Publications

If you wish to reference Pacific Biosecurity or this website in a document or research paper, please cite as follows (along with the access date): Gruber MAM and Lester PJ. (2013-). Pacific Biosecurity Limited. https://www.pacificbiosecurity.org

Peer-reviewed publications

These are a selection of research publications associated with Pacific Biosecurity. Contact us if you would like a personal copy of a publication that you do not have access to.

Gruber MAM, Burne AR & Cooling M. 2025. Biology and Impacts of Pacific Islands Invasive Species. 19. Anoplolepis gracilipes, the Yellow Crazy Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pacific Science 79(3) xx-xx (accepted version).
Gruber MAM, Santoro D, Cooling M, Hoffmann BD, Lester PJ, Boser C & Lach L. 2022. A global review of socioeconomic and environmental impacts of ants reveals new insights for risk assessment. Ecological Applications 32(4), e2577-. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2577
Gruber MAM, Janssen May S, Santoro D, Cooling M & Wylie FR. 2021. Predicting socio-economic and biodiversity impacts of invasive species: Red Imported Fire Ant in the developing western Pacific. Ecological Management and Restoration 22(1): 89-99
Vanderwoude C, Boudjelas S, Gruber MAM, Hoffmann BD, Oi DH & Porter SD. 2021. Biosecurity plan for invasive ants in the Pacific Region in Invasive Alien Species Observations and Issues from Around the World. Editors T Pullaiah and MR Ielmini. Wiley International
Wittmer HU, Anton V, Gruber MAM, Ireland L, Linklater W, Russell JC, Shannahan DF. 2018. Conservation and restoration in peopled landscapes in Oceania: opportunities and challenges. Pacific Conservation Biology 24:409-416
Gruber MAM, Pierce, RJ, Burne AR, Naseri-Sale L, Lester PJ. 2018. Using community engagement and biodiversity surveys to inform decisions to control invasive species: a case study of yellow crazy ants in Atafu, Tokelau. Pacific Conservation Biology 24:379-387
Gruber MAM, Cooling M & Burne AR. 2017. An invasive ant distribution database to support biosecurity risk analysis in the Pacific. Pacific Conservation Biology 23:258-261
Lester PJ, Gruber MAM. 2016. Booms, busts and population collapses in invasive ants. Biological Invasions 18(11):3091-3101
Gruber MAM, Burne AR, Abbott KL, Pierce RJ, Lester PJ. 2012. Population decline but increased distribution of an invasive ant genotype on a Pacific atoll. Biological Invasions:1-14

Other outputs

This is a representative selection of reports and plans produced by the Pacific Biosecurity team and partners.

Revised Kayangel Biosecurity Plan. 2025. INSPIRE project. With Palau Conservation Society and BirdLife international. Funded by the Kiwa Initiative.
Revised Koror Rock Islands Southern Lagoon Biosecurity Plan. 2025. INSPIRE project. With Palau Conservation Society and BirdLife international. Funded by the Kiwa Initiative.
Gruber MAM & Tongatule H. 2024. National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan for Niue 2021-2029. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP.
Gruber MAM, Pierce RJ and Kaneko K. 2024. National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan for the Republic of the Marshall Islands 2021-2029. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP.
Gruber MAM. 2024. Survey guide: Yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) in Tuvalu. Prepared for the Government of Tuvalu and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for TCP/TUV/3901.
Gruber MAM. 2024. Territorial Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan for Pitcairn Islands 2024-2029. Prepared for the Government of the Pitcairn Islands. Funded by the European Union PROTEGE project via SPREP.
Gruber MAM. 2024. Situation report: Yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) in Tuvalu. Prepared for the Government of Tuvalu and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for TCP/TUV/3901.
Gruber MAM, Gupta A, Rengulbai L, Remeliik D, Darius L & Griffiths R. 2023. Palau National Inter-Island Biosecurity (IIB) framework. Prepared for Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAFE) Koror, Palau and Island Conservation Santa Cruz, California. Funded by the Global Environment Facility to the Palau government.

