Weed ecology in natural and agricultural systems By B.D. Booth, S.D. Murphy and C.J. Swanton ISBN 0851995284, published in 2003 by CABI Publishing, 303 pages, b/w, soft cover Price: Please request a quote

An understanding of weed ecology is central to the processes involved in integrated weed management. In the past weeds have been ‘controlled’ and over the last fifty or so years herbicides have been what we first thought of when the term weed control is used. The pattern is changing, we now talk about weed management, realizing that the relatively simple approach of killing the weed then forgetting about it is no longer enough. To manage weeds and to integrate their management into the cultural practices of agriculture or the ecosystems of natural areas requires a good working knowledge of plant ecology.

This book has been designed as a teaching text for undergraduate students. It does not require an ecological background, only an understanding of basic biology. The material has been organized in a clear and concise manner. Each chapter begins with a list of concepts and ends with a series of questions. Common names of plants are used throughout, although the botanical name is given at the first mention in each chapter.

The authors are Canadian, from the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo. The book, however, has worldwide relevance and its illustrations and references are drawn from most of the western world. It is clearly laid out, with copious illustrations, and is fully referenced.

It is divided into five parts. Part I looks at population ecology, describing distribution and abundance of populations, population dynamics, sexual and asexual reproduction and the stages from seed to the death of the plant. Part II has three chapters looking at various aspects of population interactions. Part III studies community ecology looking at community concepts and diversity, community dynamics and plant invasions. Part IV explores the importance of weed ecology to weed management. Part V is a comprehensive glossary and subject and species indexes are provided. Chapters are also included that explore experimental design and the methodology used in ecological studies.

This is a book that will provide a link between weed biology, plant invasions and the in-depth studies of plant ecology. This book examines weeds in ecosystems that range from intensively managed agricultural systems though grazing systems to natural ecosystems. Is this an impossible task? The answer is no because all systems are controlled by essentially the same processes.

Weed control, without an understanding of ecology, can have unwanted consequences. For example, weeds can develop resistance to herbicides when they are used repeatedly on the same population, remove one weed and another will appear in its place.

This book will provide an invaluable pathway to an improved understanding of weed ecology and in turn effective weed management. It is an essential reference to all students of weed science.

Table of contents

• Preface
• 1. Ecology of weeds
• Part I. Population ecology
• 2. Describing the distribution and abundance of populations
• 3. The structure and dynamics of populations
• 4. Sexual reproduction
• 5. Asexual reproduction
• 6. From seed to seedling
• 7. Growing up, getting old and dying
• Part II. Interactions between populations
• 8. Interactions between populations I: Competition and allelopathy
• 9. Interactions between populations II: Herbivory, parasitism and mutualisms
• 10. Studying populations and their interactions
• Part III. Community ecology
• 11. Basic community concepts and diversity
• 12. Community dynamics: succession and assembly
• 13. Plant invasions
• 14. Studying community structure and dynamics
• Part IV. Conclusions
• 15. The importance of weed ecology to management
• Part V. Appendix
• Glossary
• Subject index
• Species index