Sniffer dogs are being trained in Germany to detect potentially destructive invasive plants—alien species that are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide.
Scientists from Leipzig evaluated whether volunteer handlers and their dogs could be trained as effective detectives, and found the teams could locate invasive species in the wild with 75% accuracy.
Other methods to combat invasive species have been costly and time-consuming, and the lack of effective early-detection methods has limited ecologists’ ability to control further colonization by invasive species.
Dr. Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth and her colleagues at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) tested the feasibility of a volunteer dog-handler training program, so citizen scientists could join the fight.
31 dogs and their owners were trained between 2021 and 2023 using three highly problematic invasive plant species: Himalayan balsam, common ragweed, and those in the knotweed family, such as Japanese knotweed (Fallopia spp. complex, Impatiens glandulifera, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia).
The training culminated with a field test of the dogs’ ability to locate target species in the wild. Of the 12 teams that completed the field test, 11 teams passed, with an average detection success rate of 75%.
From the feasibility study, published in the journal PLOS One, the research team developed a set of recommendations to improve effectiveness of future, similar projects to improve volunteer selection and coordination, dog training, and initial deployments.
“Our study shows that trained volunteer dog-handler teams have real potential to support the early detection of invasive plants,” said Dr. Grimm-Seyfarth, in a media release.
“What we find particularly exciting is the opportunity to turn something people already love doing—spending time outdoors with their dogs—into a meaningful contribution to biodiversity conservation.”
“By combining dogs’ remarkable sense of smell with the enthusiasm of citizen scientists, we could expand monitoring efforts.
“With the right training, everyday walks could become an additional resource for detecting invasive plants early.”
Reliable monitoring requires more than a good nose, though. Training and continued guidance from both dog-training and ecological experts are needed to help volunteer teams succeed in real deployments.
Dogs have also been trained to sniff out invasive animals—like the notorious spotted lanternfly.
Dogs slow spread of spotted lanternfly
The insect has been steadily spreading across the American East Coast without impediment, but a team at Virginia Tech has trained dogs to root out their eggs in the wild—trying to slow the spread of these Asian aliens.
So far, the dog teams have eliminated 10,000 egg masses, according to the recent AP video below.
Regarding plants, Dr. Grimm-Seyfarth was left hopeful, saying, “It was great to see how much motivation many of the participants brought to the program.”
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