Invasive Species Compendium
Detailed coverage of invasive species threatening livelihoods and the environment worldwide
Detailed coverage of invasive species threatening livelihoods and the environment worldwide
This chapter focuses on the basic concepts of the invasion ecology of invasive species, which includes all plants that have a negative ecological or economic effect on an ecosystem. The understanding of why invasive plants occur where they do is also discussed.
The first step to understanding an invasive species is to learn about its distribution and abundance. In this view, this chapter discusses measures to learn about the distribution and abundance of invasive species. It is established that to better understand a species, the following questions about ...
This book contains 14 chapters describing how and why plant invasions occur and explains the ecological principles that are important in understanding the potential for a species to become invasive. The ecology of invasive plants is presented and the use of this knowledge to facilitate management...
This chapter focuses on the molecular methods and techniques used in invasive plant ecology and determination of origins and likely spread of invasive species. The importance of the use of molecular approaches in the study and management of invasive plants, such as Hypericum canariense in the...
This chapter focuses on the mechanisms, costs and benefits and ecological aspects of asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction in vegetatively reproducing species. The costs and benefits and ecological aspects of agamospermy (seed production without fertilization) are also discussed.
This chapter discusses the different aspects of fruit and seed production (seed set and fruit and seed polymorphisms), seed dispersal (primary and secondary seed dispersal, humans as seed dispersal agents and long distance dispersal), seed banks and seed dormancy, seed germination and seedling...
This chapter discusses the interaction in plant populations and communities, basics of competition and evidences showing the occurrence of competition. The plant competition for nutrient, water, light, physical space, pollen and pollinators and allelopathy, factors determining the competition...
This chapter discusses the processes of herbivory, parasitism and mutualism in relation to invasive plants. Herbivory is usually non-fatal because plants have adapted avoidance, tolerance and inducible defence mechanisms, but it can alter the population dynamics of invasive species. The absence of...
This chapter discusses the pollination ecology of flowering plants (pollination mechanisms, self compatibility and self incompatibility and pollination problems) and the benefits and costs of sex (fitness and costs and benefits of sexual reproduction). The role of plant hybridization with invasive...
This chapter focuses on how invasive species migrate across space. The spatially explicit processes, as influenced by time, that facilitate or thwart the invasion process, are examined. The chapter further explores the long-distance transport or migration of invasive species (e.g. via air or ground ...