Climate change may increase weed threat

Posted Mon Oct 1, 2007 12:09pm AEST



Scientists are warning farmers the effects of climate change could
create a rapid spread of weeds in Queensland's north.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management says
increases in carbon dioxide emissions allows plants, and in particular
weeds, to grow faster.

The centre's chief executive officer, Dr Rachel McFadyen, says rising
temperatures will also change the movement of weed growth.

"Farmers will find that some weeds that have not been a problem up til
now will start to be a problem, it's very difficult to anticipate
which ones. Lantana, for example, may move into drier country ...
country at the moment has been free of lantana because it's simply too
dry for it," she said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/01/2047721.htm