Vines that strangle from every angle
WALK INTO MANY AREAS of Munibung Hill and there they are, twining there way up through the tree branches as part of their natural habit, but they are no friends of the species native to Australia.
Most people will be familiar with the showy blue/purple flowers of the Morning Glory Vines (Ipomoea indica and Ipomoea purpurea) and their smaller relative known as Mile-a-minute (Ipomoea cairica) which has paler lilac flowers. Originally introduced as garden ornamentals, these plants from tropical Central and South America have become serious weeds of riparian areas and rainforest margins in coastal NSW.
We mustn’t be deceived by the pretty flowers that might lull us into imagining these are to be encouraged in any way. On the contrary they are the subject of concerted efforts to eradicate them wherever possible.
All species are fast growing and spread by horizontal stems which cover the ground and are able to root at every node, making them very difficult to eradicate. Shoots from the nodes climb up and smother native vegetation. They are also poisonous to humans and animals.
It might also be interesting to note that these plants belong to the same genus as Sweet Potato.
More at these links … NSW Weed Wise – Common morning glory and Mile-a-Minute
…………………………………………………………..
The six major threats to Australian native animal species
– Habitat loss / Introduced species / Inappropriate fire regimes / Disease / Pollution / Over-exploitation
SADLY ALL OF THESE have been brought about at the hands of the human species that has colonised and destroyed much of their habitat, brought species into the country that have over-run the homelands of native species, caused massive fires to wipe out the vegetation where many animals find refuge, brought sicknesses into their spaces that their immune systems can’t cope with, poisoned their waters and soils and over harvested their numbers beyond a level that can be regenerated within their ecological and evolutionary background rates.
What a commentary, what a legacy. As our ancestors, if they could speak the language of the modern European or the other cultures that have made Australia home, what would they say? Our indigenous cousins had a much more enlightened attitude to the other-than-human species that they shared this ancient land with. They considered them kin. We may well consider pet cats and dogs kin, but wombats, bandicoots, swamp wallabies, yellow tailed black cockatoos, powerful owls, goannas, frogs, and all the rest, seen and unseen, what do we consider them to be? From an economic point of view, only to be exploited as resources to be rounded up and expressed as dollars and cents on a balance sheet.
Paula dePerna, author of: Pricing the Priceless, would have us think much differently.
…………………………………………………..
CATastrophic effects of free-roaming felines
by Jenna McCullough, UNM BioBLOG …University of New Mexico, September 15, 2021
As I routinely tell anyone who listens, it is dangerous for cats, hazardous for humans, and downright catastrophic for wildlife when we allow cats to roam freely.
I AM A PARADOXICAL CAT-LOVER. One moment, I can be cuddling my kitten in my arms and the next moment, I am scaring a cat out of the bushes in my backyard. Indoors, I spoil my kitten; outdoors, I chase the neighbourhood cats down the street with my metaphorical pitchfork. This paradox stems from the fact that I am a cat-loving ornithologist. As such, I am hyper aware of how cute it would be to watch my kitten happily roll around in the grass while also understanding the danger for cats, humans, and wildlife when cats roam freely outside. — Full story here:
http://unm-bioblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/catastrophic-effects-of-free-roaming.html?m=1
………………………………………………
Understanding the Factors Influencing Cat Containment: Identifying Opportunities for Behaviour Change
Gemma C. Ma1,2,* and Lynette J. McLeod3 National Institute of Health, Published online May 12, 2023
Abstract
Simple Summary
CATS ARE POPULAR PETS in Australia, being present in around one-third of households. As pets, cats are managed in a wide variety of ways, from fully indoors in apartments to completely outdoor free roaming. Australian wildlife is uniquely vulnerable to cat predation. Roaming cats also create a nuisance and are at risk of accidents and injuries. Councils, veterinarians, animal welfare organisations and conservation groups all have an interest in encouraging cat owners to change their behaviour and prevent their cats from roaming. Understanding what influences cat owner decisions can help design effective programs. This study asked cat owners about their cats, living circumstances, current cat management behaviour and agreement with statements reflecting their ability to contain their cats and their social opportunity and motivation to do so.
There are over 5 million pet cats in Australia managed on a spectrum from fully indoors to completely outdoor free roaming. Roaming cats threaten biodiversity, can create a nuisance and are at risk of accidents and injury. Hence, there is substantial interest in behaviour change interventions to increase cat containment.
For the full report …https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10215893/
……. First appeared in MMM Issue #44, June-July 2024