k denhen schmutz weeds and invasive plants cafs uk
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Weeds and invasive plants
Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz
Biological invasions
• One out of five main direct drivers for biodiversity changes globally• Causing high costs for society
– $120 billion/annually in the US (Pimentel et al. 2005)
– €2.5 billion/year in the EU (Kettunen et a. 2009)
– £1.7 billion/year in the UK (CABI 2010)
• Closely linked to human activities
Weeds
- if unmanaged - greater yield losses than any other crop pest (Oerke and Dehne 2004)
- Expensive:- £105 million annually in crop losses in Britain- £90 million annually for herbicides
(Williams et al. 2010)
- increasing problems with herbicide control (regulations, resistances)
- great chance to increase research efforts into non-chemical management options!
Using citizen science for weed management
• Project proposal to increase use of non-chemical weed management in arable farming
• Participatory project: workshops with farmers• Farmer/agronomists to collect/report weed and
management data
EpiCollect Software
EpiCollect software – collecting weed data
EpiCollect software – collecting weed data
Case study: Solanum elaeagnifolium
Silverleaf nightshade, tomato weed
perennial weed
reproduction by seeds and root fragments
distributed with contaminated seeds, fodder, hay, soil, machinery, sheep, birds….
prefers warm-temperate regions,, drought tolerant.
l
Case study: Solanum elaeagnifolium
- native in Mexico- currently expanding its range in southern Europe
favoured by climate change- listed species in Europe (EPPO A2)