Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 273 - CRITERIA FOR LISTING INVASIVE TERRESTRIAL PLANTS › Section 001-273-I - Definitions

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Biological potential
- The
				ability of a species to increase its numbers, either sexually and/or asexually,
				and occupy more space.
B.
Ecoregion
- An ecoregion is a geographic area where ecosystems are
				generally similar. Ecoregion maps are published by the US Environmental
				Protection Agency.
C.
Invasive plant
- A non-native species that has spread into native
				or minimally managed plant communities (habitats) in Maine that causes economic
				or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations that become
				dominant and/or disruptive to native species.
D.
Minimally managed habitats
-
				Minimally managed habitats are habitats where management efforts and
				investments of time, money and labor are infrequent or nonexistent. These
				habitats may at one time have been intensively managed. Minimally managed
				habitats may include, but are not limited to forests, woodlots, rights-of-way,
				riverbanks, coastal plains, pastures, meadows and vacant lots.
E.
Native plant
- A species that
				has evolved over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular ecoregion.
				Generally, only plants found in this country before European settlement are
				considered native to the United States.
F.
Naturalized plant
- A
				non-native plant that does not need human help to reproduce and maintain itself
				over time in an area where it is not native.
G.
Non-native plant
- A species
				that is not native or naturally occurring (based on its distribution and
				current knowledge of the species) within Maine. A species may be native to
				North America, but non-native in Maine.
H.
Spatial gaps
- This term is
				used in reference to the ability of a species to disperse away from existing
				occurrences. It is a distance from the location of the original introduction of
				a plant which exceeds the average distance a propagule (seed or other viable
				plant part) from that plant would normally establish. The longer distance
				movement (over a spatial gap) and establishment is facilitated by wind, water,
				animals or some other reason. This type of growth contrasts with a plant that
				spreads contiguously and undispersed within a habitat.
I.
Species
- As utilized in this
				chapter, "species" includes all synonyms, subspecies, hybrids, varieties, forms
				and cultivars of that species.
J.
Invasive terrestrial plant species of special concern
- A
				non-native plant species that has spread into native or minimally managed plant
				habitats in Maine that may cause economic or environmental harm. Species of
				special concern may be effectively contained through alternative regulatory
				measures instead of prohibiting sale or import.
K.
Terrestrial plant
- As
				utilized in this chapter, "terrestrial plant" includes plants that grow in
				upland habitats but may also include plants that are able to grow in wetlands
				or as emergent aquatic plants. Terrestrial plants may grow in agricultural
				fields, rangelands, forests, urban landscapes, wildlands, and along waterways.
				Terrestrial plants include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and herbaceous
				plants.