South East Weed Risk Assessment

The 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.

Parasitic flowering plants are of great general and scientific interest besides their economic importance when attacking crop plants. This beautifully illustrated book covers all parasitic families and most of the genera and discusses all main aspects of their biology.

This open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions.

This book explores the most important aspects of the biology, ecology and management of what is one of the world's worst weeds. Originally regarded as a major weed in Australia and India, Parthenium weed is now widespread in around 48 countries in Africa, Asia and the South Pacific, and has the potential to spread to new countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. This book, which is a collective effort by 27 members of the International Parthenium Weed Network, addresses research and knowledge gaps for different countries. It examines the weed's mode of spread, its impact on agricultural production, its effect on the environment and on human health, and its management using biological control, as well as cultural, physical and chemical approaches. It also considers the coordination of the weed's management, possible uses for Parthenium weed, its present distribution and how this is impacted by climate change. This book includes: A detailed analysis of Parthenium weed biology. Experiences with Parthenium weed worldwide. An explanation of practical management options. This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in universities and institutes, in the fields of plant ecology, botany, agriculture, conservation and restoration ecology.