Weed invasion changes fuel characteristics: Para Grass (Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) T.Q. Nguyen) on a tropical floodplain

Abstract

Invasive plants, particularly grasses, are regarded as one of the most serious threats to global biodiversity and ecosystem function. One of the most significant effects of exotic grass invasion is the increase in fine fuel, which can increase fire frequency, intensity and extent. In northern Australia, many terrestrial and aquatic grasses introduced for pastoralism are now recognized weeds (Lonsdale 1994). Para Grass (Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) T.Q. Nguyen), an African perennial, has been widely promoted throughout northern Australia as a pasture species but is also considered a serious weed which threatens large areas of wetland from northern NSW to WA (Humphries et al. 1991).