Detection dogs have been used in the UK to successfully identify
tree disease helping track down the deadly tree pathogen
Phytophthora ramorum.
In collaboration with the UK's Forest Research, Canine Assisted
Pest Eradication successfully trained Ivor, a cocker spaniel x
labrador, aged six, to identify the highly destructive pathogen.
This destructive organism can cause extensive damage and
even death to more than 150 plant species including significant
mortality on larch, which are important timber trees.
Ivor was trained using a variety of detection training techniques
including initial scent recognition. The first round saw Ivor
successfully identify Phytophthora ramorum in soil, plant
material and sterile distilled water. Further training phases saw
Ivor faced with a number of scenarios which helped reinforce his
detection abilities by introducing new working environments. Ivor
was then able to build up to distinguishing Phytophthora ramorum
from the scent of other Phytophthora species often found in the
same environments to ensure effectiveness in real-world
scenarios.
The damage to our trees, woods and forests from pests and
diseases is significant, with the rapid increase in movements of
goods and people between countries and climate change increasing
the risk of spread in recent years, and this is the latest
government innovation in the fight to protect our nation's trees
and woodlands.
The UK's Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola
Spence said:
This groundbreaking research using detection dogs to identify
Phytophthora ramorum, alongside other innovative approaches to
tackle pests and diseases, will play a key role in maintaining
biosecurity to meet the vision set out in our world-leading Plant
Biosecurity Strategy.
Climate change and globalisation are increasing the number and
the diversity of pests and diseases our nation's trees and
plants are exposed to. These new threats can cause significant
damage, economic losses and in many cases tree death.
Dr Heather Dun, Forest Research Pathologist at the UK's
government's world-leading Forest Research organisation,
said:
The results from the trials have been incredibly encouraging,
with a first-time 89 per cent detection rate highlighting the
huge potential of dogs in our fight against pests
and diseases.
Biosecurity is incredibly important and detection dogs like Ivor
are an exciting new method for helping to protect our trees.
The report released today outlines the latest trial using
detection dogs to identify pests and diseases. The first round
saw Ivor successfully identify Phytophthora ramorum in soil,
plant material and sterile distilled water.
Detection dogs have previously been to tackle the outbreak of the
Asian longhorn beetle pest in Paddock Wood, Kent, in 2012, where
a team of dogs from the Austrian Plant Health Inspectorate
successfully helped to detect the beetle.
Following the success of the initial trials, Forest Research is
now exploring the use of detection dogs to help combat other
pests and diseases such as Ips typographus, also known as the
eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, fulfilling commitments set out
in the GB Plant Biosecurity
Strategy.
Additional information:
About Forest Research:
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Forest
Research is Great Britain's principal organisation for
forestry and tree-related research and is internationally
renowned for the provision of evidence and scientific services
in support of sustainable forestry.
