Quantifying the effects of weeds on biodiversity: beyond Blind Freddy's test

摘要

We reviewed the limited number of published accounts that have quantified the ecological impacts of invasive plants on Australian ecosystems. Of 24 papers, 20 dealt with naturalised plants. Most used correlative approaches that compared invaded with weed-free sites rather than manipulative experiments. Effects were most commonly quantified in terms of plant species richness. Few studies examined the impacts of weeds on animal communities. Decisions about weed management priorities and strategies willlargely have to be made in the absence of comprehensive, quantitative data about individual cases. This makes it important to develop soundly-based generalisations about how invasive plants affect Australian ecosystems.