Abstract
Deliberate and unintentional introduction of invasive alien plant species on native biodiversity by aid agencies and other bodies directly or indirectly are being a series of problems on the economy, ecology, politics, and health of life on earth. Identifying and compiling floristics and the status of invasive alien species and identifying which have viable populations are necessary to manage the ecosystems. The present study is therefore intended to provide information for concerned bodies on the area which needs management priority computing the composition, structure, and diversity of invasive alien plants. A field assessment was conducted to determine the distribution and heterogeneity of invasive alien plant species, and then, six kebeles were chosen and transact lines were laid using a purposeful sampling technique. The vegetation and environment data were collected from farmland, grazing land, fallow land, and road sides using 95 subquadrats (5 m × 5 m) set in the center and corner of 19 main quadrats (20 m × 20 m). The voucher specimens collected were taken to the Herbarium of Ethiopia (ETH) for taxonomic identification and future reference. The frequency and density of floristics data were analyzed using MS Excel version 2010, and species diversity was calculated using Shannon (H′), Simpson (D), and evenness (E) indices. Among 35 alien plant species invading natural vegetation in Ethiopia, 25 alien plant species were found in the Humbo district of the Wolaita zone. The densest invasive alien plant species in the area were Parthenium hysterophorus consisting of 15197 individuals/ha, followed by Richardia scabra consisting of 11908 individuals/ha, Xanthium strumarium consisting of 7292 individuals/ha, and Ocimum forskolei consisting of 6280 individuals/ha. The highest species diversity was computed in fallow land (H′ = 2.369), which is followed by farmland (H′ = 1.627) and grazing land (H′ = 1.419). The higher the density of the invasive alien species, the higher the ability to change the structure and diversity of native species of the area results in a decrease in the function and services of the ecosystem. Therefore, management methods must prioritize land types that had the highest diversity of invasive alien species.
Highlights
Invasive species (IS) are either indigenous or nonindigenous species that can heavily colonize a particular habitat [1], but invasive alien species (IAS) are nonnative species that are introduced deliberately or unintentionally in areas outside their natural habitats, where they become established, proliferate, and spread, causing damage to the environment [2]. ey are widely distributed in all kinds of ecosystems throughout the world due to the ability to establish themselves, invade, out-compete natives, and take over the new environment [3]
Solanaceae and Amaranthaceae contributed 2 species each (8%), and the rest 10 families contributed 1 species each (4%). e composition in habit of the invasive alien plants indicated that most (44%) of the invasive alien species in the area were shrub which is followed by herb (36%). e prostate herbs, climbers, and trees contribute 12%, 4%, and 4%, respectively (Table 1). e finding indicated that Asteraceae (Acanthospermum hispidum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sphaeranthus indicus, Xanthium spinosum, and Xanthium strumarium), Malvaceae (Corchorus aestuans, Sida acuta, and Urena lobata), and Fabaceae (Crotalaria pallida, Leucaena leucocephala, and Senna occidentalis) contributed a large number of invasive alien plant species (11)
The densest invasive alien plant species in the area was Parthenium hysterophorus consisting of 15197 individuals/ha followed by Richardia scabra consisting of 11908 individuals/ha, Xanthium strumarium consisting of 7292 individuals/ha, and Ocimum forskolei consisting of 6280 individuals/ha (Table 2)
Summary
Invasive species (IS) are either indigenous or nonindigenous species that can heavily colonize a particular habitat [1], but invasive alien species (IAS) are nonnative species that are introduced deliberately or unintentionally in areas outside their natural habitats, where they become established, proliferate, and spread, causing damage to the environment [2]. ey are widely distributed in all kinds of ecosystems throughout the world due to the ability to establish themselves, invade, out-compete natives, and take over the new environment [3]. Invasive species (IS) are either indigenous or nonindigenous species that can heavily colonize a particular habitat [1], but invasive alien species (IAS) are nonnative species that are introduced deliberately or unintentionally in areas outside their natural habitats, where they become established, proliferate, and spread, causing damage to the environment [2]. A large number of species of IAS are introduced into a new environment either through humans or natural (e.g., winds, birds, animals, and water). Ousands of plant species have been transported by humans accidentally or intentionally to areas far from their natural habitats [3]. Human-mediated transport, migration, and commerce are continuing to disperse invasive alien plant species (IAPS) across previously insurmountable environmental barriers such as fresh and marine aquatic ecosystems, mountain ranges, and even inhospitable climate zones [5, 6]
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