the biocontrol information resource for erma new zealand applicants

From Biosecurity to Biocontrol

THE BIOCONTROL INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR ERMA NEW ZEALAND APPLICANTS (BIREA): AN EVALUATION T.D. WHITE1-0.($12DQG%,3%$55$77 1 AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 4749, Christchurch, New Zealand 3 AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 50034, Dunedin, New Zealand

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Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT $QHYDOXDWLRQRIWKH%LRFRQWURO,QIRUPDWLRQ5HVRXUFHIRU(50$1HZ =HDODQG$SSOLFDQWV %,5($ KWWSZZZEQ]RUJELUHD ZHEVLWH ZDV XQGHUWDNHQ %,5($ DLPV WR DVVLVW DSSOLFDQWV WR (50$ 1HZ =HDODQG ZLVKLQJWRLQWURGXFHELRFRQWURODJHQWVWR1HZ=HDODQGWRVXEPLWDZHOO developed and informed application. The website also has potential for educating overseas biocontrol practitioners and the general public on ELRORJLFDO FRQWURO VDIHW\ (50$ 1HZ =HDODQG KDG UHFHLYHG QR QHZ applications for import or release of biocontrol agents since the website ZHQWOLYHLQ$SULOVR%,5($ZDVHYDOXDWHGE\LQWHUYLHZLQJSDVW applicants and key stakeholders. In addition, potential users of the site were surveyed and an analysis of internet visitors to the website was XQGHUWDNHQ 2YHUDOO %,5($ ZDV KLJKO\ UDWHG DQG ZDV WKRXJKW WR EH DXVHIXOWRROE\SDVWDSSOLFDQWVDQGVWDNHKROGHUV+RZHYHUIRU%,5($ to become an effective means of public education, adjustments to make WKH VLWH ¶SXEOLF IULHQGO\· ZRXOG EH UHTXLUHG %,5($ ZDV DFFHVVHG DSSUR[LPDWHO\KRXUO\E\DZLGHUDQJHRIYLVLWRUVIURPDWOHDVWFRXQWULHV Keywords:%LRORJLFDOFRQWURODJHQWZHEVLWHVXUYH\ INTRODUCTION 7KHLQWURGXFWLRQRIQHZRUJDQLVPVLQWR1HZ=HDODQGLVFRQWUROOHGE\WKH(QYLURQPHQWDO 5LVN0DQDJHPHQW$XWKRULW\(50$1HZ=HDODQG YLDWKH+D]DUGRXV6XEVWDQFHVDQG 1HZ2UJDQLVPV$FW7KHDLPRIWKH¶QHZRUJDQLVPV·SDUWRIWKLV$FWLVWRSURWHFW 1HZ =HDODQG IURP SRVVLEOH KDUPIXO ELRORJLFDO HFRQRPLF DQG FXOWXUDO HIIHFWV RI LQWURGXFHGVSHFLHVDVZHOODVFRQVLGHULQJWKHSRWHQWLDOEHQHÀWVRIDQLQWURGXFWLRQ$Q DSSOLFDWLRQWR(50$1HZ=HDODQGPXVWEHPDGHLQRUGHUWRLQWURGXFHDQHZVSHFLHV to the country, for example as a biological control agent. (50$1HZ=HDODQGVWDIIDOZD\VHQFRXUDJHVDSSOLFDQWVWRFRQVXOWZLWKWKHPEHIRUH VXEPLWWLQJDQDSSOLFDWLRQEXWDQHHGZDVLGHQWLÀHGIRUDQLQIRUPDWLRQWRROWKDWZRXOG enhance this relationship and ensure the quality of applications remained high. The aim RIWKH%LRFRQWURO,QIRUPDWLRQ5HVRXUFHIRU(50$1HZ=HDODQG$SSOLFDQWV%,5($ ZHEVLWHDWKWWSZZZEQ]RUJELUHDLVWRDVVLVWDSSOLFDQWVWRXVHWKHLQIRUPDWLRQRQ WKHZHEVLWHLQFRQMXQFWLRQZLWK(50$1HZ=HDODQGVWDIIWRSURGXFHDKLJKTXDOLW\ DSSOLFDWLRQ ,Q RUGHU WR DVVHVV WKH HIIHFWLYHQHVV RI %,5($ IRU WKH WDUJHW FRPPXQLW\ DQGWRSURYLGHIHHGEDFNWRWKHGHYHORSPHQWWHDPDQGIXQGHUVDQHYDOXDWLRQRI%,5($ was undertaken.

New Zealand Plant Protection 61: 8-11 (2008) © 2008 New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc.) www.nzpps.org

www.nzpps.org Refer to http://www.nzpps.org/terms_of_use.html


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METHODS ,WZDVQRWSRVVLEOHWRGLUHFWO\PHDVXUHWKHLPSDFWRI%,5($RQWKHTXDOLW\RI(50$ 1HZ=HDODQGELRFRQWURODSSOLFDWLRQVEHFDXVHQRQHKDGEHHQUHFHLYHGVLQFH$SULO ZKHQWKHZHEVLWHZHQWOLYH7KUHHDOWHUQDWLYHDSSURDFKHVZHUHXVHG LQWHUYLHZVZLWK SHRSOHGLUHFWO\LQYROYHGLQSDVW(50$1HZ=HDODQGDSSOLFDWLRQV DSRVWDOVXUYH\RI WKHZLGHUFRPPXQLW\ZLWKDQLQWHUHVWLQELRORJLFDOFRQWURODQG DQDO\VLVRI%,5($ website usage statistics. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with six key individuals, either in person RURYHUWKHWHOHSKRQH7KHVHH[SHUWVFRPSULVHGSDVWDSSOLFDQWVWR(50$1HZ=HDODQGIRU the release or containment of new biological control agents, Department of Conservation '2&DNH\VWDNHKROGHULQWKHDSSOLFDWLRQSURFHVV VWDIIDQG(50$1HZ=HDODQGVWDII dealing directly with new applications. Some of those interviewed had contributed to %,5($ZLWKLQIRUPDWLRQEDVHGRQWKHLURZQH[SHULHQFHVDQGSURIHVVLRQDONQRZOHGJH $SRVWDOVXUYH\ZDVXQGHUWDNHQWRLGHQWLI\WKHXVHIXOQHVVRI%,5($DVDQHGXFDWLRQ tool for the wider community with an interest in biological control. Responses were sought IURPDZLGHUDQJHRIWKHFRPPXQLW\LQFOXGLQJ0DRULJURXSV*RYHUQPHQW'HSDUWPHQWV industry organisations, and private individuals. The survey used was developed by 0X\OOHHWDO VSHFLÀFDOO\WRH[SORUHZHEVLWHXVHUVDWLVIDFWLRQ8VLQJÀYHSRLQW /LNHUW VFDOHV WKH VXUYH\ IRFXVHG RQ WKH IROORZLQJ WHQ DUHDV LQIRUPDWLRQ UHOHYDQF\ LQIRUPDWLRQDFFXUDF\LQIRUPDWLRQFRPSUHKHQVLELOLW\LQIRUPDWLRQFRPSUHKHQVLYHQHVV HDVHRIXVHHQWU\JXLGDQFHZHEVLWHVWUXFWXUHK\SHUOLQNFRQQRWDWLRQFODULW\ ZHEVLWH VSHHGDQGOD\RXW(DFKDUHDZDVDVVHVVHGXVLQJWDUJHWHGTXHVWLRQV5HVSRQGHQWV were also encouraged to write comments and answer open-ended questions related to the Likert scale results. A copy of the survey may be obtained on request from the corresponding author. 9LVLWRUVWRWKH%,5($ZHEVLWHZHUHPRQLWRUHGE\ORJJLQJSDJHUHTXHVWVLQFOXGLQJWKH GDWHDQGWLPHDGGUHVVLGHQWLÀFDWLRQDQGSRUWQXPEHUVRIWKHYLVLWRUWKHSDJHUHTXHVWHG and the previous page visited. Most of the visitors could be traced using WHOIS searches RQ WKHLU ,3 DGGUHVVHV DOORZLQJ WKHP WR EH FODVVLÀHG DV HLWKHU UHVHDUFK JRYHUQPHQW or educational institutions, internet service providers (representing hits from private individuals or small companies) or automated search engine robots. Chi-squared tests ZHUHXVHGWRWHVWZKHWKHUSDJHUHTXHVWVGLIIHUHGVLJQLÀFDQWO\IURPUDQGRPLPSO\LQJ that visitors actively read through the material, and to identify which subject areas were most popular. RESULTS Interviews with past applicants ([SHUWVZKRKDGDSSOLHGWR(50$1HZ=HDODQGRQPRUHWKDQRQHRFFDVLRQIHOWWKDW %,5($KDGOLPLWHGXVHIRUWKHPDQGWKH\ZRXOGXVHWKHVLWHRQO\WRVHDUFKIRUVSHFLÀF references or information. However, those that had less experience felt they would use the site if they were involved in developing applications in the future. The overall feeling was that the website would be of greatest value to applicants new to the ERMA 1HZ=HDODQGSURFHVV Experts thought the site held solid, relevant information that was accurate and reliable. )URPDQH[SHUW·VSHUVSHFWLYHWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHZHEVLWHZDVHDV\WRXQGHUVWDQGDOWKRXJK they acknowledged that it may be more daunting for new users with limited knowledge of the science of biological control. Nevertheless, interviewees indicated that this was the level of information that applicants would be required to work with. Postal survey 5HVSRQVHUDWHWRWKHSRVWDOVXUYH\ZDVORZDW EXWWKLVZDVQRWXQH[SHFWHG In general, if an issue is not highly topical, interest tends to be low, resulting in a low FRPPLWPHQWWRVXUYH\SDUWLFLSDWLRQ+RZHYHUWKHUHVXOWVZHUHVXIÀFLHQWWRREWDLQDYLHZ from these groups in the community. In conjunction to this, the six experts interviewed, as well as another DOC staff member, also completed the survey. Apart from the experts, UHVSRQGHQWV KDG QRW XVHG RU VHHQ WKH %,5($ ZHEVLWH SUHYLRXVO\ 6XUYH\ UHVXOWV DUH summarised in Figure 1.