Gruber MAM, Gupta A, Rengulbai L, Remeliik D, Darius L & Griffiths R. 2023. Palau National Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) framework. Prepared for Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAFE) Koror, Palau and Island Conservation Santa Cruz, California. Funded by the Global Environment Facility to the Palau government.
Panapa S & Gruber MAM. 2023. National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan for Tuvalu 2023-2028. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP.
Pierce RJ, Gruber MAM & Hakaumotu V. 2022. National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan for the Kingdom of Tonga 2022-2027. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP.
Gruber MAM. 2021. National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan for Pacific Island Countries and Territories Template. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP. 2019-2023.
Gruber MAM. 2021. Template Early Detection and Rapid Response Plan for Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP. 2019-2023.
Gruber MAM & Pierce RJ. 2020. Biosecurity Legislation Reviews for Niue, Tonga, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Funded by the Global Environment Facility via UNEP/SPREP. 2019-2023.

Gruber MAM, Santoro D, Cooling M, Boser C, Hoffmann BD, Janssen-May S, Lach L, Lester PJ & Wylie FR. 2020. Global socio-economic and environmental impacts of invasive ants. Funded by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Victoria University Research Trust and the Nature Conservancy.

SPC/CIDP/PRAG08: Coconut Risk Management and Mitigation Manual for the Pacific Region. 2020. Contributor (five chapters). Funded by the European Union for SPC.
McKenzie TL & Gruber MAM. 2018. The Coconut Pests and Diseases Toolkit. Funded by the European Union for SPC.

Cooling M & Gruber MAM. 2018. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) of invasive ants. Prepared for Kiribati MELAD. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Burne AR & Gruber MAM. 2017-2019. Yellow crazy ant management plan Tuvalu. For Tuvalu Government. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Gruber MAM, Cooling M, Samaniego-Herrera A & Russell J. 2016. Ant survey of Tetiaroa, French Polynesia. Report for University of Auckland and The Tetiaroa Society.

Gruber MAM, Burne AR & Cooling M. 2016. The Pacific Invasive Ant Toolkit. Lead, contributor, editor. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Burne AR, Barbieri RF & Gruber MAM. 2015-2019. Yellow crazy ant management plan Atafu, Tokelau. Plan for Tokelau Government. Peer-reviewed by Ben Hoffmann CSIRO, Paul Craddock FBA Consulting. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Burne AR & Gruber MAM. 2015-2019. Yellow crazy ant management plan Kiritimati, Kiribati. Plan for Kiribati Government. Peer-reviewed by Ben Hoffmann CSIRO, Paul Craddock FBA Consulting. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Gruber MAM. 2015. Four sustainability plans for Building resilience to biosecurity threats from invasive ants throughout the Pacific. Plan for MFAT and Kiribati Government. October 2015. Peer-reviewed by Souad Boudjelas, Ray Pierce, David Moverley, Josua Wainqolo and Allan Burne. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Gruber MAM. 2014. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Building resilience to biosecurity threats from invasive ants throughout the Pacific. For MFAT on behalf of Kiribati MELAD, Tokelau EDNRE, Pacific Invasives Initiative, Secretariat for the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) and Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC). Peer-reviewed by Pene Ferguson. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Gruber MAM and Pierce RJ. 2013. Survey of ants on Kiritimati Island, Kiribati in February-March 2013. Report for Kiribati Government, Pacific Invasives Initiative and Conservation International.
Pierce RJ, Gruber MAM & Perez M. 2013. Tokelau Invasive Species Action Plan. Report for Tokelau Government and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
Pierce RJ, Gruber MAM, Atherton J, Burne A, Valu M & Whistler A. 2012. Conservation Survey of Tokelau. Report for Tokelau Government and Conservation International.