What advantages do noxious weeds have over the natives?
A noxious weed is an introduced plant species that spreads very quickly, displacing native plants and altering local ecology. * These weeds offer little or no nutritional value to wildlife, so they are not subjected to grazing pressure as native plants are. * They have not evolved in this area so they have no predators (e.g. insects or diseases) to keep their populations in check.* They vigorously invade disturbed areas such as roadsides and new construction areas, which are frequent in the Denver Metropolitan area.* The absence of fire and grazing give noxious weeds another competitive advantage.Through urbanization the positive effects of periodic fire and grazing by populations of buffalo, antelope, and deer have diminished over the past 150 years. These ecosystem “treatments” are known to stimulate grassland health and diversity. * Some noxious weed species like diffuse knapweed produce secondary metabolic compounds, which actually inhibit the germination of seeds in the immediate
