyron tsukushiense var.transiens | s | 15 | Native |
Cayratia japonica | s | 15 | Native |
Coreopsis lanceolata | s | 15 | Introduced |
Myriophyllum brasiliense | s | 15 | Introduced |
Callitriche verna | m | 15 | Native |
Kummerovia striata | m | 15 | Native |
Lindernia procumbens | m | 15 | Native |
Ludwigia epilobioides | m | 15 | Native |
Lysimachia japonica | m | 15 | Native |
Stellaria alsine var.undulata | m | 15 | Native |
Cardiospermum halicacabum | n | 15 | Introduced |
Nerium indicum | n | 15 | Introduced |
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | n | 15 | Introduced |
Cyperus esculentus | s | 16 | Introduced |
Elodea nuttallii | s | 16 | Introduced |
Conyza canadensis | s | 16 | Introduced |
Ipomoea coccinea | s | 16 | Introduced |
Oenothera biennis | s | 16 | Introduced |
Persicaria longiseta | s | 16 | Native |
Stellaria aquatica | s | 16 | Native |
Amorpha fruticosa | m | 16 | Introduced |
Ardisia crenata | m | 16 | Native |
Centipeda minima | m | 16 | Native |
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides | m | 16 | Native |
Mollugo verticillata | m | 16 | Introduced |
Tradescantia flumiensis | m | 16 | Introduced |
Veronica persica | m | 16 | Introduced |
Alopecurus aequalis var.amurensis | s | 17 | Native |
Amaranthus lividus | s | 17 | Introduced |
Ambrosia trifida | s | 17 | Introduced |
Cerastium glomeratum | s | 17 | Introduced |
Cyperus serotinus | s | 17 | Native |
Eleocharis acicularis | s | 17 | Native |
Rudbeckia laciniata | s | 17 | Introduced |
Casuarina equisetifolia | m | 17 | Introduced |
Elatine triandra | m | 17 | Native |
Chamaesyce nutans | m | 17 | Introduced |
Fimbristylis dichotoma | m | 17 | Native |
Lobelia chinensis | m | 17 | Native |
Pennisetum alopecuroides | m | 17 | Native |
Trapanatans var. bispinosa | m | 17 | Native |
Youngia japonica | m | 17 | Native |
Ilex aquifolium | n | 17 | Introduced |
Cyperus microiria | s | 18 | Native |
Cyperus rotundus | s | 18 | Native |
Eichhornia crassipes | s | 18 | Introduced |
Lamium purpureum | s | 18 | Introduced |
Lindernia dubia | s | 18 | Introduced |
Portulaca oleracea | s | 18 | Native |
Beckmannia syzigachne | m | 18 | Native |
Bidens tripartita | m | 18 | Native |
Fimbristylis miliacea | m | 18 | Native |
Juncus tenuis | m | 18 | Native |
Lepidium virginicum | m | 18 | Introduced |
Mazus pumilus | m | 18 | Native |
Melia azedarach | m | 18 | Native |
Ranunculus muricatus | m | 18 | Introduced |
Rotala indica var. uliginosa | m | 18 | Native |
Sisymbrium officinale | m | 18 | Introduced |
Vicia hirsuta | m | 18 | Native |
Abutilon theophrasti | s | 19 | Introduced |
Avena fatua | s | 19 | Introduced |
Conyza bonariensis | s | 19 | Introduced |
Conyza sumatrensis | s | 19 | Introduced |
Cyperus difformis | s | 19 | Native |
Eleusine indica | s | 19 | Native |
Erigeron annuus | s | 19 | Introduced |
Erigeron philadelphicus | s | 19 | Introduced |
Galinsoga quadriradiata | s | 19 | Introduced |
Lamium amplexicaule | s | 19 | Native |
Phytolacca americana | s | 19 | Introduced |
Rorippa indica | s | 19 | Native |
Sagittaria trifolia | s | 19 | Native |
Setaria viridis | s | 19 | Native |
Solidago canadensis var. scabra | s | 19 | Introduced |
Rumex acetosa | m | 19 | Native |
Verbascum thapsus | m | 19 | Introduced |
Vinca major | m | 19 | Introduced |
Aeschymomene indica | s | 20 | Native |
Capsella bursa-pastoris | s | 20 | Native |
Cyperus iria | s | 20 | Native |
