Gorse in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Gorse is a major invasive plant
species in New Zealand
and millions of dollar
s are spent on its control.
Gorse is one of the most widely recognised agricultural weeds in New Zealand. It covers 700000 hectares (1,729,736.1 acre) at varying densities — a total of 5% of the land area of New Zealand when excluding existing indigenous forest, vegetated sub-alpine and alpine areas.
Introduced from Western Europe in the very early stages of European settlement, it was recorded by Charles Darwin
during his voyage through New Zealand waters in 1835 as growing in hedges in the Bay of Islands
. Its spread and development as a weed in this country's temperate climate was rapid, but settlers failed to recognise the threat; gorse seed continued to be imported and plantings deliberately established into the 1900s. The seed can lie dormant on the ground for up to 50 years, germinating quickly after the adults have been removed. Unfortunately, most methods of removing adult gorse plants, such as burning or bulldozing them, create the ideal conditions for the gorse seeds to germinate.
Large spreading infestations over hundreds of hectares resulted, peaking in the late 1940s. Gorse became New Zealand's most costly weed to control and total eradication with current technology seems impossible.
Gorse has been found to form a useful nursery for many species for native bush regeneration. When young, gorse bushes are very dense. As they grow older, they become 'leggy', and provide the ideal conditions for native seeds to germinate and grow. The native seedlings grow up through the gorse, cutting out its light and eventually replacing it. This technique is working successfully and within a short time frame at Hinewai Reserve
on Banks Peninsula.
Gorse has been used for hedges and windbreaks on the Canterbury Plains
since the 1850s. These windbreaks have a combined length of 300,000 kilometres.
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
species in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and millions of dollar
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
s are spent on its control.
Gorse is one of the most widely recognised agricultural weeds in New Zealand. It covers 700000 hectares (1,729,736.1 acre) at varying densities — a total of 5% of the land area of New Zealand when excluding existing indigenous forest, vegetated sub-alpine and alpine areas.
Introduced from Western Europe in the very early stages of European settlement, it was recorded by Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
during his voyage through New Zealand waters in 1835 as growing in hedges in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
. Its spread and development as a weed in this country's temperate climate was rapid, but settlers failed to recognise the threat; gorse seed continued to be imported and plantings deliberately established into the 1900s. The seed can lie dormant on the ground for up to 50 years, germinating quickly after the adults have been removed. Unfortunately, most methods of removing adult gorse plants, such as burning or bulldozing them, create the ideal conditions for the gorse seeds to germinate.
Large spreading infestations over hundreds of hectares resulted, peaking in the late 1940s. Gorse became New Zealand's most costly weed to control and total eradication with current technology seems impossible.
Gorse has been found to form a useful nursery for many species for native bush regeneration. When young, gorse bushes are very dense. As they grow older, they become 'leggy', and provide the ideal conditions for native seeds to germinate and grow. The native seedlings grow up through the gorse, cutting out its light and eventually replacing it. This technique is working successfully and within a short time frame at Hinewai Reserve
Hinewai Reserve
Hinewai Reserve is a private nature reserve on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand.-Description:Hinewai Reserve started off as a 109 ha block of farmland bought by the Maurice White Native Forest Trust in September 1987 and is now 1230 ha of gorse and regenerating native bush.The reserve was completely...
on Banks Peninsula.
Gorse has been used for hedges and windbreaks on the Canterbury Plains
Canterbury Plains
The Canterbury Plains are an area in New Zealand centred to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury Region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and in the south they merge into the plains of North Otago beyond the Waitaki...
since the 1850s. These windbreaks have a combined length of 300,000 kilometres.
Biological control
Biological control of gorse has been investigated since the 1920s. Seven different agents have been released in New Zealand. Results have been mixed, but in general neither the seed-feeding nor foliage-feeding insects are doing enough damage to be viable as a stand-alone control agent.See also
- Agriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New Zealand is the largest sector of the tradeable economy, contributing about two-thirds of exported goods in 2006-7. For the year ended March 2002, agricultural exports were valued at over $14.8 billion...
- Conservation in New ZealandConservation in New ZealandConservation in New Zealand has a history associated with both Māori and Europeans. Both groups of people caused a loss of species and both amended their behaviour after realising their effect on indigenous flora and fauna.-Protected areas:...
- Pesticides in New ZealandPesticides in New ZealandThere is a high use of pesticides in New Zealand due predominantly to the large agricultural industry.-1080:Sodium fluoroacetate, commonly known as 1080, is used in new Zealand to control animal pests, specifically the possum which threatens biodiversity and carries tuberculosus...
External links
- Ulex europaeus at the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture