scholarly journals Alien woody plants are more versatile than native, but both share similar therapeutic redundancy in South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260390
Author(s):  
Kowiyou Yessoufou ◽  
Annie Estelle Ambani ◽  
Hosam O. Elansary ◽  
Orou G. Gaoue
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Medicinal Flora

Understanding why alien plant species are incorporated into the medicinal flora in several local communities is central to invasion biology and ethnobiology. Theories suggest that alien plants are incorporated in local pharmacopoeias because they are more versatile or contribute unique secondary chemistry which make them less therapeutically redundant, or simply because they are locally more abundant than native species. However, a lack of a comprehensive test of these hypotheses limits our understanding of the dynamics of plants knowledge, use and potential implications for invasion. Here, we tested the predictions of several of these hypotheses using a unique dataset on the woody medicinal flora of southern Africa. We found that the size of a plant family predicts the number of medicinal plants in that family, a support for the non-random hypothesis of medicinal plant selection. However, we found no support for the diversification hypothesis: i) both alien and native plants were used in the treatment of similar diseases; ii) significantly more native species than alien contribute to disease treatments particularly of parasitic infections and obstetric-gynecological diseases, and iii) alien and native species share similar therapeutic redundancy. However, we found support for the versatility hypothesis, i.e., alien plants were more versatile than natives. These findings imply that, although alien plant species are not therapeutically unique, they do provide more uses than native plants (versatility), thus suggesting that they may not have been introduced primarily for therapeutic reasons. We call for similar studies to be carried out on alien herbaceous plants for a broader understanding of the integration of alien plants into the pharmacopoeias of the receiving communities.

Does the invasion of Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra in parkland influence the diversity of birds?

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Grzędzicka ◽  
Katarzyna Kowalik ◽  
Barbara Bacler-Żbikowska
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Coal Industry ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Northern Red Oak ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant

AbstractInvasive plants are non-native, but in most cases naturalised, species that have successfully spread outside of their native range. Aliens invaded all habitats, are competing with native plants, thus, after the direct destruction of habitats, invasions are recognised as the second largest danger for biodiversity. Northern Red Oak is one of the most common invasive tree species dispersed primarily by birds, but new studies have shown that it is also spread continuously in a forest stand. The main aim of our research was to check how strong is the invasion of Northern Red Oak in Silesia Park, where it was introduced together with other alien plant species, and how this invasion interacts with bird diversity. Silesia Park was created 65 years ago on the surface largely ravaged by coal industry. Because many studies indicate birds as vectors of alien plants invasion, we examined the bird fauna in a described area, looking for species that can contribute to spreading oaks. Research showed the diversity of 50 bird species. Surface with a presence of Northern Red Oak was characterised by greater participation of alien plant species than the patch of natural forest, which existed there long before the park creation. The greatest bird diversity was found in the most natural part of Silesia Park, and the lowest in the area of invasion, especially in the case of species classified as “forest birds”. The presence of alien plants increased number of “non-forest” birds, mostly synanthropic species. We also found that Northern Red Oak spreads by spontaneous seed dispersal.

scholarly journals Major environmental factors and traits of invasive alien plants determine their spatial distribution: a case study in Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minwoo Oh ◽  
Yoonjeong Heo ◽  
Eun Ju Lee ◽  
Hyohyemi Lee
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Cold Spots

Abstract Background As trade increases, the influx of various alien species and their spread to new regions are prevalent, making them a general problem globally. Anthropogenic activities and climate change have led to alien species becoming distributed beyond their native range. As a result, alien species can be easily found anywhere, with the density of individuals varying across locations. The prevalent distribution of alien species adversely affects invaded ecosystems; thus, strategic management plans must be established to control them effectively. To this end, this study evaluated hotspots and cold-spots in the degree of distribution of invasive alien plant species, and major environmental factors related to hot spots were identified. We analyzed 10,287 distribution points of 126 species of alien plant species collected through a national survey of alien species using the hierarchical model of species communities (HMSC) framework. Results The explanatory and fourfold cross-validation predictive power of the model were 0.91 and 0.75 as area under the curve (AUC) values, respectively. Hotspots of invasive plants were found in the Seoul metropolitan area, Daegu metropolitan city, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, southwest shore, and Jeju Island. Hotspots were generally found where the highest maximum summer temperature, winter precipitation, and road density were observed. In contrast, seasonality in temperature, annual temperature range, precipitation during summer, and distance to rivers and the sea were negatively correlated to hotspots. The model showed that functional traits accounted for 55% of the variance explained by environmental factors. Species with a higher specific leaf area were found where temperature seasonality was low. Taller species were associated with a larger annual temperature range. Heavier seed mass was associated with a maximum summer temperature > 29 °C. Conclusions This study showed that hotspots contained 2.1 times more alien plants on average than cold-spots. Hotspots of invasive plants tended to appear under less stressful climate conditions, such as low fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. In addition, disturbance by anthropogenic factors and water flow positively affected hotspots. These results were consistent with previous reports on the ruderal and competitive strategies of invasive plants, not the stress-tolerant strategy. Our results supported that the functional traits of alien plants are closely related to the ecological strategies of plants by shaping the response of species to various environmental filters. Therefore, to control alien plants effectively, the occurrence of disturbed sites where alien plants can grow in large quantities should be minimized, and the waterfront of rivers must be managed.

scholarly journals Assessment of Useful Alien Plant Species Cultivated and Managed in Rural Home Gardens of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Scientifica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Sebua Silas Semenya ◽  
Alfred Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Home Gardens ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Use Categories

Several communities in developing countries derive substantial part of their livelihood needs from alien plants cultivated and managed in home gardens. The aim of this study was to assess useful alien plant species cultivated and managed in home gardens of Limpopo province in South Africa. Semistructured interviews, personal observation, and guided walks with 300 participants between January 2015 and December 2016 were employed to obtain data on names of alien plants cultivated in home gardens and their use categories. A total of 101 plant species belonging to 44 families were recorded from the study area. More than half of the species (66.3%) belonged to 14 families, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, Anacardiaceae, Poaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, and Myrtaceae. Twenty-six use categories of alien plants were identified in this study with the majority of species (75.2%) used for medicinal purposes, followed by ornamental (33.7%), edible fruits (24.8%), spices (16.8%), vegetables (16.8%), shade (11.9%), beverages (10.9%), construction materials (8.9%), firewood (7.9%), and hedge (7.9%). These findings corroborate the existing body of knowledge emphasizing the importance of plants grown and managed in home gardens to the livelihood needs of local communities.

scholarly journals Introduction bias: Cultivated alien plant species germinate faster and more abundantly than native species in Switzerland

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Chrobock ◽  
Anne Kempel ◽  
Markus Fischer ◽  
Mark van Kleunen
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant

scholarly journals Drivers of the relative richness of naturalized and invasive plant species on Earth

AoB Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz Essl ◽  
Wayne Dawson ◽  
Holger Kreft ◽  
Jan Pergl ◽  
Petr Pyšek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Variation Partitioning ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant

Abstract Biological invasions are a defining feature of the Anthropocene, but the factors that determine the spatially uneven distribution of alien plant species are still poorly understood. Here, we present the first global analysis of the effects of biogeographic factors, the physical environment and socio-economy on the richness of naturalized and invasive alien plants. We used generalized linear mixed-effects models and variation partitioning to disentangle the relative importance of individual factors, and, more broadly, of biogeography, physical environment and socio-economy. As measures of the magnitude of permanent anthropogenic additions to the regional species pool and of species with negative environmental impacts, we calculated the relative richness of naturalized (= RRN) and invasive (= RRI) alien plant species numbers adjusted for the number of native species in 838 terrestrial regions. Socio-economic factors (per-capita gross domestic product (GDP), population density, proportion of agricultural land) were more important in explaining RRI (~50 % of the explained variation) than RRN (~40 %). Warm-temperate and (sub)tropical regions have higher RRN than tropical or cooler regions. We found that socio-economic pressures are more relevant for invasive than for naturalized species richness. The expectation that the southern hemisphere is more invaded than the northern hemisphere was confirmed only for RRN on islands, but not for mainland regions nor for RRI. On average, islands have ~6-fold RRN, and >3-fold RRI compared to mainland regions. Eighty-two islands (=26 % of all islands) harbour more naturalized alien than native plants. Our findings challenge the widely held expectation that socio-economic pressures are more relevant for plant naturalization than for invasive plants. To meet international biodiversity targets and halt the detrimental consequences of plant invasions, it is essential to disrupt the connection between socio-economic development and plant invasions by improving pathway management, early detection and rapid response.

