Ecolog: Fools rush in where the exalted fear to tread, but here goes:
A certain certainty seems to persist around the subject of colonizing species or "weeds." I have visited a couple of sites (one highly professional, but still confusing) which contain what appear to me to be quaint statements, hidden amongst the valid phrases. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weed and its associated pages, for example, may be sowing the seeds of confusion far and wide. I do not know how widespread these alien, ruderal, or feral ideas are, or whether I am persistently misinformed. It seems that with respect to "weed" in particular, authors prefer to "hedge" rather than clarify or qualify--at least sufficiently, in my view. An ecological view seems to be lacking, even for "balance." I do not want to lead others down the garden path, but I think is it high time this confusion was clarified and settled, at least to the point where differences are made distinct. Are you similarly disturbed or confused? Would you please participate in getting to the root of the matter, right here on Ecolog? Thank you all for your help. WT