© 2008 New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc.) www.nzpps.org

Refer to http://www.nzpps.org/terms_of_use.html


FIGURE 1: Summary results from the postal survey on the quality of the BIREA ZHEVLWH7KHPHDQUHVSRQVHIRUHDFKDVVHVVPHQWDUHDLVVKRZQRQDÀYH point Likert scale (1 = poor to 5 = excellent), together with standard error bars. While several respondents thought information presented on the website was easy to understand and clearly presented, one respondent consistently disagreed with this point of view. A large number of neutral responses were noted regarding information comprehensibility and comprehensiveness, suggesting an overall lower level of FRPSUHKHQVLRQRIWKHFROODWHGPDWHULDO2YHUDOOWKHLQIRUPDWLRQFRQWDLQHGLQ%,5($ was perceived to be reasonably relevant and accurate. Some terminology used on the site was questioned, and in general, most community respondents felt that too much information was provided. Nevertheless, the wider community reported, like the expert JURXSWKDWWKHZHEVLWHZDVHDV\WRXVHDQGÀQGWKHLUZD\DURXQG While experts rated the website highly in almost all sectors, they did identify some terminology to be quite technical, but acknowledged that this was the type of wording they would expect to use in an application. Moreover, they believed that its use enabled potential applicants to become more familiar with the language around ERMA New =HDODQGDSSOLFDWLRQV7KHUHZDVFRQFHUQH[SUHVVHGE\VRPHH[SHUWVWKDWWKHZHEVLWH information needed to be kept current, and that it should be used together with FRPPXQLFDWLRQDQGLQWHUDFWLRQZLWK(50$1HZ=HDODQG Website usage statistics 9LVLWRUVWDWLVWLFVPHDVXUHGDWRWDORISDJHUHTXHVWVUHFHLYHGIURPFRXQWULHV GXULQJWKHÀUVWGD\VRIZHEVLWHRSHUDWLRQDYHUDJLQJDSSUR[LPDWHO\RQHSHUKRXU2I WKHVHZHUHIURPVHDUFKHQJLQHURERWVDQGH[FOXGHGIURPVXEVHTXHQWFRQVLGHUDWLRQ ZHUHIURPNQRZQUHVHDUFKHGXFDWLRQDORUJDQLVDWLRQVDQGZHUHIURPLQWHUQHW VHUYLFHSURYLGHUV7KHUHPDLQLQJFRXOGQRWEHGHWHUPLQHGRIYLVLWRUVDUULYHG DW%,5($YLDD*RRJOHVHDUFKDQGRQO\DUULYHGYLDWKHOLQNSURYLGHGIURP(50$ 1HZ=HDODQG·VRZQZHEVLWH9LVLWRUDFWLYLW\ZDVVLJQLÀFDQWO\QRQUDQGRPZLWKWKH introductory, background and release sections being more popular than the post-release




