Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Agathis robusta (Queensland kauri)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

20

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

y

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

y

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

n

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-5

Source

Notes

1.01

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

Comprehensive provenance trials of Agathis robusta have still to be undertaken and no major tree breeding programmes are known to exist.

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

(1) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?1682 (05 December 2001);
(2) CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.;
Climate; Northern occurrences are in the tropical parts of the warm, humid climatic zone while the southern occurrences are in the sub-tropical, warm humid zone. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is usually within the range 30-32°C and the mean minimum of the coolest month 6-19°C. Some frosts occur at the more inland locations in Australia. The mean annual rainfall range is mostly 1000-2000 mm, with most rain falling in the summer months. The driest period is July to September.
Descriptors
- Altitude range: 0 - 900 m
- Mean annual rainfall: 1000 - 3000 mm
- Rainfall regime: summer
- Dry season duration: 0 -

Native range:
Asia-Tropical: Papua New Guinea [e.]
Australasia: Australia - Queensland [n.e. & s.e.]

2.02

2.03

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. 2)http://131.220.103.1/conifers/ar/ag/robusta.htm

Natural latitude range: Approximate limits north to south: 5°S to 26°S 2)grows from nearsea level to (in the N) 900 m

2.04

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

Natural latitude range: Approximate limits north to south: 5°S to 26°S

2.05

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

Agathis robusta has been introduced to Fiji, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga, Uganda, Zimbabwe (Streets, 1962; Whitmore, 1977; Smith, 1979) and to Costa Rica (Bowen and Whitmore, 1980b).

3.01

no evidence

3.02

not recognized as a weed

3.03

3.04

3.05

4.01

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

Agathis robusta is a tall forest tree to 50 m in height and 2.4 m in stem diameter, with a long, straight, clean bole without buttresses and with little taper. It has thick, smooth bark with scattered flakes, orange-brown, brown or grey in colour. The bark exudate is clear or somewhat milky and with a faint odour, slow to appear and generally rather meagre. Branchlets are smooth and glabrous. The root system is small and diffuse with fine roots and is endomycorrhizal. The species is described and illustrated in many texts including Francis (1970), Whitmore (1977, 1980), Hyland (1978a, 1978b), Whitmore and Bowen (1983), Boland et al. (1984) and Hyland and Whiffin (1993).
Foliage: Leaves are simple, alternate, opposite or whorled, almost linear to elliptic, flat, smooth and glabrous, 5-13 x 1-4 cm (laminae 2-7 times as long as broad). Petiole short, about 3-10 mm, apex acute or obtuse; base attenuate; margin entire (Whitmore, 1980; Hyland, 1978b; Hyland and Whiffin, 1993).
Inflorescences, flowers and fruits A

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

no evidence

4.06

no evidence

4.07

no evidence

4.08

no evidence

4.09

Whitmore, T. C.; Bowen, M. R.(1983) Growth analysis of some Agathis species. Malaysian Forester, 1983, Vol.46, No.2, pp.186-196, 26 ref.

Seedlings of Agathis macrophylla and A. robusta ssp. nesophila were grown in a tropical glasshouse near Oxford, England, in either full daylight or partial shade (12% daylight). Both species had similar values of relative growth rate (RGR) and unit leaf rate (NAR) (net assimilation rate). Shading reduced the RGR by about 30% and NAR by about 40% compared to full light, the values in light and shade being n.s.d. In full light, the NAR of the tree seedlings was only 20-33% of that of sunflower (Helianthus annuus ) in the same glasshouse, a difference similar to that reported for other woody plants. Results suggest that enrichment planting of Agathis spp. will succeed in fairly small canopy gaps.

4.1

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. 2)http://131.220.103.1/conifers/ar/ag/robusta.htm

Soil and physiography
Agathis robusta occupies valley-bottoms and small flats and on the slopes of coastal ranges (Whitmore, 1980). Soils vary from deep podsols and sand dunes (Fraser Island) to shallow or well drained soils on basalt, metamorphic or granite rocks (Boland et al., 1984).
Descriptors
- Soil texture: light
- Soil drainage: free
- Soil reaction:
- Special soil tolerances: shallow; infertile
- Soil types: alluvial soils; granite soils; podzols; sandy soils 2) Soils are deep, well-drained, developed on sand dunes (Fraser Island), basalt, metamorphic or granite rocks; the species develops best on the latter

4.11

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

tree

4.12

no evidence

5.01

tree

5.02

tree

5.03

tree

5.04

tree

6.01

no evidence

6.02

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

If handled and processed correctly, seedlots give about a 90% germination rate if sown within a week after collection (Lal, 1995).

6.03

6.04

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.; Whitmore TC, 1977. A first look at Agathis. Tropical Forestry Papers, Department of Forestry, Oxford University, No. 11, 54 pp.; 12 pl.; 148 ref.

Agathis robusta is wind pollinated and most likely outcrossing, as there is marked dicogamy (Whitmore, 1977).Monoecious

6.05

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.; Whitmore TC, 1977. A first look at Agathis. Tropical Forestry Papers, Department of Forestry, Oxford University, No. 11, 54 pp.; 12 pl.; 148 ref.

Agathis robusta is wind pollinated and most likely outcrossing, as there is marked dicogamy (Whitmore, 1977).

6.06

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.; Bowen MR, Whitmore TC, 1980. A second look at Agathis. Occasional Paper, Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford University, No. 13, 19 pp.; 25 ref.

Vegetative propagation: Agathis robusta can be propagated vegetatively by stem and root cuttings, root suckers and grafting (Bowen and Whitmore, 1980b). (Produced root sucker)

6.07

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.; Whitmore TC, 1977. A first look at Agathis. Tropical Forestry Papers, Department of Forestry, Oxford University, No. 11, 54 pp.; 12 pl.; 148 ref.

The age at which the first female cones are produced has been recorded as 20 years in plantations in Queensland (Whitmore, 1977).

7.01

no evidence

7.02

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.; Bowen MR, Whitmore TC, 1980. A second look at Agathis. Occasional Paper, Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford University, No. 13, 19 pp.; 25 ref.

Agathis robusta has been introduced to Fiji, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga, Uganda, Zimbabwe (Streets, 1962; Whitmore, 1977; Smith, 1979) and to Costa Rica (Bowen and Whitmore, 1980b).

7.03

no evidence

7.04

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/seedplants/conifers/araucarialh.html

winged seeds are wind-dispersed

7.05

no evidence

7.06

no evidence

7.07

no evidence

7.08

no evidence

8.01

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. 2)http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/seedplants/conifers/araucarialh.html

Female cone globose to cylindrical, 9-15 cm long x 8-10.5 cm broad with 340 to 440 scales per cone, 2) about 5-50% of scales produce fertile seeds.

8.02

Sanderson, K. D. (1998) Effect of storage conditions on viability of wind-dispersed seeds of some cabinet timber species from Australian tropical rainforests. Australian Forestry, 1998, Vol.61, No.2, pp.76-81, 11 ref.  

The poor long-term viability of wind dispersed seeds of valuable cabinet timber species from North Queensland tropical rain forests limits their utilization in normal tree nursery operations. This study was undertaken to determine if the longevity of the seeds could be improved by manipulation of storage temperature and moisture conditions. The species tested were Flindersia bourjotiana, F. brayleyana, F. ifflaiana, F. laevicarpa, F. pimenteliana, Toona ciliata, Agathis robusta , and Cardwellia sublimis . Nine treatments were applied. These involved storage in moist peat, oven-dried peat, and as loose seeds, at 3 temperatures: deep freeze (-5 to -10 deg C), refrigerator (5-10 deg C) and in an air-conditioned room (20-25 deg C). C. sublimis did not germinate after 6 wk storage under any of these conditions, and moist storage destroyed the seed germinability of all other species within 6 wk. Storing loose was superior to using oven dry peat. Seeds stored under air-conditioning lost germinability rapidly. Freezi

8.03

8.04

no evidence, slow growing, small trees are likely intolerant of of cutting and fire. Large trees probably resist fire and survive.

8.05