A predictive framework for invaded communities

Australian native and agricultural landscapes are under threat from introduced plant species. Over $1.5
billion per year is spent on subsequent land management. However it is not clear if this is money is well
spent. We will determine the importance of the two major factors (dispersal and habitat) that drive the
invasion of Australian native plant communities by surveying native Australian plant communities with
different levels of disturbance and numbers of introduced species. The results will enable us to build and test
an innovative model for predicting the establishment and spread of invasive species. This critical research
will help target money towards better management of invasive species in native environments.