Weeds, particularly the invasive ones, are believe to have numerous negative impact on native species, including species extinction. Are there studies that provide results to support these claims, including the species involved?.
A good review of the topic is attached. Some empirical data are also to be found in:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01480.x/full
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0021-8901.2001.00673.x/full
In the last 200 years, in California 99+% of the native understory has been replaced by over 1,000 species of exotic plants between sea level and 1,000 meters elevation.
The spot where each exotic plant grows currently, has created a zone of what I call "spatial extinction", which means that whatever native plant formerly grew on that spot, is currently extinct.
The concept of "spatial extinction" of native plants caused by exotic plants, needs to be more fully explored, and unfortunately once the change occurs, spatial extinction is a permanent change that will continue into the future, unless there is human intervention.
I guess you may have come across this article from 2011 by now, if not, it is very relevant to your question:
"However, while invasive alien plants also harm native biota there exists a lack of cases demonstrating their ability to cause extinction of native plant species."
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10530-011-9980-3
When I say "Spatial Extinction" I am not saying complete extinction of an entire plant species, but the extinction of an individual native plant on the spot that any exotic plant gets established. We need to broaden our concept of extinction, so we can track it progress as it creeps up on us, as exotic plants get established, and not note its effects when it makes its final death blow.
The 20th North American prairie conference of 2006 in Kearney, NE focused on invasive species (including plants) and here below is the link to the Proceedings volume. https://books.google.com/books/about/Proceedings_of_the_20th_North_American_P.html?id=YheqDAEACAAJ
I am attaching also copy of a few papers that may be of interest to you.
Please take a look at the following RG link.
Article Alien plant invasions and native plant extinctions: a six-th...
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