A Model for the Spread of an Invasive Weed, Tradescantia fluminensis.
Bull Math Biol
; 79(6): 1201-1217, 2017 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28405794
ABSTRACT
Tradescantia fluminensis is an invasive weed and a serious threat to native forests in eastern Australia and New Zealand. Current methods of eradication are often ineffective, so understanding the growth mechanisms of Tradescantia is important in formulating better control strategies. We present a partial differential equation (PDE) model for Tradescantia growth and spatial proliferation that accounts for Tradescantia's particular creeping and branching morphology, and the impact of self-shading on plant growth. This is the first PDE model to represent a weed that spreads via a creeping growth habit rather than by seed dispersal. We use a travelling wave analysis to investigate how Tradescantia extends to colonise new territory. Numerical simulations and analysis show that the model provides a good qualitative representation of the behaviour of this plant. This model provides a foundation for assessing different control and eradication strategies for Tradescantia.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plant Weeds
/
Weed Control
/
Models, Biological
Type of study:
Qualitative_research
Language:
En
Journal:
Bull Math Biol
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia