Management Information
Preventative measures: A Risk Assessment of
Schinus terebinthifolius for Hawai‘i and other Pacific islands was prepared by Dr. Curtis Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service. The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands (Daehler et al. 2004). The result is a score of 19 and a recommendation of: "Likely to cause significant ecological or economic harm in Hawai‘i and on other Pacific Islands as determined by a high WRA score, which is based on published sources describing species biology and behaviour in Hawai‘i and/or other parts of the world." When developing a management strategy it is important to consider the following biological traits of S. terebinthifolius. Its seeds are generally not viable after five months following dispersal. Water availability (especially rapid changes in water level) determines to a great extent seedling success; the lack of success of the species in California has been attributed to the short period of sufficient soil moisture needed for germination and root establishment. Seedlings grow very slowly and can survive in dense shade, exhibiting vigorous growth if the canopy is cleared (growing at rates of .03 to .05 metres per year (Ferriter 1997). In this way the creation of open habitat (via deforestation, for example) influences and increases the rate of spread of S. terebinthifolius. When S. terebinthifolius occurs in these open disturbed areas it provide a reservoir for the plant to spread to natural environments. This means that the restoration of disturbed ecosystems back to their natural state may control the spread of the weed to native ecosystems (as well as providing an opportunity to regain native environments).
The plant is capable of resprouting from above-ground stems and root crowns and resprouting is also often profuse, with new growth originating from dormant and adventitious buds. The characteristics that make the Brazilian pepper plant a successful weed include (1) fast growth, (2) prolific seed production, (3) continuous shoot extension, (4) vigorous resprouting and (5) tolerance of a wide range of growing conditions (Ewel 1979, in Ferriter 1997).
Biological: Cleary, 2003 report that there exist various biocontrol agents that may control the Brazilian pepper plant; these include the Brazilian pepper thrip (Pseudophilothrips ichini), the Brazilian pepper leafroller (Episimus utilis), the Brazilian pepper sawfly (Heteroperreyia hubrichi) and a variety of fungal pathogens. Independent studies on Brazilian pepper gall insects us being conducted at the Central Western University (UNICENTRO) in Brazil.
Location Specific Management InformationFlorida (USA) (United States (USA))
"Our biocontrol research for Brazilian pepper has three insects under review. A petition has been completed for field release of the Brazilian pepper thrips (Pseudophilothrips ichini). Initial host range testing for the leafroller (Episimus utilis) is nearly complete. Studies are beginning on the sawfly (Heteroperreyia hubrichi). We are also looking into fungal pathogens for control. Independent studies on gall insects are being conducted at the Central Western University (UNICENTRO) in Irati, Parana, Brazil. Surveys for natural enemies of have been conducted by the Federal University of Parana in Curitiba. There is no Brazilian pepper biocontrol at the operational stage as yet in Florida but we are getting close. A management plan (1997) for Brazilian pepper in Florida is available" (Ruark L. Rook Cleary, Upland Weeds Program, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management, Tallahassee, Florida. pers. comm., February, 2003). French Polynesia (Polynésie Française) 
L' arrêté n°65 CM du 23 janvier 2006 dresse une liste de 35 plantes envahissantes déclarées "espèces menaçant la biodiversité". Ces plantes font l'objet de mesures d'interdiction d'importation nouvelle, de multiplication et de plantation, d'interdiction de transfert d'une île à l'autre de tout plant entier, fragment de plant, bouture, fruit et graine. Leur destruction est autorisée. New Zealand
S. terebinthifolius is listed as a pest plant in New Zealand; commercial sale and/or distribution of the plant is not allowed. National Pest Plant Accord, New Zealand
S. terebinthifolius has been included in the Auckland Regional Councils pest plant list. Nonsuch Is. (Bermuda)
S. terebinthifolius has been removed from Nonsuch Island for the past twenty years, but as many as 500 000 seedlings need to be removed annually in order to control this species. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States (USA))
The suggested management option is to occasionally remove moon vine and Brazilian pepper (up to 10 acres/annually), and to continue the 2001 barrier island restoration project to mimic historic conditions (USDI 2005).
Management Resources/Links
1. Daehler, C.C; Denslow, J.S; Ansari, S and Huang-Chi, K., 2004. A Risk-Assessment System for Screening Out Invasive Pest Plants from Hawaii and Other Pacific Islands. Conservation Biology Volume 18 Issue 2 Page 360.
Summary: A study on the use of a screening system to assess proposed plant introductions to Hawaii or other Pacific Islands and to identify high-risk species used in horticulture and forestry which would greatly reduce future pest-plant problems and allow entry of most nonpests. 3. Ferriter, A. (Ed.) 1997 Brazilian Pepper Management for Florida, Recommendations from the Brazilian Pepper Task Force Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s Brazilian Pepper Task Force: Florida. 4. Kueffer, C. and Mauremootoo, J., 2004. Case Studies on the Status of Invasive Woody Plant Species in the Western Indian Ocean. 3. Mauritius (Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues). Forest Health & Biosecurity Working Papers FBS/4-3E. Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. 9. National Pest Plant Accord, 2001. Biosecurity New Zealand.
Summary: The National Pest Plant Accord is a cooperative agreement between regional councils and government departments with biosecurity responsibilities. Under the accord, regional councils will undertake surveillance to prevent the commercial sale and/or distribution of an agreed list of pest plants.
Available from: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests-diseases/plants/accord.htm [Accessed 11 August 2005] 10. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, 2005. Unwanted Organisms. Factsheet Schinus terebinthifolius
Summary: The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) provides information about New Zealand's most weedy exotic plant species and how to identify them. They also provide an on-line form to record observations of weed occurrences.
This page available from: http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/index02.asp?Filter=s&FilterStatus=1
Lists of Exotic Plant life and Weeds available from: http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/advanced_search.asp [Accessed 19 May 2005] Results Page: 1
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