Plant naturalization trends reflect socio-economic history and show a high likelihood of inter-island spread in Hawai‘i

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Kelsey C. Brock ◽  
Curtis C. Daehler

Abstract The composition of non-native floras is influenced by a region’s socio-economic history, yet rarely are these factors studied alongside plant naturalization rates over time. Such information is especially critical for archipelagos, which often host large numbers of non-native plants and would benefit from preventing inter-island spread. We compiled the first record of occurrence and first record of naturalization for all naturalized plants in Hawai‘i alongside data on their origin, native climate types, taxonomy, and likely introduction pathway, and compared rates of naturalization with socio-economic trends. We found that the rate of total plant naturalizations has increased at a roughly constant rate during the past century without any sign of plateauing. However, this relatively steady increase is underlain by notable fluctuations in naturalization rates for different introduction pathways, with ornamentals increasing recently while agriculture-related plants have decreased. Furthermore, this trend mirrors a shift from an agriculture-dominated economy to a tourism-based one associated with increases in both resident and tourist populations as well as general economic well-being. We further found that the average naturalized species spreads at a rate of 1.86 islands per decade, eventually occupying most major islands in the archipelago, and the rate of spread appears to be increasing since Hawai‘i’s economic shift. Our findings also emphasize the diversity of Hawai‘i’s non-native flora, which originates from a variety of climates, continents, and taxonomic groups. We demonstrated that many non-native species have native ranges that include temperate climates, which is important because these climates typically co-occur with higher elevation, remnant patches of native-dominated ecosystems in Hawai‘i’. This study reveals trends that may help predict a species’ ability to naturalize and spread within and between islands, and we discuss management implications that may be extended to other regions.

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11270
Author(s):  
Margarita Arianoutsou ◽  
Ioannis Bazos ◽  
Anastasia Christopoulou ◽  
Yannis Kokkoris ◽  
Andreas Zikos ◽  
...  

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) pathways classification framework used in the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species (IAS Regulation) has recently been adopted by the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), the official information system supporting the implementation of the IAS Regulation. In the current paper, the result of an alignment of the primary introduction pathways of all alien plants in Europe included in the EASIN catalogue is presented, based on the CBD framework. In total, 6,250 alien plant taxa (marine plants excluded), both alien to Europe (native range outside Europe) and alien in Europe (native range partially in Europe) are reported. Altogether 5,175 plant taxa had their primary introduction pathway aligned based on the CBD framework, while for the rest the pathway remains unknown. In addition, the taxonomy, year and country of its first record in the wild are provided for each taxon. Our analyses reveal that the main primary introduction pathways of alien plants into Europe are linked to accidental escapes from ornamental and horticultural activities. Northwestern European countries seem to act as the main gateway areas of alien plants into Europe. Recent first observations of new alien taxa growing spontaneously exhibit a contemporary accelerating trend for plants alien to Europe, particularly linked to ornamental and horticultural activities. On the other hand, the number of new plants alien in Europe seems to have stabilized over the last few decades. The present work can assist in the prioritization of introduction pathways control, with the target of slowing down the rate of alien plants introductions into Europe, following also the requirements of the IAS Regulation.


Acarologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-130
Author(s):  
Davina L. Saccaggi ◽  
Edward A. Ueckermann

Agistemus collyerae Gonzáles-Rodrigues (Stigmaeidae) is reported for the first time in South Africa on grapevines in the Western Cape Province. We investigate a possible introduction pathway of this mite as a contaminant on imported agricultural goods. Based on South African interception data, we report new country records of A. collyerae in the USA, Chile, Yemen, Spain and France. We re-describe it based on the South African specimens, including first-time descriptions of the male and deutonymph. Female specimens have shorter dorsal setae than those documented in the original descriptions, but we do not consider this enough evidence to justify a new species.


Check List ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Gilberto Nepomuceno Salvador ◽  
Nathali Garcia Ristau ◽  
Isabel Sanches da Silva ◽  
André Nunes

The wild boar is one of the most dangerous invasive species. It is widespread in the world, including records for many Brazilian states. However, there is a lack of record from Maranhão state. In the present study, we reported a population of wild boar inside the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, in Barrerinhas county, State of Maranhão. We discuss about the negative effects of this introduction on native species, including a record of predation by wild boar in nests of endangered turtles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 210 (07) ◽  
pp. 2-15
Author(s):  
Liliya Beksheneva ◽  
Antonina Reut