Chamaesyce maculata | s | 20 | Introduced |
Festuca arundinacea | s | 20 | Introduced |
Galium spurium var.echinospermon | s | 20 | Native |
Humulus scandens | s | 20 | Native |
Miscanthus sinensis | s | 20 | Native |
Reynoutria japonica | s | 20 | Native |
Solanum americanum | s | 20 | Introduced |
Ailanthus altissima | m | 20 | Introduced |
Ceratophyllum demersum | m | 20 | Native |
Metaplexis japonica | m | 20 | Native |
Amaranthus patulus | s | 21 | Introduced |
Amaranthus spinosus | s | 21 | Introduced |
Ambrosia artemisiaefolia var. elatior | s | 21 | Introduced |
Cirsium vulgare | s | 21 | Introduced |
Dactylis glomerata | s | 21 | Introduced |
Echinochloa oryzicola | s | 21 | Native |
Eragrostis curvula | s | 21 | Introduced |
Hypochoeris radicata | s | 21 | Introduced |
Lolium multiflorum | s | 21 | Introduced |
Pueraria lobata | s | 21 | Native |
Robinia pseudoacacia | s | 21 | Introduced |
Rorippa palustris | s | 21 | Native |
Stellaria media | s | 21 | Introduced |
Cabomba caroliniana | m | 21 | Introduced |
Cardamine flexuosa | m | 21 | Native |
Lonicera japonica | m | 21 | Native |
Murdannia keisak | m | 21 | Native |
Polygonum aviculare | m | 21 | Native |
Tamarix chinensis | n | 21 | Introduced |
Bidens pilosa | s | 22 | Introduced |
Bromus catharticus | s | 22 | Introduced |
Chenopodium album | s | 22 | Native |
Digitaria ciliaris | s | 22 | Native |
Egeria densa | s | 22 | Introduced |
Monochoria vaginalis | s | 22 | Native |
Sagittaria pygmaea | s | 22 | Native |
Sicyos angulatus | s | 22 | Introduced |
Solidago gigantea var.leiophylla | s | 22 | Introduced |
Xanthium strumariumvar.canadense | s | 22 | Introduced |
Datura stramonium | m | 22 | Introduced |
Oenanthe javanica | m | 22 | Native |
Pistia stratiotes | m | 22 | Introduced |
Plantago major | m | 22 | Introduced |
Rumex acetosella | m | 22 | Introduced |
Cirsium arvense | s | 23 | Introduced |
Commelina communis | s | 23 | Native |
Oxalis corniculata | s | 23 | Native |
Rumex obtusifolius | s | 23 | Introduced |
Trifolium repens | s | 23 | Introduced |
Anthoxanthum odoratum | m | 23 | Introduced |
Iris pseudacorus | m | 23 | Introduced |
Phalaris arundinacea | m | 23 | Native |
Plantago asiatica | m | 23 | Native |
Poa pratensis | m | 23 | Introduced |
Elytrigia repens | s | 24 | Introduced |
Bidens frondosa | s | 24 | Introduced |
Cynodon dactylon | s | 24 | Native |
Echinochloa crus-galli | s | 24 | Native |
Paspalum distichum | s | 24 | Native |
Senecio vulgaris | s | 24 | Introduced |
Solanum carolinense | s | 24 | Introduced |
Agrostis alba | m | 24 | Introduced |
Solanum nigrum | m | 24 | Native |
Poa annua | s | 25 | Native |
Ranunculus sceleratus | m | 25 | Native |
Typha latifolia | m | 25 | Native |
Imperata cylindrica | s | 26 | Native |
Buddleja davidii | m | 26 | Introduced |
Holcus lanatus | m | 26 | Introduced |
Lantana camara | m | 26 | Introduced |
Rubus fruticosus | m | 26 | Introduced |
Plantago lanceolata | s | 27 | Introduced |
Sonchus oleraceus | m | 27 | Native |
Taraxacum officinale | s | 28 | Introduced |
Barbarea vulgaris | m | 29 | Introduced |
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Nishida, T., Yamashita, N., Asai, M. et al. Developing a pre-entry weed risk assessment system for use in Japan. Biol Invasions 11, 1319–1333 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9340-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9340-0