The presence of invasive plant species poses a substantial ecological impact,thus comprehensive evaluation of their potential range and risk under the influence of climate change is necessary.This study uses maximum e...The presence of invasive plant species poses a substantial ecological impact,thus comprehensive evaluation of their potential range and risk under the influence of climate change is necessary.This study uses maximum entropy(MaxEnt)modeling to forecast the likelihood of Leucaena leucocephala(Lam.)de Wit invasion in Saudi Arabia under present and future climate change scenarios.Utilizing the MaxEnt modeling,we integrated climatic and soil data to predict habitat suitability for the invasive species.We conducted a detailed analysis of the distribution patterns of the species,using climate variables and ecological factors.We focused on the important influence of temperature seasonality,temperature annual range,and precipitation seasonality.The distribution modeling used robust measures of area under the curve(AUC)and receiver-operator characteristic(ROC)curves,to map the invasion extent,which has a high level of accuracy in identifying appropriate habitats.The complex interaction that influenced the invasion of L.leucocephala was highlighted by the environmental parameters using Jackknife test.Presently,the actual geographic area where L.leucocephala was found in Saudi Arabia was considerably smaller than the theoretical maximum range,suggesting that it had the capacity to expand further.The MaxEnt model exhibited excellent prediction accuracy and produced reliable results based on the data from the ROC curve.Precipitation and temperature were the primary factors influencing the potential distribution of L.leucocephala.Currently,an estimated area of 216,342 km^(2)in Saudi Arabia was at a high probability of invasion by L.leucocephala.We investigated the potential for increased invasion hazards in the future due to climate change scenarios(Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSPs)245 and 585).The analysis of key climatic variables,including temperature seasonality and annual range,along with soil properties such as clay composition and nitrogen content,unveiled their substantial influence on the distribution dynamic of L.leucocephala.Our findings indicated a significant expansion of high risk zones.High-risk zones for L.leucocephala invasion in the current climate conditions had notable expansions projected under future climate scenarios,particularly evident in southern Makkah,Al Bahah,Madina,and Asir areas.The results,backed by thorough spatial studies,emphasize the need to reduce the possible ecological impacts of climate change on the spread of L.leucocephala.Moreover,the study provides valuable strategic insights for the management of invasion,highlighting the intricate relationship between climate change,habitat appropriateness,and the risks associated with invasive species.Proactive techniques are suggested to avoid and manage the spread of L.leucocephala,considering its high potential for future spread.This study enhances the overall comprehension of the dynamics of invasive species by combining modeling techniques with ecological knowledge.It also provides valuable information for decision-making to implement efficient conservation and management strategies in response to changing environmental conditions.展开更多
Invasive alien species(IAS) are species whose introduction to areas outside of their native range cause harm to economics, biodiversity, and the environment. Understanding the genetic basis of invasiveness is critical...Invasive alien species(IAS) are species whose introduction to areas outside of their native range cause harm to economics, biodiversity, and the environment. Understanding the genetic basis of invasiveness is critical for preventing invasion by an alien species and managing IAS with eco-friendly control methods. In addition, uncovering the genomic features of IAS is essential for accurately predicting invasiveness. However, even though increasing efforts have been devoted to sequencing the genomes of IAS, there is still not an integrated genome database for the invasive biology community. Here, we first determined a list of invasive plants and animals by mining references and databases. Then, we retrieved the genomic and gene data of these IAS, and constructed a database, Invasion DB. Invasion DB encompasses 131 IAS genomes, 76 annotated IAS assemblies, and links these data to conventional functions such as searching for gene coding sequences and Pfam, KEGG, NR annotations, BLAST server, JBrowse, and downloads services. Next, we analyzed 19 invasivenessrelated gene families which confer invasiveness in insects. To study the roles of noncoding RNA in invasiveness, we also annotated 135 494 mi RNAs, 89 294 r RNAs, and 2 671 941 t RNAs from these IAS. In summary, Invasion DB is useful for studying the invasiveness at the genomic level, and thus helps to develop novel management strategies to control IAS.展开更多
Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying pot...Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying potentially invasive species and preventing their expansion are of critical importance in invasion ecology.Phylogenetic relatedness between invasive and native species has been used in predicting invasion success.Previous studies on the phylogenetic relatedness of plants at the transition from naturalization to invasion have shown mixed results,which may be because different methods were used in different studies.Here,I use the same method to analyze two comprehensive data sets from South Africa and China,using two phylogenetic metrics reflecting deep and shallow evolutionary histories,to address the question whether the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species distantly related to the native flora.My study suggests that the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species closely related to the native flora.The finding of my study is consistent with Darwin's preadaptation hypothesis.展开更多
Within the expanse of China’s coastline, the invasive alien cordgrass species Spartina alterniflora has caused profound nationwide damage and has emerged as a critical factor contributing to the degradation of mangro...Within the expanse of China’s coastline, the invasive alien cordgrass species Spartina alterniflora has caused profound nationwide damage and has emerged as a critical factor contributing to the degradation of mangrove wetlands, especially in the study area in Beihai, Guangxi. However, current treatments for S. alterniflora remain less effective and limited research focuses on the preliminary changes after artificial plantation. A comprehensive approach combining physical interventions with biological control measures has been employed to eradicate smooth cordgrass and facilitate the restoration of native mangrove wetlands. The study involved the periodic monitoring of the growth conditions of mangroves and the biodiversity of avian and benthic organisms, conducted at three to four-month intervals following the artificial plantation with one-year-old seedlings and propagules of native mangrove species Rhizophora stylosa. Results indicated that through the allometric equation, the above-ground biomass of planted seedlings had a ~20 g increase in average but the growth conditions were not significant over an eight-month period. High percentage of important avian species underlined the potential of the study site to serve as a worthwhile habitat and notable seasonal variations were observed in the biodiversity of bird species. Biodiversity indices of bird and benthos species also followed a similar fluctuation and reached a peak in April 2023. This research underscores the initial lack of distinct improvements during the early stages of the ecological restoration project, thorough maintenance, long-term monitoring, holistic considerations on a larger scale would be imperative for ongoing projects in the future.展开更多
Based on the biological characteristics of Solenopsis invicta and the structural characteristics of its ant nest,a fast and efficient closed treatment device was developed.Compared with the simple chemical treatment c...Based on the biological characteristics of Solenopsis invicta and the structural characteristics of its ant nest,a fast and efficient closed treatment device was developed.Compared with the simple chemical treatment commonly used at present,the developed treatment device(the ant nest control cover)is a fast and efficient method to exterminate S.invicta in 7 d,featured by short course,quick results and good effect.展开更多
Bio-invasion has caused serious ecosystem damage and enormous economic losses in China,and it has been the greatest factor to island bio-diversity reduction.Xiamen,as an important seaport with a relatively high conser...Bio-invasion has caused serious ecosystem damage and enormous economic losses in China,and it has been the greatest factor to island bio-diversity reduction.Xiamen,as an important seaport with a relatively high conservation value,is particularly vulnerable to bio-invasion for its typical island ecosystem as well as frequent human-made disturbance.As a result of field surveys,literature review, and consultation with experts,a list of 67 alien plants identified as major invaders(12 species)and emerging invade...展开更多
The fall armyworm(FAW),Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith),is native to the Americas.It has rapidly invaded 47 African countries and 18 Asian countries since the first detection of invasion into Nigeria and Ghana in 2016...The fall armyworm(FAW),Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith),is native to the Americas.It has rapidly invaded 47 African countries and 18 Asian countries since the first detection of invasion into Nigeria and Ghana in 2016.It is regarded as a super pest based on its host range(at least 353 host plants),its inherent ability to survive in a wide range of habitats,its strong migration ability,high fecundity,rapid development of resistance to insecticides/viruses and its gluttonous characteristics.The inherently superior biological characteristics of FAW contribute to its invasiveness.Integrated pest management(IPM)of FAW has relied on multiple applications of monitoring and scouting,agricultural control,chemical pesticides,viral insecticides,sex attractants,bio-control agents(parasitoids,predators and entomopathogens)and botanicals.Knowledge gaps remain to be filled to:(1)understand the invasive mechanisms of S.frugiperda;(2)understand how to prevent its further spread and(3)provide better management strategies.This review summarizes the biological characters of FAW,their association with its invasiveness and IPM strategies,which may provide further insights for future management.展开更多
The whitefly Bemisia tabaci has risen to international prominence since the 1980s due to the rapid spread around the globe by the two species B and Q within this species complex.The invasion of B has often been associ...The whitefly Bemisia tabaci has risen to international prominence since the 1980s due to the rapid spread around the globe by the two species B and Q within this species complex.The invasion of B has often been associated with the displacement of indigenous whiteflies.As the genetic structure of B.tabaci is diverse,more case studies of the competitive relationships between B and indigenous species of the whitefly species complex will help to understand further the mechanisms underlying the invasion of B.We examined the competitive interactions between B and ZHJ2,a widely distributed indigenous whitefly in Asia,on host plants with differential levels of suitability to the two species in the laboratory,and also tested the effect of insecticide application on the competitive relationships.Three species of plants were tested including cotton,a plant showing similar levels of suitability to both species,squash,a plant showing higher suitability to B than to ZHJ2,and kidney bean,a plant showing higher suitability to ZHJ2 than to B.In the case of no insecticide application,B displaced ZHJ2 on cotton,squash,and kidney bean by the 6th,3rd and 10th generation,respectively.With the application of imidacloprid,the displacement of ZHJ2 by B on cotton occurred by the 5th generation.As the displacement progressed,the proportion of B females increased,and the proportion of ZHJ2 females decreased on cotton and squash.In contrast,on kidney bean the proportion of B females remained unchanged while that of ZHJ2 increased.These results show the strong capacity of the invasive B to displace ZHJ2,and indicate that host plants with differential levels of suitability to the two species may affect the speed but not the trend of displacement and insecticide application may accelerate the process of displacement.展开更多
A pilot-scale experiment of 20t/h for the treatment of ship's ballast water is reported in this paper. When the concentration of the dissolved OH. was 0.68 mg/L during the experiment, the rate of destroying bacteria,...A pilot-scale experiment of 20t/h for the treatment of ship's ballast water is reported in this paper. When the concentration of the dissolved OH. was 0.68 mg/L during the experiment, the rate of destroying bacteria, mono-algae, protozoan reached 100% within 2.67 s. The effect of hydroxyl radicals on biochemical processes was also studied. The attenuation rate of photosynthesis pigment was 100%. And the main reason for the cells' death was the strong destruction of the monose, amylose, protein, DNA and RNA in the cells. As an advanced oxidation method, the procedure can destroy invasive marine species when a ship is in the process of discharging its ballast water.展开更多
Predictive studies play a crucial role in the study of biological invasions of terrestrial plants under possible climate change scenarios.Invasive species are recognized for their ability to modify soil microbial comm...Predictive studies play a crucial role in the study of biological invasions of terrestrial plants under possible climate change scenarios.Invasive species are recognized for their ability to modify soil microbial communities and influence ecosystem dynamics.Here,we focused on six species of allelopathic flowering plants-Ailanthus altissima,Casuarina equisetifolia,Centaurea stoebe ssp.micranthos,Dioscorea bulbifera,Lantana camara,and Schinus terebinthifolia-Xhat are invasive in North America and examined their potential to spread further during projected climate change.We used Species Distribution Models(SDMs)to predict future suitable areas for these species in North America under several proposed future climate models.ENMEval and Maxent were used to develop SDMs,estimate current distributions,and predict future areas of suitable climate for each species.Areas with the greatest predicted suitable climate in the future include the northeastern and the coastal northwestern regions of North America.Range size estimations demonstrate the possibility of extreme range loss for these invasives in the southeastern United States,while new areas may become suitable in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.These findings show an overall northward shift of suitable climate during the next few decades,given projected changes in temperature and precipitation.Our results can be utilized to analyze potential shifts in the distribution of these invasive species and may aid in the development of conservation and management plans to target and control dissemination in areas at higher risk for potential future invasion by these allelopathic species.展开更多
Exotic plant invasion is one of the major causes of species extinction.In many contexts,mountainous forests are the last refuge for native species.There are several inventory studies conducted in mountainous and tropi...Exotic plant invasion is one of the major causes of species extinction.In many contexts,mountainous forests are the last refuge for native species.There are several inventory studies conducted in mountainous and tropical forests in Indonesia.However,there are no studies yet on the factors that explain the abundance and richness of surveyed naturalized alien species.This study investigated whether the number of individuals and abundanceweighted species richness(AWR) of naturalized alien plant species in the hiking-trail of Mount GedePangrango National Park(MGPNP) forest area correlated with leaf traits(specific leaf area(SLA) and leaf thickness) and environmental factors(elevation,slope,and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)).We showed that leaf thickness and habitat elevation explained the AWR variations of naturalized alien species.We did not detect any important effect of leaf traits and environmental factors on the number of individuals per exotic species per plot.The influence of leaf thickness and habitat elevation indicates the important role of both biotic and abiotic factors on exotic species to develop a high species richness and become an invasive species in the tropical mountain forest ecosystem.展开更多
[Objective] The purpose was to introduce a preparation method for paraffin section of Bemisia tabaci, so as to lay the foundation for the studies on changes of organizational structure of B. tabaci. [ Method] The tech...[Objective] The purpose was to introduce a preparation method for paraffin section of Bemisia tabaci, so as to lay the foundation for the studies on changes of organizational structure of B. tabaci. [ Method] The technique of paraffin section and the method of H-E staining were adopted to study the organizational structure of B. tabaci. The slices were examined and photographed under fluorescence microscope. [ Result] The coloring of H-E staining cells was good. Under 400 x conditions, the fat body, compound eyes, nucleus and muscle of B. tabaci were clear. [ Conclusion] The production method for paraffin section of B. tabaci was reliable, and the quality of slices was high.展开更多
Invasive plant species may significantly alter plant species community composition and structure thereby negatively impacting on ecosystem services. Their impacts on plant communities may be both direct and indirect. ...Invasive plant species may significantly alter plant species community composition and structure thereby negatively impacting on ecosystem services. Their impacts on plant communities may be both direct and indirect. The direct effects may include a reduction in the abundance and diversity of palatable plant species that constitute important forage for livestock, wildlife, and medicines for the local communities. Declines in ecosystem resilience are of the notable indirect effects of invasive species. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of a plant species, copper leaf (<em>Acalypha fruticosa</em>) on floral diversity and abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County in Kenya. The study was guided by three questions: What is the plant composition in terms of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees in the study area? Are there any variations in plant abundance between the two sites (sites with and without <em>Acalypha fruticosa</em>)? Are there variations in plant species diversity between the two study sites? Two sites (one with <em>A. fruticosa</em> and another two without this invasive species) were selected within the Chemeron Research Centre. Two belt transects measuring 100 m × 20 m on each site were laid parallel to each other. Plant samples were collected from five 1 m × 1 m quadrats that were laid at intervals of 20 m. The plant species or specimens were identified to the species level using available taxonomic keys. Various indices including Shannon-Wiener (<em>H</em>’), Evenness Index, Richness Index and Simpson’s Index of Diversity Index (SDI) were calculated. All the diversity, richness and evenness indices were considerably higher in the site without <em>A. fruticosa</em> compared to that where this invasive species was present. Higher <em>H’</em> (3.14 to 3.21) and SDI (0.93 to 0.94) values were noted in sites without the invasive species compared to <em>H</em>’ (2.11 to 2.20) and SDI (0.77 to 0.85) in sites with <em>A. fruticosa</em> present. Out of the 47 plant species identified, 39 and 20 of them occurred in the site without and with <em>A. fruticosa</em>, respectively. Further, there were more grasses (<em>Aristida keniensis</em>, <em>Cynodon dactylon</em>, <em>Brachiaria lucrantha</em>, <em>Eragrostis racemosa</em>, and <em>Enteropogon macrostachyus</em>) in the site without <em>A. fruticosa</em> compared to that with the invasive plant. The plants were also more evenly distributed in the site without <em>A. fruticosa</em> compared to that where the invasive plant was present. We conclude that <em>A. fruticosa</em> has a significant effect on plant species abundance and diversity as well as distribution. Its removal created a favourable environment for the growth of a variety of grasses. We therefore recommend to the agro-pastoralists and rangeland managers that <em>A. fruticosa</em> be mechanically removed by uprooting from grazing lands so as to increase forage availability and quality in the rangelands of South-Baringo.展开更多
Invasive species have been the focus of ecologists due to their undesired impacts on the environment.The extent and rapid increase in invasive plant species is recognized as a natural cause of global-biodiversity loss...Invasive species have been the focus of ecologists due to their undesired impacts on the environment.The extent and rapid increase in invasive plant species is recognized as a natural cause of global-biodiversity loss and degrading ecosystem services.Biological invasions can affect ecosystems across a wide spectrum of bioclimatic conditions.Understanding the impact of climate change on species invasion is crucial for sustainable biodiversity conservation.In this study,the possibility of mapping the distribution of invasive Prosopis juliflora(Swartz)DC.was shown using present background data in Khuzestan Province,Iran.After removing the spatial bias of background data by creating weighted sampling bias grids for the occurrence dataset,we applied six modelling algorithms(generalized additive model(GAM),classification tree analysis(CTA),random forest(RF),multivariate adaptive regression splines(MARS),maximum entropy(Max Ent)and ensemble model)to predict invasion distribution of the species under current and future climate conditions for both optimistic(RCP2.6)and pessimistic(RCP8.5)scenarios for the years 2050 and 2070,respectively.Predictor variables including weighted mean of CHELSA(climatologies at high resolution for the Earth’s land surface areas)-bioclimatic variables and geostatistical-based bioclimatic variables(1979–2020),physiographic variables extracted from shuttle radar topography mission(SRTM)and some human factors were used in modelling process.To avoid causing a biased selection of predictors or model coefficients,we resolved the spatial autocorrelation of presence points and multi-collinearity of the predictors.As in a conventional receiver operating characteristic(ROC),the area under curve(AUC)is calculated using presence and absence observations to measure the probability and the two error components are weighted equally.All models were evaluated using partial ROC at different thresholds and other statistical indices derived from confusion matrix.Sensitivity analysis showed that mean diurnal range(Bio2)and annual precipitation(Bio12)explained more than 50% of the changes in the invasion distribution and played a pivotal role in mapping habitat suitability of P.juliflora.At all thresholds,the ensemble model showed a significant difference in comparison with single model.However,Max Ent and RF outperformed the others models.Under climate change scenarios,it is predicted that suitable areas for this invasive species will increase in Khuzestan Province,and increasing climatically suitable areas for the species in future will facilitate its future distribution.These findings can support the conservation planning and management efforts in ecological engineering and be used in formulating preventive measures.展开更多
The Atlantic Forest is one of the largest and most biodiverse rainforests of South America but anthropogenic activities are drastically changing these landscapes.The invasion of alien or exotic species is one of the g...The Atlantic Forest is one of the largest and most biodiverse rainforests of South America but anthropogenic activities are drastically changing these landscapes.The invasion of alien or exotic species is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.There are few studies of invasive species in tropical Brazilian ecosystems.This research examines growth and ecological aspects of Syzygium cumini and Clitoria fairchildiana,two invasive tree species in the Pedra Branca State Park,an Atlantic Forest remnant in southeastern Brazil.Both species were successfully dated,indicating an average age of 58 and 31 years,respectively.A positive relationship between growth and precipitation of the previous growing season suggests an ecological adaptive strategy,which could be facilitating their invasion into the environment.Cumulative growth diameter curves indicate slow and fast growth rates for S.cumini and C.fairchildiana,respectively.Growth release episodes detected in the tree rings indicate increased anthropogenic disturbances over the last 50 years.展开更多
