Library Portal | UWC Portal | National ETDs | Global ETDs
    • Login
    Contact Us | About Us | FAQs | Login
    View Item 
    •   DSpace Home
    • Faculty of Natural Sciences
    • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology
    • Research Articles (Bioversity and Conservation Biology)
    • View Item
    •   DSpace Home
    • Faculty of Natural Sciences
    • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology
    • Research Articles (Bioversity and Conservation Biology)
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Hitting the right target: taxonomic challenges for, and of, plant invasions

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Pysek_Hitting_the_2013.pdf (553.3Kb)
    Date
    2013
    Author
    Pysek, Petr
    Hulme, Philip E.
    Meyerson, Laura A.
    Smith, Gideon F.
    Boatwright, James S.
    Crouch, Neil R.
    Figueiredo, Estrela
    Foxcroft, Llewellyn C.
    Jarosık, Vojtech
    Richardson, David M.
    Suda, Jan
    Wilson, John R.U.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    This paper explores how a lack of taxonomic expertise, and by implication a dearth of taxonomic products such as identification tools, has hindered progress in understanding andmanaging biological invasions. It also explores how the taxonomic endeavour could benefit from studies of invasive species. We review the literature on the current situation in taxonomy with a focus on the challenges of identifying alien plant species and explorehowthis has affected the study of biological invasions. Biosecurity strategies, legislation dealing with invasive species, quarantine, weed surveillance and monitoring all depend on accurate and rapid identification of non-native taxa. However, such identification can be challenging because the taxonomic skill base in most countries is diffuse and lacks critical mass. Taxonomic resources are essential for the effective management of invasive plants and incorrect identifications can impede ecological studies. On the other hand, biological invasions have provided important tests of basic theories about species concepts. Better integration of classical alpha taxonomy and modern genetic taxonomic approaches will improve the accuracy of species identification and further refine taxonomic classification at the level of populations and genotypes in the field and laboratory. Modern taxonomy therefore needs to integrate both classical and new concepts and approaches. In particular, differing points of view between the proponents of morphological and molecular approaches should be negotiated because a narrow taxonomic perspective is harmful; the rigour of taxonomic decision- making clearly increases if insights from a variety of different complementary disciplines are combined and confronted. Taxonomy plays a critical role in the study of plant invasions and in turn benefits from the insights gained from these studies.
    URI
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/ plt042
    http://hdl.handle.net/10566/3321
    Collections
    • Dr. James Stephen Boatwright
    • Research Articles (Bioversity and Conservation Biology)

    DSpace 6.3 | Ubuntu | Copyright © University of the Western Cape
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace 6.3 | Ubuntu | Copyright © University of the Western Cape
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV