Exam 1 Pest

Describe at least 4 characteristics of a plant that allow it to become a successful/competitive weed.

-able to occupy disturbed sites

-adapted to wide range of conditions

-prolific seed producers

-early maturity

-seed viable through long dormancy

-vegetative reproductive parts

-special seed dispersal mechanisms

-resist removal

-herbicide resistance

Describe the relationship between disturbance, succession, and weeds. Why do weeds commonly become established after disturbances like tillage, fire, or major changes to vegetation?

- Disturbance disrupts the current plant community and starts succession again. Something like tillage completely resets the land and then water, sunlight, and space are all available. The reset gives opportunity to pioneer species, which are most commonly weeds. Weeds are well adapted to many conditions and quickly take over a disturbed area. So, weeds are associated with disturbance because their characteristics allow them to occupy the conditions.

Q: Pests destroy how much of all crops before harvest? What type of pest contributes to the most loss? 

1/3, weeds

Q: What is the difference between annuals, biennials, and perennials? 

A: Annuals complete their life cycle and die within a year, biennials complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, and perennials survive and regrow for more than two years

What is a weed?

any plant that is unwanted

Question: Why should we study weeds? 

Answer: to understand that weeds affect everyday life and to learn more about weed ecology, physiology, and how to control them. 

Question: What is co-evolution and give an example? 

Answer: Co-evolution is where a weed evolves overtime to resemble a crop. Examples include barnyard grass and rice, wild oats in oats, wheat, and barley, or false flax in flax. 

When did weed management begin?

when agriculture did

What Is an Argoecosystem and what does it consist of?

Argoecosystem = the community and environment of an ecosystem in Agriculture

Ecosystem= abiotic + biotic factors

What makes a plant a competitive weed?

Being able to grow in disturbed areas

What is a positive and negative of the kudzu plant being invasive?

Positive: It can help with soil erosion

Negative: when it gets out of control it covers vegatation

What are the types of radical disturbance? 

Tillage, fire, pests, and floods. 

Q: What characteristics make a plant more likely to become successful or a troublesome weed? Name 3 and give a brief explanation of how it helps the plant survive, reproduce, and resist control methods. 

Early maturity, allow plant to reproduce before being removed or unfavorable conditions

-Long seed dormancy, allow seeds to remain viable in soil and germinate in favorable conditions

-Ability to occupy disturbed sites, plants establish quickly in areas disturbed by tillage or construction

Q: Which of the following describes the difference between an introduced, naturalized, and invasive plant?

1.  Introduced are always harmful, naturalized are native, invasive are weeds. 

2. Introduced have been moved outside of native range by humans, naturalized can maintain populations without repeat planting, invasive spread while causing or potentially causing harm. 

3. Introduced always invasive, naturalized cant reproduce on their own. 

4. Naturalized and invasive are both native that become weeds. 

Introduced have been moved outside of native range by humans, naturalized can maintain populations without repeat planting, invasive spread while causing or potentially causing harm. 

What are the three ecological appraoches to weed management?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Crop Management (ICM), and Integrated Weed Management (IWM)

How does a winter annual differ from a summer annual?

Winter annuals germinate in the fall and overwinter, while summer annuals germinate in the spring or summer.

Question 2:  What is beneficial of disturbance? 

       Disturbance allows for organisms with fast reproduction to get a head start within their environment. Disturbance allowed for grass plains growth instead of oak savannas. 

true or false: Most serious weeds in America are perennials.

false, Most serious weeds in America are annuals.

Q: What are  5 things weeds can have a negative effect on?

A: Humans, Crops, Livestock, Landscape, and native vegetation

What are examples of Herbicide-Tolerant Crops?

Answer: Corn, Soybeans, Alfalfa, Cotton, Canola, and Sugar Beet

2) Describe the difference between Introduced, Naturalized and Invasive:

Answer: Introduced: moved beyond its native range by human activity. Naturalized: maintains populations without repeated planting. Invasive: introduced and spreading, with actual or potential harm.

true False Question: Competition and presence of vegetative and reproductive weed parts near crop harvest have no negative effect on crop quality?

false

True/False: Most serious weeds in North America are equally divided in the categories of grasslike and broadleaf.

true

Name some functions of weeds:

wildflowers- aesthetic value

cover for wildlife- habitats and food sources

Erosion control- waste areas, radically altered landscapes

Edible- both humans and domestic livestock can consume

Medical Properties- purslane, echinacea, St. Johnswort

Recycling Nutrients/ Organic matter sources

Source of Genetic Diversity

Q: Of the total number of plants in the world, what percentage are thought to be weeds?

A: 3% (7,500)