Topic

Invasive alien species

Subject

Seminar

Submitted to

Sir Asghar Ali Ansari

Submitted by

Roll no. BBOF15M056

BS Botany (Reg) 8th Semester

(2015-2019)

Department of Botany

University of Sargodha
 Invasive alien species
Introduction:

Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that
are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental
harm or adversely affect human health. In particular, they impact adversely upon
biodiversity, including decline or elimination of native species - through
competition, predation, or transmission of pathogens and the disruption of local
ecosystems and ecosystem functions.

Invasive alien species colonize the environment and are aggressively a

mediator of change and threaten native biodiversity of Pakistan. Invasive species are
the species that has been accidentally or intentionally introduced to a different
habitat which may be any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other
biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that
ecosystem. The introduction of these species likely to cause economic or
environmental harm or harm to human health. One day consultative workshop was
held at NARC, Islamabad in Pakistan on 17 September 1999, to identify, evaluate,
and rank non-native plants that threaten the ecological integrity of wild lands and
cropping systems. The focus was on species that are already established in areas that
support native ecosystems, such as parks, reserves, wildlife areas, national forests,
and rangelands. Fourteen plant species have been identified through a one-day
consultative workshop on Alien Invasive Species. These plant species include trees
and shrubs mainly as well as aquatic plant species.

Dispersal and subsequent proliferation:

Dispersal and subsequent proliferation of species is not solely an anthropogenic
phenomenon. There are many mechanisms by which species from
all Kingdoms have been able to travel across continents in short periods of time such
as via floating rafts, or on wind currents. Charles Darwin, a British naturalist,
performed many experiments to better understand long distance seed dispersal, and
was able to germinate seeds from insect Fras, faeces of waterfowl, dirt clods on the
feet of birds, all of which may have traveled significant distances under their own
power, or be blown off course by thousands of miles.

Causes:

Scientists include species and ecosystem factors among the mechanisms that,
when combined, establish invasiveness in a newly introduced species.

Species based mechanisms:

While all species compete to survive, invasive species appear to have specific
traits or specific combinations of traits that allow them to outcompete native species.
In some cases, the competition is about rates of growth and reproduction. In other
cases, species interact with each other more directly.

Researchers disagree about the usefulness of traits as invasiveness markers. One

study found that of a list of invasive and noninvasive species, 86% of the invasive
species could be identified from the traits alone. Another study found invasive
species tended to have only a small subset of the presumed traits and that many
similar traits were found in noninvasive species, requiring other
explanations. Common invasive species traits include the following:

 Fast growth
  Rapid reproduction
 High dispersal ability
 Phenotype plasticity (the ability to alter growth form to suit current
conditions)
 Tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions (Ecological
competence)
 Ability to live off of a wide range of food types (generalist)
 Association with humans
 Prior successful invasions

An introduced species might become invasive if it can outcompete native species for
resources such as nutrients, light, physical space, water, or food. If these species
evolved under great competition or predation, then the new environment may host
fewer able competitors, allowing the invader to proliferate
quickly. Ecosystems which are being used to their fullest capacity by native species
can be modeled as zero-sum systems in which any gain for the invader is a loss for
the native. However, such unilateral competitive superiority (and extinction of
native species with increased populations of the invader) is not the rule. Invasive
species often coexist with native species for an extended time, and gradually, the
superior competitive ability of an invasive species becomes apparent as its
population grows larger and denser and it adapts to its new location.

Ecosystem-based mechanisms

In ecosystems, the amount of available resources and the extent to which those
resources are used by organisms determines the effects of additional species on the
ecosystem. In stable ecosystems, equilibrium exists in the use of available resources.
These mechanisms describe a situation in which the ecosystem has suffered a
disturbance, which changes the fundamental nature of the ecosystem.

When changes such as a forest fire occur, normal succession favors

native grasses and forbs. An introduced species that can spread faster than natives
can use resources that would have been available to native species, squeezing them
out. Nitrogen and phosphorus are often the limiting factors in these situations.

Every species occupies a niche in its native ecosystem; some species fill large
and varied roles, while others are highly specialized. Some invading species fill
niches that are not used by native species, and they also can create new niches. An
example of this type can be found within the Lampropholis delicata species of skink.

Rapid adaptive evolution in these species leads to offspring that have higher
fitness and are better suited for their environment. Plasticity in populations allows
room for changes to better suit the individual in its environment. This is key in
adaptive evolution because the main goal is how to best be suited to the ecosystem
that the species has been introduced. The ability to accomplish this as quickly as
possible will lead to a population with a very high fitness. Pre-adaptations and
evolution after the initial introduction also play a role in the success of the introduced
species. If the species has adapted to a similar ecosystem or contains traits that
happen to be well suited to the area that it is introduced, it is more likely to fare better
in the new environment. This, in addition to evolution that takes place after
introduction, all determine if the species will be able to become established in the
new ecosystem and if it will reproduce and thrive.

Effects of alien species:

 Biological invasions are a major threats to ecosystem functioning and native
biodiversity. Conservative estimate indicated that invasive species are responsible
for the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered species. Furthermore, in the rest of the
world 80% of extinctions of endangered species are due to the invasion of non-native
species.

Exotic plant invasion poses serious global and regional ecological and
conservation threats to native biodiversity. Invasive species is the 2nd largest reason
for biodiversity loss after habitat defragmentation. Besides replacing the native
species, invasive plants also change the ecology of a given habitat by changing the
nutrient cycle and soil pH.

