Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Whittemore, Alan T. [1].

Floras as information sources for weed risk assessment.

Weed risk assessment (WRA) uses statistical modelling to predict which species will show weedy or invasive tendencies in a region before they have been introduced to the area, or immediately after introduction but before they have spread.  Several WRA models are widely used by import authorities in many countries to regulate which plant species can be imported, and by conservation authorities wanting to prioritize control efforts in wildlands they are managing.  Current WRA models base their predictions on biological characteristics of plants that are known to be associated with invasiveness, the extent to which species have become invasive elsewhere in the world, and climates and habitats the species is known to flourish in.  Scientists carrying out WRA use taxonomic monographs and especially floras and monographs as a major source of information in preparing their assessments.  Characters such as life form, mode of seed dispersal, etc. are inferred from taxonomic descriptions, climatic and habitat tolerances are inferred from range statements in the taxonomic literature, and invasive behavior elsewhere in the world is commonly discovered in the floristic literature.  As use of WRA by governments and conservation organizations becomes commoner and more widespread, it is an area where floristic information is having great social and economic impact.  Inclusion of data used in WRA will help ensure that floras and monographs are finding their maximal audience and that taxonomic work is being utilized to the fullest extent possible.

1 - U S National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC, 20002-1958, USA

Keywords:
Floristics
invasive plants.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 4
Location: Payette/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: 4001
Abstract ID:395
Candidate for Awards:None