Impact Assessment - Fig tree (Ficus carica) in Victoria
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Assessment of plant invasiveness is done by evaluating biological and ecological characteristics such as germination requirements, growth rate, competitive ability, reproduction methods and dispersal mechanisms. Assessment of plant impacts, however, is determined by the extent to which a plant affects a land manager’s environmental, economic and social resources.
The relative importance of these resources varies depending upon the value people place on them and, as such, the assessment process is subjective. For example, a farmer is likely to place a higher emphasis on the impact of a plant on production (economic resource) than its impact on areas of natural vegetation occurring on the farm. Conversely, a Landcare or Friends group would value environmental or social resources more than economic resources.
Recognising that the value of resources vary between different land tenures, plant impact assessments allow a prioritisation of resources by land managers. Assessments can apply at a local, regional or state level, and the relative values of each resource identified may differ at each level.
The impact assessment method used in the Victorian Pest Plant Prioritisation Process uses three broad resource categories: social, environmental and agricultural, each with a number of related attributes. For example, social resources include such attributes as how the plant affects human access for recreation, or if it creates a health risk due to toxicity or by producing allergens.
| Each resource attribute, or criterion, is assessed relative to a list of intensity ratings. Depending upon information found in relation to each criterion, a rating of Low, Medium Low, Medium High or High is assigned. Descriptions of the impact criteria and intensity ratings used in this process can be viewed here. |
The following table provides information on the impact of Fig tree.
A more detailed description of the methodology of the Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method can be viewed below:
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (PDF - 630 KB)
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (DOC - 1 MB)
To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).
Common Name: Fig tree
Scientific name: Ficus carica
| Question | Comments | Rating | Confidence |
| Recreation | |||
| 1. Restrict human access? | The species can form dense thickets in riparian areas (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). As it is a tree which can grow to 10 m and with its ability to reproduce vegetatively significant works would be required to provide access to the waterway. | H | MH |
| 2. Reduce tourism? | Unknown. | M | L |
| 3. Injurious to people? | The leaves of the species contain triterpenoids which have been shown to cause potent and persistent irritation (Saeed & Sabir 2002). The leaves contain two furocoumarin compounds which can cause skin irritation (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Anaphylaxis has been reported after the fruit of the species has been eaten (Gandolfo, Baeza & De Barrio 2001). Half ripe figs are reported to be poisonous (Polunin 1969). The species therefore has toxic properties through out the year. | MH | H |
| 4. Damage to cultural sites? | In Europe fig trees have been reported growing naturally on walls and in the stone work of ancient towers (Lisci & Pacini 1994). As could have a structural effect on the building. | MH | H |
| Abiotic | |||
| 5. Impact flow? | Reported to invade and dominate riparian forests (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Unknown impact on water flow. | M | L |
| 6. Impact water quality? | Reported to invade and dominate riparian forests (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Unknown impact on flow, being deciduous it could alter nutrient cycling and result in increased light levels during winter. | M | L |
| 7. Increase soil erosion? | The fig tree is a fast growing tree (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Likely to therefore be able to bind the soil to some extent and reduce the probability of large scale movement. | ML | M |
| 8. Reduce biomass? | A tree to 10 m Ficus carica is reported to from dense thickets replacing much of the existing vegetation (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Therefore invasion by the fig tree would see direct replacement of biomass or possibly some net increase. | ML | MH |
| 9. Change fire regime? | Unknown. | M | L |
| Community Habitat | |||
| 10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC | EVC= Riparian Woodland (E); CMA= North Central; Bioreg= Murray Fans; VH CLIMATE potential. Reported to invade and dominate riparian forests (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). This would result in major displacement of other canopy species since it is said to dominate. | MH | MH |
| (b) medium value EVC | EVC= Grassy Riverine Forest (D); CMA= North Central; Bioreg= Murray Fans; VH CLIMATE potential. Reported to invade and dominate riparian forests (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). This would result in major displacement of other canopy species since it is said to dominate. | MH | MH |
| (c) low value EVC | EVC= Riparian Scrub (LC); CMA= Wimmera; Bioreg= Greater Grampians; VH CLIMATE potential. Reported to invade and dominate riparian forests and streamside habitats (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). This would result in major displacement of other canopy species since it is said to dominate. | MH | MH |
| 11. Impact on structure? | A tree to 10 m Ficus carica is reported to from dense thickets excluding most of the existing flora (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Therefore the species is capable of major displacement within all strata. | H | MH |
| 12. Effect on threatened flora? | Unknown. | MH | L |
| Fauna | |||
| 13. Effect on threatened fauna? | Unknown. | MH | L |
| 14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? | There is no specific evidence of the species effect on fauna species. The species could significantly alter the habitat, potentially both structurally and in floristic composition as it is reported to form dense thickets excluding much of the other flora (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Such habitat change would have a flow on effect to the existing fauna. | M | L |
| 15. Benefits fauna? | The fruit would likely be eaten by generalist frugivores. | MH | L |
| 16. Injurious to fauna? | The leaves of the species contain triterpenoids which have been shown to cause potent and persistent irritation (Saeed & Sabir 2002). Unknown how this could effect animals in the wild. | M | L |
| Pest Animal | |||
| 17. Food source to pests? | In Europe the species is reported to be able to produce three fruit crops through out the year, in spring, over summer and into autumn and in winter. The fruit is eaten by foxes (Lisci & Pacini 1994). | H | H |
| 18. Provides harbor? | A tree species that can grow to 10 m and is reported to form dense thickets (Bossard, Randell & Hoshovsky 2000). Could provide habitat for pest species, however there is no reported evidence. | M | L |
| Agriculture | |||
| 19. Impact yield? | Not reported as a weed of agriculture. | L | M |
| 20. Impact quality? | Not reported as a weed of agriculture. | L | M |
| 21. Affect land value? | Not reported as a weed of agriculture. | L | M |
| 22. Change land use? | Not reported as a weed of agriculture. | L | M |
| 23. Increase harvest costs? | Not reported as a weed of agriculture. | L | M |
| 24. Disease host/vector? | Can be effected by root knot nematodes, dried fruit beetle and Queensland fruit fly (NSW Agriculture 2002). | M | M |
This table can also be viewed as a PDF document (printer friendly).
Impact Assessment Record - Fig tree (PDF - 80KB)
Impact Assessment Record - Fig tree (DOC - 58KB)
To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).
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