Invasive alien plant species have threatened the integrity of ecosystems and threatened biological integrity throughout the world. In the Nyika National Park, a number of alien invasive plant species have been reporte...Invasive alien plant species have threatened the integrity of ecosystems and threatened biological integrity throughout the world. In the Nyika National Park, a number of alien invasive plant species have been reported. These invasive alien plants are reported to be very difficult that have caused adverse ecological, economic and social impact. The main objective of this study is to assess the environmental impact of plant invasive alien species in Nyika National Park in order to ascertain means of addressing the possible effects on the biodiversity. This study adopted an exploratory stance in order to answer <span>the hypotheses where purposive and simple random sampling was used. P</span>ur<span>posive sampling was only used to the staff of Nyika while simple random s</span>ampling was used to collect data from households surrounding Nyika National Park. The results revealed that invasive alien plant species have some ecological impacts of on the biodiversity of the Nyika National Park like change in physical habitats such as loss of native habitats, alteration of ground water regime, drying of rivers, loss of native species and alteration of biomass. The study would therefore be important to policy makers in guiding and devel<span>opment of policies and guidelines governing eradication of invasive alien pl</span>ant species. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) can form partnership with various stakeholders with a clearly stated intention of developing a relationship, based on collaboration to enhance the control of invading alien plant species and the best management practices.展开更多
Spartina alterniflora is one of exotic plants along the coastal region in China. It was introduced as an important engineering approach to ecological restoration in the later 1970 s. However, owing to its good adaptab...Spartina alterniflora is one of exotic plants along the coastal region in China. It was introduced as an important engineering approach to ecological restoration in the later 1970 s. However, owing to its good adaptability and strong reproductive capacity, the introduced species is explosively spreading along the coastal region quickly and resulting in a significant impact on the health and safety of coastal wetland ecosystems. It is imperative to quantify the spatial extent and the rate of S. alterniflora sprawl in order to assess its ecological damages and economic impacts. Remote sensing techniques have been used to address these challenges but large unsuccessful due to mixed spectral properties. In this study, a hybrid method was proposed for S. alterniflora detection using medium resolution remote sensing images by integrating both spatial and spectral features of S. alterniflora. The hybrid method consists of two phases:(1) delineation of intertidal zone as the potential area of S. alterniflora distribution and(2) extraction of S. alterniflora fraction distribution with a mixture pixel analysis. The proposed method was tested at the Xiangshan Bay on the east coastal region of Zhejiang Province, China, and mapped the spatial extent of S. alterniflora with Landsat datasets in the 2003, 2009 and 2014. The results showed that, the S. alterniflora has grown exponentially over past 10 years. In 2003, the total area of S. alterniflora was about 590 hm2, but quickly reached to 1 745 hm2 in 2009, and 5 715 hm2 in 2014. With a rate of approximately 10-folds growth within a decade, the invasive species almost occupied all muddy beaches to become the most dominant coastal salt vegetation in this region. It is believed that the strong biological reproductive capacity was the primary reason for such quick spread and at the same time human reclamation activities were also believed to have facilitated the environmental conditions for S. alterniflora sprawl.展开更多
Invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. Invasive species can harm both the natur...Invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. Invasive species can harm both the natural resources in an ecosystem as well as threaten human use of these resources. Walhalla is an urban wooded ravine area (10 acre area) in the middle of Columbus, Ohio. Many residents are actually actively planting new invasive species in a misguided attempt to prevent erosion on their property. Other properties are suffering from not-so-benign neglect, as the existing trees are slowly succumbing to insect infestation and rot (because of moisture trapped by ivy, etc.) and no new saplings are emerging to replace them (because of the thick ground cover). In both of these instances, it’s proving to be difficult to convince the landowners that they’re causing more harm than good—the local soil & water conservation people are all too eager to reinforce the notion that the ground must be covered with a blanket of impenetrable invasive species in order to prevent erosion. The objectives of this study were to collect and identify the invasive species in Walhalla area in order to educate the residents about these species and its impact on their properties and gardens;moreover, using the findings of this project to develop a plan to remove these dangerous species. This survey has documented 18 invasive species in 18 families. Two notable invasive species were found in this area, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande and Hedera helix L. (English Ivy). The found invasive species have an abundant growth in the studied area. The studied area has had no previous botanical collecting. Therefore, the area was in an urgent need to be inventoried and analyzed in order to identify and document its invasive species. Moreover, these identified species will be used for educational purposes for the residents of this area and well rounded plan is developed to remove these harmful species. This inventory represents a model for the other residential and agricultural areas in the state to follow, which will help overcome the negative impact and damage caused by the invasive species in these areas.展开更多
The globalization of the planet allowed plant species to emerge from their traditional habitats and spread to other territories.This dispersion,sometimes occasional,sometimes by the influence of man,reaches proportion...The globalization of the planet allowed plant species to emerge from their traditional habitats and spread to other territories.This dispersion,sometimes occasional,sometimes by the influence of man,reaches proportions today that,in some cases,affect the development of natural ecosystems and their sustainability.Thus,becomes imperative to know seeds dispersion occur,since only after can be taken measures to mitigate these processes.In the same way that natural communication paths,such as rivers,are responsible for the natural dispersal of seeds,man-made communication paths,such as road systems,can allow very rapid dispersion.This review article addresses this issue,raising a problem that can be observed in Portugal,but which can easily be transposed to other territories of the Mediterranean basin,given the similarities in these territories.The dispersion model described here,called Highway Flow Model,intends to show the mechanisms of seed dispersion through road systems,mainly due to the configuration of the road profiles,but also by the processes associated with the cleaning of the roadsides.This demonstrates the need to take measures,such as cleaning and inspecting the equipment used to clean roadside berths before moving them to a new service elsewhere.展开更多
Background:Attention has recently been drawn to the issue of transboundary invasions,where species introduced and naturalized in one country cross international borders and become problematic in neighbouring countrie...Background:Attention has recently been drawn to the issue of transboundary invasions,where species introduced and naturalized in one country cross international borders and become problematic in neighbouring countries.Robust modelling frameworks,able to identify the environmental drivers of invasion and forecast the current and future potential distribution of invasive species,are needed to study and manage invasions.Limitations due to the lack of species distribution and environmental data,or assumptions of modelling tools,often constrain the reliability of model predictions.Methods:We present a multiscale spatial modelling framework for transboundary invasions,incorporating robust modelling frameworks(Multimodel Inference and Ensemble Modelling) to overcome some of the limitations.The framework is illustrated using Hakea sericea Schrad.(Proteaceae),a shrub or small tree native to Australia and invasive in several regions of the world,including the Iberian Peninsula.Two study scales were considered:regional scale(western Iberia,including mainland Portugal and Galicia) and local scale(northwest Portugal).At the regional scale,the relative importance of environmental predictors sets was evaluated and ranked to determine the main general drivers for the species distribution,while the importance of each environmental predictor was assessed at the local scale.The potential distribution of H.sericea was spatially projected for both scale areas.Results:Model projections for western Iberia suggest that a large area is environmentally suitable in both Portugal and Spain.Climate and landscape composition sets were the most important determinants of this regional distribution of the species.Conversely,a geological predictor(schist lithology) was more important in explaining its local-scale distribution.Conclusions:After being introduced to Portugal,H.sericea has become a transboundary invader by expanding in parts of Galicia(Spain).The fact that a larger area is predicted as environmentally suitable in Spain raises concerns regarding its potential continued expansion.This highlights the importance of transboundary cooperation in the early management of invasions.By reliably identifying drivers and providing spatial projections of invasion at multiple scales,this framework provides insights for the study and management of biological invasions,including the assessment of transboundary invasion risk.展开更多
