Naturalisation to Invasion: How do Naturalised Plants Become Successful Invaders?

Funding: 2008: $28,127
2009: $32,584
2010: $29,577

Project Member(s): Murray, B.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)

Start year: 2008

Summary: Invasive plants have enormous environmental, economic and social impacts in Australia, significantly affecting biodiversity and ecosystem processes, agricultural productivity and recreational amenity. This research will contribute substantially to our understanding of the processes that underlie the transition from naturalised to invasive for introduced plants. By identifying the key factors enabling naturalised plant species to become invasive pests, this research will enable plant species most likely to threaten Australia's biodiversity and agricultural productivity to be identified and prioritized for screening and eradication.

FOR Codes: Terrestrial Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity, Control of pests and exotic species, Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Sparseland, Permanent Grassland and Arid Zone Environments, Control of Animal Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Forest and Woodlands Environments, Control of Animal Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments