Invasive species

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Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions. The first definition expresses the phrase in terms of non-indigenous species (e.g. plants or animals) that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically. It has been used in this sense by government organizations as well as conservation groups such as the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

The second definition broadens the boundaries to include both native and non-native species that heavily colonize a particular habitat.

The third definition is an expansion of the first and defines an invasive species as a widespread non-indigenous species. This last definition is arguably too broad as not all non-indigenous species necessarily have an adverse effect on their adopted environment. An example of this broader use would include the claim that the common goldfish (Carassius auratus) is invasive. Although it is common outside its range globally, it almost never appears in harmful densities.

Because of the ambiguity of its definition, the phrase invasive species is often criticized as an imprecise term within the field of ecology. This article concerns the first two definitions; for the third, see introduced species.

For more information about Invasive species, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with invasive plants


Researchers learn why invasive plants are spreading rapidly in forests

Researchers learn why invasive plants are spreading rapidly in forests

Biology / Ecology

created Dec 10, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Invasive plants are advancing into Eastern forests at an alarming rate, and the rapid spread has been linked by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to forest road ...





Search results for invasive plants


The past matters to plants

The past matters to plants

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Dec 21, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- It's commonly known that plants interact with each other on an everyday basis: they shade each other out or take up nutrients from the soil before neighboring plants can get them. Now, researchers ...


Engineers develop machine that visually inspects and sorts strawberry plants

Technology / Engineering

created Dec 17, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) have developed a plant-sorting machine that uses computer vision and machine learning to inspect and grade harvested strawberry plants ...


Antagonistic genes control rice growth

Antagonistic genes control rice growth

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Dec 15, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Scientists at the Carnegie Institution, with colleagues, have found that a plant steroid prompts two genes to battle each other—one suppresses the other to ensure that leaves grow normally in rice and the ...


Global barcode project to scan plants in the wild

Biology / Ecology

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- A cheap and fast method of identifying the world's most important plants in the wild could soon be possible, thanks to a global project involving the University of Adelaide.


Fertilizer use not always helpful in revegetation efforts

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 17, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 3

Companies and communities trying to restore vegetation on damaged northern landscapes should think twice about using fertilizer to stimulate growth according to new research published in the November issue of Arctic, Antarctic an ...


Study sheds light on microscopic flower petal ridges

Study sheds light on microscopic flower petal ridges

Biology / Plants & Animals

created 14 hours ago | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Microscopic ridges contouring the surface of flower petals might play a role in flashing that come-hither look pollinating insects can't resist. Michigan State University scientists and colleagues ...


Behavior modification could ease concerns about nanoparticles

Behavior modification could ease concerns about nanoparticles

Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

In an advance that could help ease health and environmental concerns about the emerging nanotechnology industry, scientists are reporting development of technology for changing the behavior of nanoparticles ...


Making New Enzymes to Engineer Plants for Biofuel Production

Making New Enzymes to Engineer Plants for Biofuel Production

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Dec 21, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Brookhaven scientists have created a new enzyme with the potential to interfere with a key cell-wall component in plants, possibly leading to plants that are easier to "digest" and convert ...


System developed to detect plastic anti-personnel mines

System developed to detect plastic anti-personnel mines

Technology / Engineering

created 16 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

A team of European researchers has devised a method for locating plastic anti-personnel mines, which are manufactured to avoid detection by metal detectors. The technique involves analysing the temperature ...


Minimally invasive surgery removes sinus tumor without facial disfiguration

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Dec 14, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Only about one in 2,000 people in the United States get a sinus tumor, but Johnnie Wilcox was one of the unfortunate few.



List of search results for invasive plants