How safe is weed biological control? A global review of direct nontarget attack

Abstract

The introduction and naturalization of plant species outside their native range is likely to intensify with continuing globalization and increasing international trade. Although only a very small percentage of naturalized plant species become invasive the ones that do can have severe negative effects of individual vital parameters of native species, species richness and diversity agriculture and forest production, nutrient and fire cycles water availability and recreation and tourism.