Abstract. The article presents the results of an experimental assessment of the peculiarities of the water regime of 9 species of the genus Iris L. growing in the South-Ural Botanical Garden-Institute UFRC RAS (I. sibirica L., I. pseudacorus L. ‒ species of native flora, I. aphylla L., I. biglumis Vahl., I. lacteal Pall., I. orientalis Mill., I. ruthenica Ker-Gawl., I. setosa Pall., I. spuria L. ‒ introduced species). The purpose is a comparative evaluation of the main parameters of the water regime within the generic complex and depending on the detection of meteorological factors in different phenological periods. Methods. Studies were performed in growing periods 2019–2020’s physiological using conventional techniques (artificial saturation method and wilting). Made a detailed analysis of daily and seasonal dynamics of the water regime of the three parameters: the total water content, water-holding capacity, water scarcity. Typical forest species Convallaria majalis L. was investigated for a comparative analysis of water regime indicators. Results. The similarities and differences in the peculiarities of the water regime were established between the studied species, the dependence of the indicators on meteorological conditions was revealed. According to the type of water regime cultivars were divided into four groups: a flexible water-quiet mode ‒ I. pseudacorus, flexible water-tight mode ‒ I. sibirica, I. ruthenica, stably-calm water mode ‒ I. aphylla, I. biglumis, I. setosa, stably-tight water mode ‒ I. spuria, I. lactea, I. orientalis. Among the studied parameters of water scarcity was the most dependent on meteorological factors. Scientific novelty. The study helps to identify ecological and physiological adaptations of exotic species in comparison with the native species that could become the basis for assessing the prospects of growing in the culture and conservation of rare and endangered species.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 130-139
Author(s):  
Valérie Cawoy ◽  
Mathieu Jonard ◽  
Carolin Mayer ◽  
Anne-Laure Jacquemart

In invasion ecology, potential impacts of aliens on native flora are still under debate. Our aim was to determine the pollinator mediated effects of both proximity and abundance of an alien species on the reproductive success of natives. We chose the highly invasive Impatiens glandulifera and two native species: Epilobium angustifolium and Aconitum napellus ssp. lusitanicum. These species share characteristics allowing for pollination interactions: similar biotopes, overlapping flowering periods and same main pollinators. The effects of abundance (5, 25 and 100 individuals) and proximity (0 and 15 m) of the alien on visitation rate, insect behaviour, pollen deposition and reproductive success of both natives were investigated during 2 flowering seasons. We used centred visitation rates as they can be directly interpreted as a positive or negative effect of the invasive.Both abundance and proximity of the alien increased bumblebee visitation rates to both natives. On the other hand, abundance of the exotic species had a slight negative effect on honeybee visits to natives while its proximity had no effect. The behaviour of bumblebees changed as visitors left significantly more often the native plants for I. glandulifera when its abundance increased. As a consequence of this “inconstancy”, bees deposited considerable quantities of alien pollen on native stigmas. Nevertheless, this interspecific pollen transfer did not decrease seed set in natives. Self-compatibility and high attractiveness of both native species probably alleviate the risk of altered pollinator services and reproductive success due to the invader in natural populations.


2006 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 489-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. DIXON ◽  
L. NALLEY ◽  
P. KOSINA ◽  
R. LA ROVERE ◽  
J. HELLIN ◽  
...  

During the past century wheat breeders have produced a large number of genetically improved wheat lines and varieties. This activity has led to widespread adoption of improved varieties, a steady increase in average wheat yields during the past 4–5 decades and major contributions to food security and poverty reduction. The rate of generation and adoption of improved varieties, and therefore the time lag from varietal release to widespread use, varies across regions. The remarkable success of wheat improvement hinges on the decisions of millions of farmers to adopt, or replace older wheat varieties with superior material. The present paper summarizes studies on the determinants of adoption. Because adoption is a necessary but not sufficient condition for economic impact, the present paper synthesizes key assessments of impact from different farming systems in developing countries.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4496 (1) ◽  
pp. 562 ◽  
Author(s):  
GERUSA PAULI KIST STEFFEN ◽  
RICARDO BEMFICA STEFFEN ◽  
MARIE LUISE CAROLINA BARTZ ◽  
SAMUEL WOOSTER JAMES ◽  
RODRIGO JOSEMAR SEMINOTTI JACQUES ◽  
...  

The knowledge regarding earthworm species richness in subtropical Brazil is limited, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), where only a few sites have been sampled. In this study we assessed earthworm richness in different ecosystems of RS, prioritizing un-sampled regions. Fifteen ecosystems, including native vegetation and other ecosystems with variable levels of disturbance were sampled in 30 counties in RS, totaling 77 sampling points, mainly in the Pampa biome. Qualitative sampling was performed by handsorting soil monoliths and fixing the earthworms in 4% formalin solution. Species identification was based on morphological characters, and species richness and Shannon (H) and McIntosh (U) diversity indices were calculated for each ecosystem. Twenty-one earthworm species were identified, belonging to seven families: Glossoscolecidae (8), Rhinodrilidae (2), Ocnerodrilidae (4), Megascolecidae (4), Acanthodrilidae (1), Lumbricidae (1) and Criodrilidae (1). From these, ten are new species belonging to the genera: Glossoscolex (6), Fimoscolex (1), Kerriona (1), Eukerria (1), and one aquatic species of the Criodrilidae family, belonging to a new genus. Most of the native species (Urobenus brasiliensis, Fimoscolex n.sp.1 and the Glossoscolex spp.) predominated in ecosystems little altered by human activity, while exotic (Amynthas gracilis, Amynthas rodericensis, Metaphire californica, Aporrectodea trapezoides) and peregrine species (Pontoscolex corethrurus) predominated in areas with more human disturbance. Native ecosystems with lower disturbance, particularly forests and native pastures had higher diversity than disturbed sites. This is the first record of A. rodericencis for Brazil and most sites represent new collection records for the known species in RS.