基金the Researchers Supporting Project(RSP2024R347),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘The presence of invasive plant species poses a substantial ecological impact,thus comprehensive evaluation of their potential range and risk under the influence of climate change is necessary.This study uses maximum entropy(MaxEnt)modeling to forecast the likelihood of Leucaena leucocephala(Lam.)de Wit invasion in Saudi Arabia under present and future climate change scenarios.Utilizing the MaxEnt modeling,we integrated climatic and soil data to predict habitat suitability for the invasive species.We conducted a detailed analysis of the distribution patterns of the species,using climate variables and ecological factors.We focused on the important influence of temperature seasonality,temperature annual range,and precipitation seasonality.The distribution modeling used robust measures of area under the curve(AUC)and receiver-operator characteristic(ROC)curves,to map the invasion extent,which has a high level of accuracy in identifying appropriate habitats.The complex interaction that influenced the invasion of L.leucocephala was highlighted by the environmental parameters using Jackknife test.Presently,the actual geographic area where L.leucocephala was found in Saudi Arabia was considerably smaller than the theoretical maximum range,suggesting that it had the capacity to expand further.The MaxEnt model exhibited excellent prediction accuracy and produced reliable results based on the data from the ROC curve.Precipitation and temperature were the primary factors influencing the potential distribution of L.leucocephala.Currently,an estimated area of 216,342 km^(2)in Saudi Arabia was at a high probability of invasion by L.leucocephala.We investigated the potential for increased invasion hazards in the future due to climate change scenarios(Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSPs)245 and 585).The analysis of key climatic variables,including temperature seasonality and annual range,along with soil properties such as clay composition and nitrogen content,unveiled their substantial influence on the distribution dynamic of L.leucocephala.Our findings indicated a significant expansion of high risk zones.High-risk zones for L.leucocephala invasion in the current climate conditions had notable expansions projected under future climate scenarios,particularly evident in southern Makkah,Al Bahah,Madina,and Asir areas.The results,backed by thorough spatial studies,emphasize the need to reduce the possible ecological impacts of climate change on the spread of L.leucocephala.Moreover,the study provides valuable strategic insights for the management of invasion,highlighting the intricate relationship between climate change,habitat appropriateness,and the risks associated with invasive species.Proactive techniques are suggested to avoid and manage the spread of L.leucocephala,considering its high potential for future spread.This study enhances the overall comprehension of the dynamics of invasive species by combining modeling techniques with ecological knowledge.It also provides valuable information for decision-making to implement efficient conservation and management strategies in response to changing environmental conditions.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFC1200600 and 2016YFC1200602)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (caascx-2017-2021-IAS)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program, China (KQTD20180411143628272)。
文摘Invasive alien species(IAS) are species whose introduction to areas outside of their native range cause harm to economics, biodiversity, and the environment. Understanding the genetic basis of invasiveness is critical for preventing invasion by an alien species and managing IAS with eco-friendly control methods. In addition, uncovering the genomic features of IAS is essential for accurately predicting invasiveness. However, even though increasing efforts have been devoted to sequencing the genomes of IAS, there is still not an integrated genome database for the invasive biology community. Here, we first determined a list of invasive plants and animals by mining references and databases. Then, we retrieved the genomic and gene data of these IAS, and constructed a database, Invasion DB. Invasion DB encompasses 131 IAS genomes, 76 annotated IAS assemblies, and links these data to conventional functions such as searching for gene coding sequences and Pfam, KEGG, NR annotations, BLAST server, JBrowse, and downloads services. Next, we analyzed 19 invasivenessrelated gene families which confer invasiveness in insects. To study the roles of noncoding RNA in invasiveness, we also annotated 135 494 mi RNAs, 89 294 r RNAs, and 2 671 941 t RNAs from these IAS. In summary, Invasion DB is useful for studying the invasiveness at the genomic level, and thus helps to develop novel management strategies to control IAS.
文摘Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying potentially invasive species and preventing their expansion are of critical importance in invasion ecology.Phylogenetic relatedness between invasive and native species has been used in predicting invasion success.Previous studies on the phylogenetic relatedness of plants at the transition from naturalization to invasion have shown mixed results,which may be because different methods were used in different studies.Here,I use the same method to analyze two comprehensive data sets from South Africa and China,using two phylogenetic metrics reflecting deep and shallow evolutionary histories,to address the question whether the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species distantly related to the native flora.My study suggests that the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species closely related to the native flora.The finding of my study is consistent with Darwin's preadaptation hypothesis.
文摘Within the expanse of China’s coastline, the invasive alien cordgrass species Spartina alterniflora has caused profound nationwide damage and has emerged as a critical factor contributing to the degradation of mangrove wetlands, especially in the study area in Beihai, Guangxi. However, current treatments for S. alterniflora remain less effective and limited research focuses on the preliminary changes after artificial plantation. A comprehensive approach combining physical interventions with biological control measures has been employed to eradicate smooth cordgrass and facilitate the restoration of native mangrove wetlands. The study involved the periodic monitoring of the growth conditions of mangroves and the biodiversity of avian and benthic organisms, conducted at three to four-month intervals following the artificial plantation with one-year-old seedlings and propagules of native mangrove species Rhizophora stylosa. Results indicated that through the allometric equation, the above-ground biomass of planted seedlings had a ~20 g increase in average but the growth conditions were not significant over an eight-month period. High percentage of important avian species underlined the potential of the study site to serve as a worthwhile habitat and notable seasonal variations were observed in the biodiversity of bird species. Biodiversity indices of bird and benthos species also followed a similar fluctuation and reached a peak in April 2023. This research underscores the initial lack of distinct improvements during the early stages of the ecological restoration project, thorough maintenance, long-term monitoring, holistic considerations on a larger scale would be imperative for ongoing projects in the future.
基金Science and Technology Research Program of Xiamen Customs(2020XK08).
文摘Based on the biological characteristics of Solenopsis invicta and the structural characteristics of its ant nest,a fast and efficient closed treatment device was developed.Compared with the simple chemical treatment commonly used at present,the developed treatment device(the ant nest control cover)is a fast and efficient method to exterminate S.invicta in 7 d,featured by short course,quick results and good effect.
文摘Bio-invasion has caused serious ecosystem damage and enormous economic losses in China,and it has been the greatest factor to island bio-diversity reduction.Xiamen,as an important seaport with a relatively high conservation value,is particularly vulnerable to bio-invasion for its typical island ecosystem as well as frequent human-made disturbance.As a result of field surveys,literature review, and consultation with experts,a list of 67 alien plants identified as major invaders(12 species)and emerging invade...
基金supported by the Australia-China Joint Center for the PreventionManagement of Exotic Invasive Species,the Harry Butler Institute,Murdoch University,WA,Australiathe Shenzhen Science and Technology Program,China(KQTD20180411143628272)。
文摘The fall armyworm(FAW),Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith),is native to the Americas.It has rapidly invaded 47 African countries and 18 Asian countries since the first detection of invasion into Nigeria and Ghana in 2016.It is regarded as a super pest based on its host range(at least 353 host plants),its inherent ability to survive in a wide range of habitats,its strong migration ability,high fecundity,rapid development of resistance to insecticides/viruses and its gluttonous characteristics.The inherently superior biological characteristics of FAW contribute to its invasiveness.Integrated pest management(IPM)of FAW has relied on multiple applications of monitoring and scouting,agricultural control,chemical pesticides,viral insecticides,sex attractants,bio-control agents(parasitoids,predators and entomopathogens)and botanicals.Knowledge gaps remain to be filled to:(1)understand the invasive mechanisms of S.frugiperda;(2)understand how to prevent its further spread and(3)provide better management strategies.This review summarizes the biological characters of FAW,their association with its invasiveness and IPM strategies,which may provide further insights for future management.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2009CB119203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30730061)
文摘The whitefly Bemisia tabaci has risen to international prominence since the 1980s due to the rapid spread around the globe by the two species B and Q within this species complex.The invasion of B has often been associated with the displacement of indigenous whiteflies.As the genetic structure of B.tabaci is diverse,more case studies of the competitive relationships between B and indigenous species of the whitefly species complex will help to understand further the mechanisms underlying the invasion of B.We examined the competitive interactions between B and ZHJ2,a widely distributed indigenous whitefly in Asia,on host plants with differential levels of suitability to the two species in the laboratory,and also tested the effect of insecticide application on the competitive relationships.Three species of plants were tested including cotton,a plant showing similar levels of suitability to both species,squash,a plant showing higher suitability to B than to ZHJ2,and kidney bean,a plant showing higher suitability to ZHJ2 than to B.In the case of no insecticide application,B displaced ZHJ2 on cotton,squash,and kidney bean by the 6th,3rd and 10th generation,respectively.With the application of imidacloprid,the displacement of ZHJ2 by B on cotton occurred by the 5th generation.As the displacement progressed,the proportion of B females increased,and the proportion of ZHJ2 females decreased on cotton and squash.In contrast,on kidney bean the proportion of B females remained unchanged while that of ZHJ2 increased.These results show the strong capacity of the invasive B to displace ZHJ2,and indicate that host plants with differential levels of suitability to the two species may affect the speed but not the trend of displacement and insecticide application may accelerate the process of displacement.
基金The project supported by Key Project of National Foundation Research under the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2002CCC00900) General Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 60371035) and Project under the SocialDevelopment Program of Dalian City (2004B3SF181)
文摘A pilot-scale experiment of 20t/h for the treatment of ship's ballast water is reported in this paper. When the concentration of the dissolved OH. was 0.68 mg/L during the experiment, the rate of destroying bacteria, mono-algae, protozoan reached 100% within 2.67 s. The effect of hydroxyl radicals on biochemical processes was also studied. The attenuation rate of photosynthesis pigment was 100%. And the main reason for the cells' death was the strong destruction of the monose, amylose, protein, DNA and RNA in the cells. As an advanced oxidation method, the procedure can destroy invasive marine species when a ship is in the process of discharging its ballast water.
基金This research was supported by NSF grants DBI-1458640 and DBI-1547229.
文摘Predictive studies play a crucial role in the study of biological invasions of terrestrial plants under possible climate change scenarios.Invasive species are recognized for their ability to modify soil microbial communities and influence ecosystem dynamics.Here,we focused on six species of allelopathic flowering plants-Ailanthus altissima,Casuarina equisetifolia,Centaurea stoebe ssp.micranthos,Dioscorea bulbifera,Lantana camara,and Schinus terebinthifolia-Xhat are invasive in North America and examined their potential to spread further during projected climate change.We used Species Distribution Models(SDMs)to predict future suitable areas for these species in North America under several proposed future climate models.ENMEval and Maxent were used to develop SDMs,estimate current distributions,and predict future areas of suitable climate for each species.Areas with the greatest predicted suitable climate in the future include the northeastern and the coastal northwestern regions of North America.Range size estimations demonstrate the possibility of extreme range loss for these invasives in the southeastern United States,while new areas may become suitable in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.These findings show an overall northward shift of suitable climate during the next few decades,given projected changes in temperature and precipitation.Our results can be utilized to analyze potential shifts in the distribution of these invasive species and may aid in the development of conservation and management plans to target and control dissemination in areas at higher risk for potential future invasion by these allelopathic species.
基金funded by “Program Prioritas Bidang Kebun Raya Cibodas-LIPI 2019”。
文摘Exotic plant invasion is one of the major causes of species extinction.In many contexts,mountainous forests are the last refuge for native species.There are several inventory studies conducted in mountainous and tropical forests in Indonesia.However,there are no studies yet on the factors that explain the abundance and richness of surveyed naturalized alien species.This study investigated whether the number of individuals and abundanceweighted species richness(AWR) of naturalized alien plant species in the hiking-trail of Mount GedePangrango National Park(MGPNP) forest area correlated with leaf traits(specific leaf area(SLA) and leaf thickness) and environmental factors(elevation,slope,and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)).We showed that leaf thickness and habitat elevation explained the AWR variations of naturalized alien species.We did not detect any important effect of leaf traits and environmental factors on the number of individuals per exotic species per plot.The influence of leaf thickness and habitat elevation indicates the important role of both biotic and abiotic factors on exotic species to develop a high species richness and become an invasive species in the tropical mountain forest ecosystem.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China ( NSFC )( 30970438,31071708)
文摘[Objective] The purpose was to introduce a preparation method for paraffin section of Bemisia tabaci, so as to lay the foundation for the studies on changes of organizational structure of B. tabaci. [ Method] The technique of paraffin section and the method of H-E staining were adopted to study the organizational structure of B. tabaci. The slices were examined and photographed under fluorescence microscope. [ Result] The coloring of H-E staining cells was good. Under 400 x conditions, the fat body, compound eyes, nucleus and muscle of B. tabaci were clear. [ Conclusion] The production method for paraffin section of B. tabaci was reliable, and the quality of slices was high.
