Links

CSIRO Gamba Grass Research
www.terc.csiro.au/research.asp?Program=LANDECOL&Project=EXOTICPLANTS
Information on research into Grassy weeds in northern Australia being undertaken by TS-CRC, CSIRO and Charles Darwin University to address the current lack of knowledge on the ecology and impacts of exotic grasses in tropical savannas

Gamba Grass - ABC Stateline NT program - 04/08/2006
www.abc.net.au/stateline/nt/content/2006/s1706847.htm
Melinda James interviews scientists and land managers about Gamba Grass

Gamba Grass Management Guidelines
www.nt.gov.au/nreta/natres/weeds/ntweeds/gamba/pdf/gamba_mngt_guide.pdf

The introduced pasture gamba grass ( Andropogon gayanus) , is now the subject of a new management guide from the Northern Territory. The NT Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts (NRETA) has developed the guide as a tool for all land managers to help identify and manage the grass. It provides a four-step approach to managing gamba to either eradicate it, prevent its spread, or use it as a pasture.

The guide explains how to assess the situation, develop and implement plans and monitor and review. The guide also has photos to help identify gamba throughout its life cycle.

NRETA is leading a joint initiative in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines and Charles Darwin University to develop a Weed Risk Assessment System for the entire Territory.

Currently gamba grass is not a declared weed in the NT or Queensland, but in the NT it is being tested under the draft model WRA to be considered for declaration under the Weeds Act. The Weed Management Branch of NRETA is also undertaking community education and awareness of the environmental impacts of gamba and ways to identify and manage the grass species.

In Queensland, where the grass was recently identified in Queensland’s Burdekin region, a preliminary assessment has been done and is currently under consideration by Queensland’s Dept. Natural Resources, Mines and Water.

Mission and Gamba Grass
www.drytropics.org/weeds_mission_gamba_fire.htm
Provides information about the species' current distribution, fuel loads, management approaches and costs to the community.

Weeds Australia Identification Guide: Gamba Grass Andropogon gayanus
www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state=&s=&ibra=all&card=G04
This identification guide, on the Weeds Australia Web Site, includes photos, a description of the plant, notes on its distinguishing features and its dispersal ability, and a map of its current and potential distribution

EnviroNorth > All Regions > Weeds > Gamba grass

Gamba grass

An infestation of gamba grass near Darwin NT.

In northern Australia, concern has been raised about the impacts of introduced grass species, in particular Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass). Gamba grass is a perennial species of African grass that was introduced in the Northern Territory as a replacement for native pastures.

Gamba grass is a useful pasture species and can be managed if it is grazed by cattle. However gamba grass is now invading savanna ecosystems throughout the Top End of the Northern Territory and when it is not grazed it grows vigorously in tall stands that provide fuel for intense fires (Howard 2002) . These fires in turn appear to be helping the spread of gamba grass which is adept at invading burnt areas.

This invasion could have significant consequences for native communities, as well as ecosystem function and stability, comparable to the dramatic effects of invasion documented in other ecosystems (D'Antonio & Vitousek 1992, Vitousek et al. 1996). This is of particular concern as gamba grass invasion has the potential to alter all three determinants of savanna functioning: nutrient and water availability and fire regimes.