Why do only some exotics become invasive? Combining ecological and genomic approaches to address alternative hypotheses in a recent Australian weed

这个项目将专门测试杂草如何入侵的替代假设。由于入侵杂草对农业生态系统和自然生态系统的影响是一样的，因此了解杂草入侵的机理是至关重要的。结果将使澳大利亚受益，因为它可以通过提供预测工具来估计传播的可能性，从而更好地针对该国已有的外来植物进行管理。对于监管机构的正式有害生物风险分析(例如澳大利亚生物安全)，我们的项目将提供基因组工具，通过基因筛查来评估受监管植物的潜在杂草，并构成国际努力的一部分，以识别“杂草基因”。

This project will specifically test alternative hypotheses about how weeds become invasive. As invasive weeds affect both agricultural and native ecosystems equally, research on understanding the mechanisms of weed invasion is critical. Outcomes will benefit Australia by allowing better prioritisation of management against exotic plants already in the country by providing predictive tools to estimate likelihood of spread. For formal Pest Risk Analysis by regulators (eg Biosecurity Australia), our project will provide genomic tools by which the potential weediness of a regulated plant can be assessed through genetic screening, and forms part of an international effort to identify 'weedy genes'.