Funding needed for assessments of weed biological control

Abstract

Invasive non-native plants are a serious economic and ecological problem worldwide, and major efforts are therefore devoted to reducing weed abundance in agricultural and natural settings. Effective options for reducing invasive abundance and spread are few, although one common approach is biological control - the introduction of specialist herbivores or pathogens from a weed's native range to suppress weed abundance in the introduced range. Biocontrol is a crucial tool in invasive species management because, once biocontrol agents establish, they are often self-sustaining and can greatly reduce invasive populations.

Citation

Maron, John L.; Pearson, Dean E.; Hovick, Stephen M.; Carson, Walter P. 2010. Funding needed for assessments of weed biological control. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 8(3): 122-123.