Knowing where a weed has come from can improve its management, but this quest can be challenging. CSIRO detective work revealed an unusual pathway for the introduction of South African bitou bush.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Weeds
Displaying 1 - 20 of 29 articles
Before you reach for the weed killer, spare a thought for struggling pollinators.
Although they can cause severe crop losses, some species and their seeds also contribute to the provision of ecosystem services.
From pine trees to camphor laurel and even the Cootamundra wattle, trees can be weeds too.
Thornapple or jimsonweed and related plants have an interesting history – from an early asthma treatment to intoxicated British soldiers.
Published in 1962, ‘Silent Spring’ called attention to collateral damage from widespread use of synthetic pesticides. Many problems the book anticipated persist today in new forms.
The herbicide revolution reduces the availability of edible weeds, which may undermine food and nutrition security.
Farmers are stuck in a chemical war against weeds, which have developed resistance to many widely used herbicides. Seed companies’ answer – using more varied herbicides – is causing new problems.
Taking lessons from the past could help enrich our diets for little cost
Spring has settled in and fruit is starting to ripen. Read this before you start helping yourself to the edible plants growing in your neighbourhood.
Not all Australian native species belong in all Australian environments. In fact, many Australian plant species have become pests in places far from their original homes. Could some be in your garden?
Roundup may be taking a beating in the US, where three juries have concluded that it gave plaintiffs cancer, but it’s still widely used around the globe.
For temperature-sensitive animals, the dense, leafy canopy of willow trees may make them the lesser of two evils in a warming climate.
Invasive species have been invading foreign territories for centuries. By quantifying the mammoth economic impacts, we hope political leaders will start to take notice.
I collected data about my neighbourhood sulphur-crested cockatoos while stuck home in Melbourne’s lockdown. I learned that each bird can eat 200 onion grass plants per hour.
Our study is the first to research the impact of online misinformation on biological invasions.
Silky oaks, or Grevillea robusta, are in bloom. These hardy, attractive trees light up the sky in late spring – but handle with care.
The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted interest in home gardening. Three scientists who garden explain some basic methods for controlling common insects and microbes that can spoil your crop.
Restoring former prairies that have been plowed under for farming delivers land, wildlife and climate benefits. But a new study finds that the weather plays a surprising role.
New Zealand is pumping millions of dollars into environment projects as part of its COVID-19 recovery. Australia’s recovery plan seems more destructive than reconstructive.
Top contributors
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Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne
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Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University
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Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
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Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University
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Associate Professor, International Studies and Global Societies, University of Technology Sydney
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Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle & CEO FAUNA Research Alliance, University of Newcastle
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Professor, Griffith University
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Research Affiliate, University of Newcastle
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PhD student at Griffith University, Griffith University
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Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University
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Research Fellow in Plant Ecology, The University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor, School of Design, University of Technology Sydney
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Senior lecturer, Australian National University
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Postdoctoral Researcher, Entomology and Biological Control, Rhodes University
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Associate professor, Griffith University