scholarly journals New alien plant species recorded in the southern regions of Latvia / Pietiniuose Latvijos rajonuose aptiktos naujos svetimžemės augalų rūšys

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zigmantas Gudžinskas ◽  
Lukas Petrulaitis
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
The South ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
Identification Of Species ◽  
Established Species

Abstract Alien plants are one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing components of flora. Many intentionally introduced plants, which formerly were in cultivation only, now are increasingly found escaped and occur in anthropogenic or seminatural habitats. During field investigations in the southern districts of Latvia in 2014-2016, six new alien plant species were recorded: Allium nutans, Hylotelephium spectabile, Solidago ×niederederi, Symphyotrichum dumosum, S. lanceolatum and S. novae-angliae. To date, four species, Allium nutans, Hylotelephium spectabile, Symphyotrichum dumosum and S. novae-angliae, occur as casual aliens in Latvia. Solidago ×niederederi should be ascribed to the group of established species, whereas Symphyotrichum lanceolatum has naturalized and is potentially invasive. Notes on morphology and identification of species as well as characteristics of the recorded populations are discussed. A note on 20 other alien plant species recorded in wastelands, abandoned meadows and unused arable fields in the south-western part of Daugavpils city is also provided.

Alien species Impatiens parviflora invasion into forest communities of Lithuania

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasa Dobravolskaitė
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Impatiens Parviflora ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Abstract Dobravolskaitė R., 2012: Alien species Impatiens parviflora invasion into forest communities of Lithuania [Svetimžemės rūšies Impatiens parviflora invazija į Lietuvos miškų bendrijas]. - Bot. Lith., 18(1): 3-12. Alien plants threaten native communities by altering their species composition and reducing native biodiversity. Forests are considered to be relatively stable ecosystems and resistant to plant invasions. Impatiens parviflora DC. is one of the most intensively spreading alien plant species in the forests of Lithuania. Phenotypic variations among I. parviflora populations in three different habitat types (with different species of dominant tree and the coverage of the first tree layer) in the environs of Vilnius (South East Lithuania) were analysed. The results of the investigation enabled to evaluate alien plant species I. parviflora invasion into different forest communities and estimate relationships between plants of forest communities and I. parviflora. The study has shown that this invasive species is spreading not only in disturbed areas, but also in places where other species do not grow due to the lack of the light. However, the number of individuals is increasing in proportion while the coverage of trees and shrubs is decreasing. The rise of the level of illumination increases not only the number of individuals in the populations, but also the above-ground biomass of I. parviflora: plants are larger, produce more side shoots. The correlation between the coverage of I. parviflora and native species statistically is significantly negative (r = -0.78) in the disturbed places.

