Detecting and Responding to Alien Plant Incursions

A comprehensive guide to the proactive management of alien plants, synthesising the most current global theory and best management practice.

John R. Wilson (Author), F. Dane Panetta (Author), Cory Lindgren (Author)

9781107479487, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 October 2016

282 pages, 70 b/w illus. 14 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.3 cm, 0.46 kg

'The very well-crafted categorization and lucid illustration of problems and how to approach them make it easy to determine a potential strategy and, if not successful, have an alternative strategy right at hand. Thus, this book is a clear guideline for people preparing strategic plans for or how to learn about controlling invasive plants. Moreover, it also provides a nice basic framework into further research into strategic planning when dealing with invasive species in general. For that reason, the volume is an excellent read for experienced scientists studying the ecology and evolution of invasiveness or the practical approaches to alien plant incursion control. However, and probably even more so, the book is a great and easy start for beginners or students working on invasive species to establish a clear framework for categorizing specific knowledge and plan future studies.' Andre Kessler, The Quarterly Review of Biology

Ecologists, land managers and policymakers continue to search for the most effective ways to manage biological invasions. An emerging lesson is that proactive management can limit negative impacts, reduce risks and save money. This book explores how to detect and respond to alien plant incursions, summarising the most current literature, providing practical recommendations and reviewing the conditions and processes necessary to achieve prevention, eradication and containment. Chapter topics include assessing invasiveness and the impact of alien plants, how to improve surveillance efforts, how to make timely management decisions, and how legislation and strategic planning can support management. Each chapter includes text boxes written by international experts that discuss topical issues such as spatial predictive modelling, costing invasions, biosecurity, biofuels, and dealing with conflict species.

1. Introduction
Box 1.1 Incursion response in New Zealand Philip E. Hulme
2. Prediction (pre- and post-border)
Box 2.1 Plant traits associated with impact on native plant species richness Montserrat Vilà, Rudolf P. Rohr, José L. Espinar, Philip E. Hulme, Jan Pergl, Johannes J. Le Roux, Urs Schaffner and Petr Pyšek
Box 2.2 Lag phases: theory, data, and practical implications Petr Pyšek
Box 2.3 Species distribution models Jane Elith
3. Detection and delimitation
Box 3.1 Risk mapping to underpin post-border weed management activities Rieks D. van Klinken and Justine V. Murray
Box 3.2 Estimating detectability using search experiments Cindy E. Hauser and Joslin L. Moore
4. Evaluation of management options
Box 4.1 Is it feasible to eradicate or contain plant incursions in the Galapagos Islands? Mark R. Gardener
5. Evaluation of management performance
Box 5.1 Allocating resources Oscar Cacho
6. Legislation and agreements
Box 6.1 Legislation in Antarctica Dana M. Bergstrom and Justine D. Shaw
Box 6.2 Regulating the use of potential invaders for bioenergy Lauren D. Quinn
Box 6.3 Managing invasive ornamental trees Curtis C. Daehler
7. Strategies and actions
Box 7.1 National strategies for dealing with biological invasions, South Africa as an example Brian W. van Wilgen
Box 7.2 Costing invasions in the UK Richard H. Shaw
8. Implementation
Box 8.1 What is a Cooperative Weed Management Area? Al Tasker
Box 8.2 The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization: co-ordinating the response to invasive plants across borders Sarah Brunel
Box 8.3 Invasive species Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR): a land conservation challenge for the twenty-first century Randy Westbrooks and Steven Manning
Box 8.4 Raising awareness about invasive plants in Portugal Elizabete Marchante and Hélia Marchante
9. Conclusions and future directions.

Subject Areas: Conservation of wildlife & habitats [RNKH], Conservation of the environment [RNK], Environmental management [RNF], Biodiversity [RNCB], Applied ecology [RNC], The environment [RN], Plant ecology [PSTS], Botany & plant sciences [PST], Biology, life sciences [PS], Mathematics & science [P]