Weed Risk AssessmentThe impact of invasive species on native vegetation is a major threat to biodiversity all over the world - a threat ranked second only to habitat destruction. Other negative effects of weed invasions include reduced ecosystem services, loss to agricultural production and impacts on human health. This work covers the discipline of risk assessment as applied to the invasion ecology of plants. Taking a global context, it synthesizes theories on plant invasions, introduces a variety of models for weed risk assessment, and addresses procedures for ranking invasive species on a range of scales to determine weeds of national significance. It shows how the application of risk assessment to weed invasion may help reduce weed impact and thereby improve living conditions for people throughout the world. This text is aimed at invasions ecologists, botanists, quarantine officers, policy-makers and community groups wanting to know more about this developing discipline. |
Contents
The search for patterns that enable prediction of invasion | 10 |
using a landscape context to assess | 34 |
Evaluating pestscreening systems insights from epidemiology and ecology | 52 |
Weed risk assessment for plant introductions to Australia | 83 |
Assessing the risk to indigenous biota of plant taxa new to New Zealand | 100 |
guidelines for qualitative assessments | 117 |
Invasive plant problems and requirements for weed risk assessment in | 153 |
status and practicalities | 176 |
A weed risk assessment model for aquatic weeds in New Zealand | 194 |
assessing weed risk in New Zealands | 217 |
core issues and future directions | 231 |
Common terms and phrases
alien plants alien species Amaranthaceae analysis and/or AQIS aquatic areas assessment system Asteraceae Australia Australian Weeds benefits biodiversity Biogeography Biological Invasions Canberra climate CLIMEX Conservation correlations costs criteria data sets developed dispersal ecological district economic effects eradication evaluation exotic factors flora fynbos Galapagos Galapagos Islands grid habitat Hawaii important introduced species invaders invasive plant invasive species invasiveness and impacts islands Lamiaceae land Landcare Research landscape Leguminosae major don't know Malvaceae methods National Significance native species non-invasive North America nursery Panetta pest pest risk Pheloung Plant Pest Strategy plant species Poaceae population potential distribution prediction Priority problems programs Propagules range ranking region Rejmanek relative Research screening system seed Solanaceae South spread SUB-RANK Table taxa traits vegetation vegetative reproduction weed control weed management weed risk assessment weed species weed threats weedy whilst wildland weeds Williamson woody WRA system Zealand