Weeds arrive into a new region either deliberately (for example, as garden plants) or accidentally (for example, as contaminants of grain). Our research examines the importance of why and how weeds are introduced in the establishment of weeds worldwide.

It is becoming increasingly clear that while some plant traits may favour the successful establishment of plants introduced into new regions, the mechanism, scale and frequency of introduction events are often as important.

For example, horticulture is known to be a major source pool. Horticultural plants are often given a head start through the selection of appropriate stock, their survival is maximised through human care and plants are distributed widely in gardens.

Our work looks at these introduction pathways, identifies the types of weed problems that arise from them and explores the policy and management options available to deal with these sources.

Key publications relating to this esearch.

Hulme PE (2006) Beyond control: wider implications for the management of biological invasions.  Journal of Applied Ecology, 43, 835-847

Hulme PE (2005) Nursery crimes: agriculture as victim and perpetrator in the spread of invasive species In Crop Science and Technology, pp. 733-740, British Crop Protection Council

Hulme PE & Bremner ET (2006) Assessing the impact of Impatiens glandulifera on riparian habitats: partitioning diversity components following species removal.  Journal of Applied Ecology, 43, 43-50

Maskell LC, Bullock JM, Smart SM, Thompson K and Hulme PE (2006) The distribution and vegetation associations of non-native plant species in urban riparian habitat.  Journal of Vegetation Science, 17, 499-508

Sullivan, JJ, Williams, PA & Timmins, SM (2007) Secondary forest succession differs through naturalised gorse and native kanuka near Wellington and Nelson. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 31, 22-38

Truscott, A-M, Palmer SCF, Soulsby C, Westaway S & Hulme PE (2008) Consequences of invasion by the alien plant Mimulus guttatus on the species composition and soil properties of riparian plant communities in Scotland.  Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution & Systematics, doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2008.04.001

Vilà M, Tessier M, Suehs CM, Brundu G, Carta L, Galinidis A, Lambdon P, Manca M, Medail F, Moragues E, Traveset A, Troumbis AY & Hulme PE (2006)  Local and regional assessments of the impacts of plant invaders on vegetation structure and soil properties of Mediterranean islands.  Journal of Biogeography 33, 853-861

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