Plants: importance of being economic.(Biology)(exotic plant species dominating real estate revealed by computer models)(Brief Article) From: Science News | Date: January 8, 2005| Author: Milius, Susan | COPYRIGHT 2005 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The pulse of the real estate market in a given area turns out to be a powerful indicator of how many exotic plant species have invaded the neighborhood, say two researchers. The hotter the market, the greater the risk to native species from invaders, according to their computer models.

Adding economic factors to a simpler model of alien-plant invasion enhanced the model's predictive power, report Brad W. Taylor of University of Wyoming in Laramie and Rebecca Irwin of Dar...