The area in which a species can survive is its Potential
distribution (i.e. physiological distribution or climatic
range)
• Potential distribution is based on the abiotic environment
only and does not take into consideration how the species
might survive in ‘real situations’
• Potential distribution of a species may be far greater than
its native distribution
• By comparing the native and potential distributions of a
weed, it may be possible to predict where it is likely to
spread