University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section I. Invasion Ecology. 1. Invasive plants: A threat to the integrity and sustainability of forest ecosystems / Shibu Jose [and others] -- 2. Mechanisms of plant invasion: a review / Pedram Daneshgar, Shibu Jose -- 3. Relationship of invasive groundcover plant presence to evidence of disturbance in the forests of the Upper Midwest of the United States / W. Keith Moser [and others] -- 4. Invasion pattern of exotic plants in forest ecosystems / Songlin Fei [and others] -- 5. Spatial and temporal dynamics of exotic tree invasions: lessons from a shade-tolerant invader, Acer platanoides / Christopher R. Webster and Steven R. Wangen -- 6. Invasive species and the resiliency of a riparian environment / James M. Dyer, C. Mark Cowell -- 7. Biogeography of invasive plant species in urban park forests / Robert E. Loeb -- Section II. Ecological Impacts. 8. Alien invasive plant species and their effects on hill forest ecosystems of Bangladesh / M.K. Hossain -- 9. Ecological status of some invasive plants of Shiwalik Himalayas in Northwestern India / R.K. Kohli [and others] -- 10. Invasive species and their impacts on endemic ecosystems in China / Jichao Fang, Fanghao Wan -- 11. Invasive plants in Australian forests, with an emphasis on the subtropics and tropics / J. Doland Nichols and Mila Bristow -- 12. Risk analysis for alien plants in European forests, illustrated by the example of Prunus serotina Gritta Schrader and Uwe Starfinger --13. Monitoring and assessment of regional impacts from nonnative invasive plants in forests of the Pacific coast, United States / Andrew Gray -- 14. Imperata cylindrica, an exotic invasive grass, changes soil chemical properties of forest ecosystems in the southeastern United States / Alexander R. Collins and Shibu Jose -- Section III. Management of Invasive Plants. 15. Adaptive collaborative restoration: a key concept in invasive plant management / James H. Miller and John Schelhas -- 16. Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)--A comprehensive review of an invasive grass / Gregory E. MacDonald -- 17. Exotic plant species invasion and control in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States / M.A. Jenkins and Kristine D. Johnson -- 18. Invasive weeds of Colorado forests and rangeland / K. George Beck -- 19. Ecology and management of tropical Africa's forest invaders / Paul P. Bosu, Mary M. Apetorgbor and Alemayehu Refera -- Section IV. Socioeconomic and Policy Aspects -- 20. Invasive plants in Namibian Sub-tropical and Riparian Woodlands / Dave F. Joubert -- 21. The economics, law, and policy of invasive species management in the United States: responding to a growing crisis / Johanna E. Freeman [and others].

As the worldwide human population explodes and trade becomes increasingly globalized, the transboundary movement of plant species from their place of origin to foreign regions is escalating and expected to experience continued growth in the coming decades. This book takes an informed and integrated approach to the current onslaught of invasive species, spotlighting the tremendous challenges they pose for natural resource managers charged with the maintenance of biological diversity and the sustainable production of forest wealth.