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monitoring and ERMA application sections. CRIs, DOC, educational facilities, central government, iwi and some primary industry companies were all recorded as visiting the VLWHDQGZKLOHWKHPDMRULW\RULJLQDWHGIURP1HZ=HDODQGRYHUVHDVYLVLWRUVZHUHWUDFHG WRDWOHDVWGLIIHUHQWUHVHDUFKHGXFDWLRQDORUJDQLVDWLRQVDFURVVFRXQWULHV

DISCUSSION It should be acknowledged that the results from the page request analysis were SUREDEO\LQÁXHQFHGE\WKHXVHUVXUYH\DVXVHUVH[SORUHGWKHZHEVLWHLQRUGHUWRDQVZHU the survey. However, the website recorded visitors from many organisations other than WKRVHRIVXUYH\UHVSRQGHQWVVXJJHVWLQJWKDWWKHVXUYH\SUREDEO\GLGQRWJUHDWO\LQÁXHQFH observed page requests. ,QJHQHUDOWKHH[SHUWVLQWHUYLHZHGDQGVXUYH\HGIHOWWKDW%,5($LVDYDOXDEOHWRRO IRUWKRVHSHRSOHZLVKLQJWRDSSO\WR(50$1HZ=HDODQGWRLQWURGXFHQHZELRORJLFDO FRQWURODJHQWVLQWR1HZ=HDODQG$NH\IDFWRULQWKHFUHGLELOLW\RIWKHZHEVLWHLVWKH considerable amount of input that many experts, including some of those surveyed, had FRQWULEXWHGWRWKHGHYHORSPHQWDQGLQIRUPDWLRQFRQWHQWRI%,5($7KHGHYHORSPHQW and design of the website captured many insights about the application process and best SUDFWLFHIURPSUHYLRXVO\VXFFHVVIXODSSOLFDQWVVWDNHKROGHUVDQG(50$1HZ=HDODQG )RUWKLVUHDVRQ%,5($ZLOOEHPRVWXVHIXOIRUWKRVHDSSOLFDQWVWKDWKDYHQRWSUHYLRXVO\ EHHQWKURXJKWKH(50$1HZ=HDODQGDSSOLFDWLRQSURFHVVRUWKRVHWKDWKDYHDSSOLHG only a few times. These applicants should consider the website as a tool, along with FRQVXOWDWLRQZLWK(50$1HZ=HDODQGDQGRWKHUVWDNHKROGHUVWRDVVLVWWKHPWRVXEPLW a well developed, high quality application. For the more experienced applicant, the website is of lesser value. $VDVHFRQGDU\IXQFWLRQ%,5($KDVWKHSRWHQWLDOWREHXVHGDVDJHQHUDOHGXFDWLRQ tool. This is evident from the wide range of visitors, both national and international, to WKHVLWHLQLWVÀUVWPRQWKV6KRXOGJHQHUDOHGXFDWLRQIRUWKHSXEOLFEHFRPHDPRUH SULPDU\IXQFWLRQRI%,5($WKHQDGMXVWPHQWVWRPDNHWKHVLWHPRUH¶SXEOLFIULHQGO\· in both content and use, would be required especially due to the technical nature of the information. The results from this study will be used to enhance the current structure and content RI%,5($DVZHOODVJXLGLQJIXWXUHPDWHULDOWREHDGGHGWRWKHUHVRXUFH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7KLV ZRUN ZDV IXQGHG E\ 1HZ =HDODQG·V )RXQGDWLRQ IRU 5HVHDUFK 6FLHQFH 7HFKQRORJ\WKURXJKFRQWUDFW&2;WKH%HWWHU%RUGHU%LRVHFXULW\% SURJUDPPH ZZZEQ]RUJ REFERENCES %DUUDWW%,3%HUQGW/$'RGG6/)HUJXVRQ&0+LOO5+.HDQ-0HWDO%,5($ ²%LRFRQWURO,QIRUPDWLRQ5HVRXUFHIRU(50$1HZ=HDODQG$SSOLFDQWV%,5($ KWWSZZZEQ]RUJELUHDDFFHVVHG1RYHPEHU 0X\OOH60RHQDHUW5'HVSRQWLQ07KHFRQFHSWXDOL]DWLRQDQGHPSLULFDOYDOLGDWLRQ RIZHEVLWHXVHUVDWLVIDFWLRQ,QIRUPDWLRQ 0DQDJHPHQW