Managing Widespread, Alien Plant Species to Ensure Biodiversity Conservation: A Case Study Using an 11-Step Planning Process

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul O. Downey
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Plant Management ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Management Actions

AbstractOne of the greatest threats to biodiversity is the invasion of ecological communities by alien plants. Management strategies for alien plants, however, rarely focus on specific biodiversity-conservation outcomes, and recovery actions rarely address the threat on a landscape scale. There are many reasons for these failures, including (1) limited knowledge of the native species at risk, (2) a disconnect between policy and management, (3) a disconnect between the fields of weed science and biodiversity conservation, (4) a dearth of data from management actions (for both threat abatement and recovery), and (5) the broadly held assumption that control of alien plants will by itself lead to a positive biodiversity response is often incorrect. Thus, alien plant management strategies with a conservation aim need to include planning processes and assessment measures to ensure that the aim is achieved. Here, I outline an example of the planning steps needed to ensure that the management of widespread alien plant species achieves the greatest possible conservation outcome, using the alien plant program for bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifena) as a case study. In addition, I present an overview of the challenges faced and solutions developed during the transition from planning to management, along with some initial data to demonstrate the success and value of this investment in both planning and implementation during the past decade. Interim results from a series of sites have highlighted the success of the program and led to the program being acknowledged as an important ecological restoration project in Australasia. This success is highly dependent on extensive stakeholder involvement (across land tenures), dedicated coordination, and leadership. The planning process is now being adopted for other alien plants in Australia and can be modified to abate the threat from other alien organisms or other threats to biodiversity because the principles of each step are fundamentally similar.

scholarly journals Alien Plants are Less Palatable to Pest Herbivores than Native Plants: Evidence from Cafeteria Experiments in Search of Suitable Plant Species to Restore Degraded Ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24
Author(s):  
Mouldi Gamoun ◽  
Mounir Louhaichi
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
General Tendency ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Nowadays, the ecology and evolutionary potential of alien species are the subjects of several ecological studies. The goal of this study was to compare the feeding preference of Arion ater on seedlings and leaves of alien and native plant species. Seedlings of three native species and one alien species were offered to slugs individually and in combination. Afterward, leaf discs from the native and alien species collected from the same source site of slug’s habitat were offered individually and in combination for slugs. When the new plant emerges, it constitutes a generous source of potential food and slugs would even feed on seedlings, which are not particularly palatable. Nonetheless, when given a choice, slug often preferentially feeds on some food items while ignoring others. Alien plants are more resistant to herbivory than native plants. There is a general tendency for alien species to be less palatable than native species. In general, slugs may eat a wide range of seedlings that are much more attractive than mature plants of the same species. Therefore, the native herbivores were found to attack native plants and promoted alien plants. Consequently, highly unacceptable alien species such as Eucalyptus globulus may play an important role in the restoration process.

scholarly journals Invasive alien plant species in Romania of European Union concern

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-44
Author(s):  
Culiţă Sîrbu ◽  
Paulina Anastasiu ◽  
Mihaela Urziceanu ◽  
Petronela Camen-Comănescu ◽  
Ioana-Minodora Sîrbu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Alien Plant Species ◽  
Myriophyllum Aquaticum ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
The Impact

Abstract An assessement of the alien plants of Romania was conducted which considered the requirements of Regulation 1143/2014 of the European Union (EU). Thus, available data about the presence, invasiveness, distribution, pathways of introduction and their known impact in the territory of Romania were analysed. We found that of 36 plant species of EU concern, four are already established in Romania and widespread, at least locally or regionally: Ailanthus altissima, Asclepias syriaca, Elodea nuttallii and Impatiens glandulifera. For Humulus scandens there are some reports, but its presence and status require confirmation. Heracleum sosnowskyi and Ludwigia peploides are confirmed for only one location for each species. The presence of Cabomba caroliniana and Myriophyllum aquaticum in Romania is not confirmed. Most of the records are intentional introductions for ornamental purposes. Regarding their invasiveness, given the geographical origin and history of invasion in warmer climate regions (e.g., tropical, subtropical), many of the species listed as being of EU concern do not currently constitute a real threat to Romania, for the time being, but may do in a climate change scenario for the 2070s. Data about the impact of alien plant species and their management in Romania are scattered or completely missing. Coordinated institutional efforts are needed to increase the efficiency of the management of alien species at national and local level. These efforts should include: enhancing the legislation and the capacity of public institutions to manage invasive species, increasing the research interest in the science of this topic and promoting real measures to mitigate, control and remove alien plants.

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