Secrets of Invasion
How invasive species do it and is there any hope to fight them back? Graduates in environmental protection who are leaving their universities are fully convinced that biodiversity is the most valuable aspect of the nature. If we gain more plants we win higher plants diversity. Unfortunately not all alien species get adopted into local ecosystems. Some of them become invasive. Can we force those invaders to become an enriching part of local plant communities? Bitou bush ( Chrysanthemoides monilifera ) presents incredible skills in removing native individuals. At the moment around 80% of NSW coast is tightly covered with its yellow flowering twigs (Thomas 2002). First it out competes them; secondly it creates its own mono-community. Invasion is followed by changes in microclimate (Lindsay, 2004). The belowground conditions are altering as well. Lindsay (2004) writes that the nutrient cycling regime may shift to the one which is in favour of this “pain-in-the-ass” bush . There are many pa...