Hi all, A few semi-recent papers attempt to standardize the definitions of these concepts in an ecological sense (refs below). There are probably others, as well. Generally, though, it is my understanding that "weed" is a term that is entrenched in the agricultural realm, while "invasive" tends to be used by people working in "natural" systems.
Richardson D, Pysek P, Rejmanek M, Barbour M, Panetta F, West C (2000) Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: Concepts and definitions. Diversity and Distributions, 6, 93-107. Colautti R, Macisaac H (2004) A neutral terminology to define 'invasive' species. Diversity and Distributions, 10, 135-141. See also: Radosevich S, Holt J, Ghersa C (2007) Ecology of Weeds and Invasive Plants: Relationship to Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley and Sons. Lauren Quinn > Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:49:58 -0700 > From: [email protected] > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Plants Colonizing Weedy or Ruderal or Invasive > Arguments and Distinctions? > To: [email protected] > > 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 _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2
