CSIRO Scientist Raises ? - As Oz Plant Species Shift, What Weeds Will Colonize In Their Place?

[hatrack]

EDIT

A recent CSIRO report for the Australian Government's Land and Water Australia looked at what effects climate changes anticipated for 2030 and 2070 might have on the distribution of 41 weeds that pose a threat to agriculture ("sleeper" species) and the natural environment ("alert" species).

"We found that climate change will cause most of these weeds to shift south, with wet tropical species making the greatest move - over 1000km," Dr Scott said. "The regions most at threat from alert and sleeper weeds, both under the current climate and under climate change, are south east Australia, followed by the south west."

Karroo thorn (Acacia karroo), rosewood (Tipuana tipu) and kochia (Bassia scoparia) were found to pose the greatest threat under climate change while white weeping broom (Retama raetam) and fringed dodder (Cuscuta suaveolens) were predicted to have the highest risk of establishing in new areas.

"The predicted move south by both native and introduced plants would produce a 'vacuum' in northern Australia so, to prevent lurking species from invading, a new list of alert and sleeper weeds for this region needs to be developed," Dr Scott said.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_Change_May_Wake_Up_Sleeper_Weeds_999.html