Invasive species Echinochloa colona reduces abundance and diversity of resident plant communities in tropical wetland
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing
Abstract
Although the relationship between invasive alien species (IAS) and plant com-
munity structure has attracted considerable interest, the impacts of IAS on abun-
dance and diversity of resident plant communities in species rich-ecosystems,
such as tropical wetlands are poorly understood. Consequently, this has im-
peded development of improved management strategies and successful res-
toration of invaded tropical wetlands. Therefore, data on vegetation were col-
lected from 60 plots of 20 × 50 m to study the impacts of alien invasive grass
Echinochloa colona (L.) Link abundance on plant community abundance,
richness, evenness and diversity of resident plant species within grasslands of
the Kilombero Valley wetland, Tanzania. Moreover, the impacts of abun-
dance of E . colona on plant functional groups ( i.e. graminoids, forbs and
shrubs) richness were also explored. Generalized linear models showed that
community richness, evenness, diversity and abundance of resident species
were negatively related to the E. colona abundance. There was a negative rela-
tionship between richness of graminoids and shrubs and the abundance of E.
colona . Similarly, the abundance of graminoids, forbs and shrubs is related
negatively to the abundance of E. colona . Given that most of the community
and functional group attributes of resident plants is related negatively to E .
colona abundance, improved management strategies should be developed to
minimize the abundance and further spread of E . colona to restore and con-
serve wetland biodiversity.
Description
Open Journal of Ecology, 2018, 8, pg. (483-494)
Keywords
Native Species, Evenness, Richness, Diversity, Functional Groups, Resident Species