Author(s):  
Jim Glassman

Thailand presents a vexingly ‘hybrid’ image of both success and failure. A lay reader of journalistic and academic literature on Thai development could readily be excused for concurring with the opinion of renowned Thai scholar David Wilson, who long ago insisted ‘What damn good is this country—you can’t compare it to anything!’ (Anderson 1978: 193). Indeed, so contradictory are the varying images of the country and the events taking place within it that it often seems Thailand can’t even be compared to itself. This sense of identity crisis has only been heightened by the economic crisis that began in 1996. What had been one of Asia’s miracle economies led the region into bust, leaving many analysts gasping for air. Thus, as the twenty-first century begins, and we look back on the events of the past century, there is a sense of urgency and contentiousness surrounding a very basic question that one might have already expected to be answered: what exactly is this multifaceted and volatile phenomenon called ‘development’ in Thailand, and why does it generate such diverse evaluations? To be sure, some of the contention is due to non-negotiable differences in political perspectives. Yet even granting this, there seems to be less agreement about how to assess development in Thailand than development in many other places. For example, few South Korea scholars, of whatever persuasion, disagree that the country exhibited remarkable and sustained economic growth in recent decades, that this has at least laid the foundations for significant improvements in overall standards of living for most of the population, or that in spite of the crisis the Korean political economy still has substantial potential for further development. Nor, for that matter, do many people disagree that the development process in South Korea was driven forward by an authoritarian state and that issues such as social justice and environmental sustainability must still be addressed. In contrast, interpreters of Thailand’s development experience seem to disagree about such fundamental issues as the importance of state involvement in the process, the degree of well-being which it has bequeathed to the general population, and the future prospects of development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7586
Author(s):  
Andrea Parra-Saldívar ◽  
Sebastián Abades ◽  
Juan L. Celis-Diez ◽  
Stefan Gelcich

Urbanization has impacted biodiversity and ecosystems at a global scale. At the same time, it has been recognized as a driver of the physical and emotional gap between humans and nature. The lack of direct contact with nature can have a negative impact on several aspects of human well-being and change knowledge and attitudes of people towards the environment. However, this phenomenon is still poorly understood in megacities outside developed countries. Here, we explore the relationship between ecological knowledge and self-reported well-being in an important urban park in Santiago, Chile. We conducted semi-structured surveys of park users to explore their beliefs, preferences, ecological knowledge of plants and birds, and self-reported well-being. Citizens associated urban parks mainly with “nature,” and particularly with the presence of trees and plants. Trees were recognized as the most relevant elements of urban parks; in turn, birds were ranked as the less relevant. Regarding formal ecological knowledge, respondents correctly identified an average of 2.01 plants and 2.44 birds out of a total of 10 for each taxon, and exotic species were more likely to be recognized. Park users also reported high scores for self-reported well-being. Interestingly, variance of self-reported well-being scores tended to increase at low levels of ecological knowledge of trees, but no significant relationship was detected with knowledge of birds, nor native species. Ecological knowledge of trees was positively related to self-reported well-being. Results suggest that parks can positively contribute to bring people closer to nature in middle-income countries. Improving ecological knowledge can be critical to restore the relationship between humans and nature in megacities.


2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Williams ◽  
Eleanor M. Collins ◽  
Mick Blackman ◽  
Clare Blackman ◽  
Jackie McLeod ◽  
...  

Introduced grasses, such as buffel, alter the dynamics of grassy ecosystems by replacing native species and influencing recruitment. Several different smoke-derived chemicals are separately responsible for the promotion and inhibition of germination of various plant species. We tested whether smoke derived from the introduced buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) produced the same density of germination as provided by smoke derived from a native spinifex grass (Triodia brizoides). Smoke from both spinifex and buffel grass significantly enhanced the germination of a native lemon grass (Cymbopogon obtectus) in comparison to untreated seed, reflecting the significant role of fire in woodlands across northern Australia. This is the first record of smoke-promoted germination in a species of Cymbopogon. However, smoke from the exotic buffel grass provided the same level of germination as that from the native spinifex, suggesting similarity in smoke chemicals involved. Further research is required to test the effect of buffel smoke on the germination of other species and whether exotics such as buffel grass provide the same temperature profile in the topsoil as does spinifex, and therefore equivalent germination cues to heat-shock responsive native plants.


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