文摘Invasive plant species may significantly alter plant species community composition and structure thereby negatively impacting on ecosystem services. Their impacts on plant communities may be both direct and indirect. The direct effects may include a reduction in the abundance and diversity of palatable plant species that constitute important forage for livestock, wildlife, and medicines for the local communities. Declines in ecosystem resilience are of the notable indirect effects of invasive species. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of a plant species, copper leaf (<em>Acalypha fruticosa</em>) on floral diversity and abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County in Kenya. The study was guided by three questions: What is the plant composition in terms of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees in the study area? Are there any variations in plant abundance between the two sites (sites with and without <em>Acalypha fruticosa</em>)? Are there variations in plant species diversity between the two study sites? Two sites (one with <em>A. fruticosa</em> and another two without this invasive species) were selected within the Chemeron Research Centre. Two belt transects measuring 100 m × 20 m on each site were laid parallel to each other. Plant samples were collected from five 1 m × 1 m quadrats that were laid at intervals of 20 m. The plant species or specimens were identified to the species level using available taxonomic keys. Various indices including Shannon-Wiener (<em>H</em>’), Evenness Index, Richness Index and Simpson’s Index of Diversity Index (SDI) were calculated. All the diversity, richness and evenness indices were considerably higher in the site without <em>A. fruticosa</em> compared to that where this invasive species was present. Higher <em>H’</em> (3.14 to 3.21) and SDI (0.93 to 0.94) values were noted in sites without the invasive species compared to <em>H</em>’ (2.11 to 2.20) and SDI (0.77 to 0.85) in sites with <em>A. fruticosa</em> present. Out of the 47 plant species identified, 39 and 20 of them occurred in the site without and with <em>A. fruticosa</em>, respectively. Further, there were more grasses (<em>Aristida keniensis</em>, <em>Cynodon dactylon</em>, <em>Brachiaria lucrantha</em>, <em>Eragrostis racemosa</em>, and <em>Enteropogon macrostachyus</em>) in the site without <em>A. fruticosa</em> compared to that with the invasive plant. The plants were also more evenly distributed in the site without <em>A. fruticosa</em> compared to that where the invasive plant was present. We conclude that <em>A. fruticosa</em> has a significant effect on plant species abundance and diversity as well as distribution. Its removal created a favourable environment for the growth of a variety of grasses. We therefore recommend to the agro-pastoralists and rangeland managers that <em>A. fruticosa</em> be mechanically removed by uprooting from grazing lands so as to increase forage availability and quality in the rangelands of South-Baringo.
文摘Invasive species have been the focus of ecologists due to their undesired impacts on the environment.The extent and rapid increase in invasive plant species is recognized as a natural cause of global-biodiversity loss and degrading ecosystem services.Biological invasions can affect ecosystems across a wide spectrum of bioclimatic conditions.Understanding the impact of climate change on species invasion is crucial for sustainable biodiversity conservation.In this study,the possibility of mapping the distribution of invasive Prosopis juliflora(Swartz)DC.was shown using present background data in Khuzestan Province,Iran.After removing the spatial bias of background data by creating weighted sampling bias grids for the occurrence dataset,we applied six modelling algorithms(generalized additive model(GAM),classification tree analysis(CTA),random forest(RF),multivariate adaptive regression splines(MARS),maximum entropy(Max Ent)and ensemble model)to predict invasion distribution of the species under current and future climate conditions for both optimistic(RCP2.6)and pessimistic(RCP8.5)scenarios for the years 2050 and 2070,respectively.Predictor variables including weighted mean of CHELSA(climatologies at high resolution for the Earth’s land surface areas)-bioclimatic variables and geostatistical-based bioclimatic variables(1979–2020),physiographic variables extracted from shuttle radar topography mission(SRTM)and some human factors were used in modelling process.To avoid causing a biased selection of predictors or model coefficients,we resolved the spatial autocorrelation of presence points and multi-collinearity of the predictors.As in a conventional receiver operating characteristic(ROC),the area under curve(AUC)is calculated using presence and absence observations to measure the probability and the two error components are weighted equally.All models were evaluated using partial ROC at different thresholds and other statistical indices derived from confusion matrix.Sensitivity analysis showed that mean diurnal range(Bio2)and annual precipitation(Bio12)explained more than 50% of the changes in the invasion distribution and played a pivotal role in mapping habitat suitability of P.juliflora.At all thresholds,the ensemble model showed a significant difference in comparison with single model.However,Max Ent and RF outperformed the others models.Under climate change scenarios,it is predicted that suitable areas for this invasive species will increase in Khuzestan Province,and increasing climatically suitable areas for the species in future will facilitate its future distribution.These findings can support the conservation planning and management efforts in ecological engineering and be used in formulating preventive measures.
基金The work was partially supported by CAPES(Coordena玢o de Aperfei鏾amento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil-Finance Code 001).
文摘The Atlantic Forest is one of the largest and most biodiverse rainforests of South America but anthropogenic activities are drastically changing these landscapes.The invasion of alien or exotic species is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.There are few studies of invasive species in tropical Brazilian ecosystems.This research examines growth and ecological aspects of Syzygium cumini and Clitoria fairchildiana,two invasive tree species in the Pedra Branca State Park,an Atlantic Forest remnant in southeastern Brazil.Both species were successfully dated,indicating an average age of 58 and 31 years,respectively.A positive relationship between growth and precipitation of the previous growing season suggests an ecological adaptive strategy,which could be facilitating their invasion into the environment.Cumulative growth diameter curves indicate slow and fast growth rates for S.cumini and C.fairchildiana,respectively.Growth release episodes detected in the tree rings indicate increased anthropogenic disturbances over the last 50 years.
文摘Invasive alien plant species have threatened the integrity of ecosystems and threatened biological integrity throughout the world. In the Nyika National Park, a number of alien invasive plant species have been reported. These invasive alien plants are reported to be very difficult that have caused adverse ecological, economic and social impact. The main objective of this study is to assess the environmental impact of plant invasive alien species in Nyika National Park in order to ascertain means of addressing the possible effects on the biodiversity. This study adopted an exploratory stance in order to answer <span>the hypotheses where purposive and simple random sampling was used. P</span>ur<span>posive sampling was only used to the staff of Nyika while simple random s</span>ampling was used to collect data from households surrounding Nyika National Park. The results revealed that invasive alien plant species have some ecological impacts of on the biodiversity of the Nyika National Park like change in physical habitats such as loss of native habitats, alteration of ground water regime, drying of rivers, loss of native species and alteration of biomass. The study would therefore be important to policy makers in guiding and devel<span>opment of policies and guidelines governing eradication of invasive alien pl</span>ant species. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) can form partnership with various stakeholders with a clearly stated intention of developing a relationship, based on collaboration to enhance the control of invading alien plant species and the best management practices.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41201460,61375002 and 61473286the Special Research Project for the Commonwealth of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China under contract No.201201092the National Science and Technology Pillar Program under contract No.2015BAJ02B01
文摘Spartina alterniflora is one of exotic plants along the coastal region in China. It was introduced as an important engineering approach to ecological restoration in the later 1970 s. However, owing to its good adaptability and strong reproductive capacity, the introduced species is explosively spreading along the coastal region quickly and resulting in a significant impact on the health and safety of coastal wetland ecosystems. It is imperative to quantify the spatial extent and the rate of S. alterniflora sprawl in order to assess its ecological damages and economic impacts. Remote sensing techniques have been used to address these challenges but large unsuccessful due to mixed spectral properties. In this study, a hybrid method was proposed for S. alterniflora detection using medium resolution remote sensing images by integrating both spatial and spectral features of S. alterniflora. The hybrid method consists of two phases:(1) delineation of intertidal zone as the potential area of S. alterniflora distribution and(2) extraction of S. alterniflora fraction distribution with a mixture pixel analysis. The proposed method was tested at the Xiangshan Bay on the east coastal region of Zhejiang Province, China, and mapped the spatial extent of S. alterniflora with Landsat datasets in the 2003, 2009 and 2014. The results showed that, the S. alterniflora has grown exponentially over past 10 years. In 2003, the total area of S. alterniflora was about 590 hm2, but quickly reached to 1 745 hm2 in 2009, and 5 715 hm2 in 2014. With a rate of approximately 10-folds growth within a decade, the invasive species almost occupied all muddy beaches to become the most dominant coastal salt vegetation in this region. It is believed that the strong biological reproductive capacity was the primary reason for such quick spread and at the same time human reclamation activities were also believed to have facilitated the environmental conditions for S. alterniflora sprawl.
文摘Invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. Invasive species can harm both the natural resources in an ecosystem as well as threaten human use of these resources. Walhalla is an urban wooded ravine area (10 acre area) in the middle of Columbus, Ohio. Many residents are actually actively planting new invasive species in a misguided attempt to prevent erosion on their property. Other properties are suffering from not-so-benign neglect, as the existing trees are slowly succumbing to insect infestation and rot (because of moisture trapped by ivy, etc.) and no new saplings are emerging to replace them (because of the thick ground cover). In both of these instances, it’s proving to be difficult to convince the landowners that they’re causing more harm than good—the local soil & water conservation people are all too eager to reinforce the notion that the ground must be covered with a blanket of impenetrable invasive species in order to prevent erosion. The objectives of this study were to collect and identify the invasive species in Walhalla area in order to educate the residents about these species and its impact on their properties and gardens;moreover, using the findings of this project to develop a plan to remove these dangerous species. This survey has documented 18 invasive species in 18 families. Two notable invasive species were found in this area, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande and Hedera helix L. (English Ivy). The found invasive species have an abundant growth in the studied area. The studied area has had no previous botanical collecting. Therefore, the area was in an urgent need to be inventoried and analyzed in order to identify and document its invasive species. Moreover, these identified species will be used for educational purposes for the residents of this area and well rounded plan is developed to remove these harmful species. This inventory represents a model for the other residential and agricultural areas in the state to follow, which will help overcome the negative impact and damage caused by the invasive species in these areas.
文摘The globalization of the planet allowed plant species to emerge from their traditional habitats and spread to other territories.This dispersion,sometimes occasional,sometimes by the influence of man,reaches proportions today that,in some cases,affect the development of natural ecosystems and their sustainability.Thus,becomes imperative to know seeds dispersion occur,since only after can be taken measures to mitigate these processes.In the same way that natural communication paths,such as rivers,are responsible for the natural dispersal of seeds,man-made communication paths,such as road systems,can allow very rapid dispersion.This review article addresses this issue,raising a problem that can be observed in Portugal,but which can easily be transposed to other territories of the Mediterranean basin,given the similarities in these territories.The dispersion model described here,called Highway Flow Model,intends to show the mechanisms of seed dispersion through road systems,mainly due to the configuration of the road profiles,but also by the processes associated with the cleaning of the roadsides.This demonstrates the need to take measures,such as cleaning and inspecting the equipment used to clean roadside berths before moving them to a new service elsewhere.
基金funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors-COMPETENational Funds through FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology under the project PTDC/AAGMAA/4539/2012/FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027863(IND_CHANGE)+3 种基金supported by POPH/FSE fundsNational Funds through FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology through Post-doctoral grant SFRH/BPD/84044/2012support from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biologythe National Research Foundation(grant 85417)
文摘Background:Attention has recently been drawn to the issue of transboundary invasions,where species introduced and naturalized in one country cross international borders and become problematic in neighbouring countries.Robust modelling frameworks,able to identify the environmental drivers of invasion and forecast the current and future potential distribution of invasive species,are needed to study and manage invasions.Limitations due to the lack of species distribution and environmental data,or assumptions of modelling tools,often constrain the reliability of model predictions.Methods:We present a multiscale spatial modelling framework for transboundary invasions,incorporating robust modelling frameworks(Multimodel Inference and Ensemble Modelling) to overcome some of the limitations.The framework is illustrated using Hakea sericea Schrad.(Proteaceae),a shrub or small tree native to Australia and invasive in several regions of the world,including the Iberian Peninsula.Two study scales were considered:regional scale(western Iberia,including mainland Portugal and Galicia) and local scale(northwest Portugal).At the regional scale,the relative importance of environmental predictors sets was evaluated and ranked to determine the main general drivers for the species distribution,while the importance of each environmental predictor was assessed at the local scale.The potential distribution of H.sericea was spatially projected for both scale areas.Results:Model projections for western Iberia suggest that a large area is environmentally suitable in both Portugal and Spain.Climate and landscape composition sets were the most important determinants of this regional distribution of the species.Conversely,a geological predictor(schist lithology) was more important in explaining its local-scale distribution.Conclusions:After being introduced to Portugal,H.sericea has become a transboundary invader by expanding in parts of Galicia(Spain).The fact that a larger area is predicted as environmentally suitable in Spain raises concerns regarding its potential continued expansion.This highlights the importance of transboundary cooperation in the early management of invasions.By reliably identifying drivers and providing spatial projections of invasion at multiple scales,this framework provides insights for the study and management of biological invasions,including the assessment of transboundary invasion risk.