Can noxious weeds change the way a plant community works?
Yes. Each plant community has evolved certain ways to cycle nutrients, cycle water, capture energy from sunlight, and store energy in a form useable by animals. Noxious weeds alter the way these processes work. By increasing surface erosion, noxious weeds cause a loss of organic matter and nutrients that are normally concentrated in soil surface layers. The removal of organic matter also reduces infiltration capacity, thereby making water less available for plants. Because many noxious weeds have relatively sparse plant canopies, more water evaporates from the soil surface, which makes even less moisture available for plant growth. Can noxious weeds increase soil erosion and soil sedimentation? Yes. Protecting and conserving the surface soil are critical to the long-term sustainability of healthy, functioning ecosystems. Soil provides nutrients and moisture necessary for plant growth and is fundamental to all life. When spotted knapweed invades range land dominated by native bunch gras