Effect on native species:

Species that appear in new environments may fail to survive but often they
thrive, and become invasive. In fact, native species are likely to be unprepared to
defend themselves against the invaders. This process, together with habitat
destruction, has been a major cause of extinction of native species throughout the
world in the past few hundred years.

Effect on ecosystem services:

Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by ecosystems which make

human life possible and worth living. The services can be divided into four
categories:

i) Supporting (nutrient cycling), ii) Provisioning (food, fiber),

iii) Regulating (carbon sequestration) and iv) Cultural services (recreation,

tourism).
Due to the replacement of native communities with invasive, these services are
severely affected impairing the functioning and productivity of ecosystems.

The change in ecosystem services depends on the type of habitat invaded. Invasive
plants invading agricultural lands severely decreases the productivity as well as land
values. The invasion of pastures leads to loss of forages and forage value. Incidence
of fire in forests, loss of aesthetic beauty in parks and gardens are the other
ecosystem services severely impacted by invasive plants. The increased incidence
of fire due to exotic plant invasions completely change the ecology of habitats.
Large-scale invasion of Bromus tectorum in North America has permanently, altered
the native plant community.

Alien species in Pakistan and their impact:

The success of invasive plants in a nonnative range is due to their massive

capability of adaptation such as producing large numbers of new plants each season,
tolerating different soil types and weather conditions, spreading easily and
efficiently, usually by wind, water, or animals, growing rapidly and allowing to
compete and displace slower growing plants and spreading rampantly when they are
free of the natural checks and balances found in their native range.

Fourteen plant species have been identified through a one-day consultative

workshop on Alien Invasive Species in Pakistan. These plant species include trees
and shrubs mainly as well as aquatic plant species.

Invasive plants in Pakistan:

Broussonetia papyrifera commonly called Paper mulberry is native to East

Asia. It was introduced (seed dispersal thorough aerial mode) to Pakistan in 1960’s
for greening Islamabad and controlling soil erosion. According to estimation 60-70
percent of the trees in Islamabad are of Paper mulberry. In less than 30 years it has
been declared as Highly Invasive plant due to its aggressive growth, replacement of
native flora and above all main culprit of causing Pollen allergies to the local
community. During the months of February until April proximity to this tree can
contribute to severe pollen allergy.

Broussonetia papyrifera

Prosopis juliflora (Mesquite, Kikar) is a native to West Indies and Mexico. It

was introduced in 1878 in Sindh and is now widespread in Balochistan, Punjab,
Sindh and KPK. The plant has well established in Pakistan from mountains to
seacoast. It is now growing naturally in the Pabbi Hills, the Salt Range, the piedmont
area, the mining wastes, plains, riparian forests, waste agricultural lands, saline and
waterlogged areas, desert Suleiman Range and anywhere expected. It is found on
almost all the linear land strips like highways, canals and railway tracks. Sizeable
areas of Makran coast of Balochistan are home to mesquite. The poor rural masses
enjoy its free harvest for their domestic energy needs, as it is considered as a weed.
Like many other invasive this plant contains toxic metabolites which deter local
herbivores and also prevent the growth of indigenous plant species in the vicinity. It
has also become a serious pest in many sensitive areas in Sindh, especially in
Southern Kirthar National Park where it has replaced many native plant species of
Tamarix, Acacia and other shrubs.

Prosopis juliflora

Invasive shrubs:

Lantana camara (Punch Phuli) is native plant of United States of America and
is one of the ten worst weed of the world. All the control measures have been not
able to fully control this specie. This alien species is widely distributed in Pakistan
It is most common in north Punjab and also found in KPK. In Pakistan it is
recognized as a pest of forested areas and sizeable areas have been taken over by this
weed. The seeds are carried by birds and where it establishes, it quickly covers open
areas and forms dense thorny thickets. It is threatening native biodiversity and is
detrimental to local plants. It has taken over much of natural grazing ground.
 Lantana camara

Invasive herb:

The native range of Parthenium hysterophorus is Mexico, Central and South

America. It was accidentally introduced in many countries and after causing
symptoms of bronchitis, acute dermatitis and eczema in India, it has now been
witnessed in different localities of Islamabad and rapidly spreading in Punjab and
KPK and has invaded many areas of Pakistan. This Mexican weed (Parthenium
hysterophorus) is reported in Pakistan in 1980’s. It has now invaded waste places
and road sides, irrigation channels, field ditches etc. Its impact on the local
vegetation is very clear. It has been spreaded in many areas of Punjab and KPK.
Visual surveys revealed that almost every area in Punjab and KPK has been infested
with this weed. Surprisingly, it is being used as an ornamental plant in bouquets.
Population living in the villages around Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and
Peshawar are using it as a fodder.

Parthenium hysterophorus

Invasive aquatic plants:

 Native range of Salvinia molesta is southeastern Brazil and northern
Argentina (Dye and Heinz Undated) while known introduced range since the 1940s
has been dispersed by humans to various tropical and subtropical regions in Africa,
Asia, the Australasia-Pacific region and, more recently, the USA. In Pakistan, it has
been severely damaging Kinjhar Lake, Haliji Lake and Chotiari wetland complex. It
threatens crops and fouls irrigation systems and streams, and interferes with electric
power production. Fishing areas are blocked off or are destroyed by darkness and
lack of oxygen or it may simply prohibit the setting and lifting of nets. It is a direct
threat to many crops by interfering with distribution of irrigation water. It recently
has become a threat to Lake Kinjhir’s (Sindh) flora and fauna.

Salivina molesta