Invasion of alien Prosopis species in Israel, the West Bank and western Jordan: characteristics, distribution and control perspectives

Jean Marc Dufour-Dror,Avi Shmida

doi:10.3391/bir.2017.6.1.01

Abstract

Invasion of alien Prosopis species in Israel, the West Bank and western Jordan: characteristics, distribution and control perspectives

Highlights

Several Prosopis species are known as highly invasive taxa having severe negative impacts on natural ecosystems and agropastoral lands in Africa and Asia (Witt 2010; Muturi et al 2013; Sankaran and Suresh 2013; El-Keblawy and Abdelfatah 2014; Shackleton et al 2014).The proliferation of invasive Prosopis species has been reported to decrease local biodiversity among plant and bird species in various arid regions (Dean et al 2002; Berhanu and Tesfaye 2006; Schachtschneider and February 2013)
The main impact of invasive Prosopis on natural ecosystems occurs through competition for groundwater: prosopis’ deep and extensive root systems lead to the depleting of groundwater reserves in water-scarce environments, which inevitably causes native trees such as Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne, Hyphaene compressa H.Wendl., or Acacia erioloba E.Mey. to dry out (Boy and Witt 2013; Schachtschneider and February 2013; Shackleton et al 2015a;)
While Prosopis juliflora is widespread in western Jordan along the Jordan Valley, in the canyons of the Dead Sea area, and along the Rift, escaped individuals of alien Prosopis are relatively few in Israel

Summary

Introduction

Several Prosopis species are known as highly invasive taxa having severe negative impacts on natural ecosystems and agropastoral lands in Africa and Asia (Witt 2010; Muturi et al 2013; Sankaran and Suresh 2013; El-Keblawy and Abdelfatah 2014; Shackleton et al 2014).The proliferation of invasive Prosopis species has been reported to decrease local biodiversity among plant and bird species in various arid regions (Dean et al 2002; Berhanu and Tesfaye 2006; Schachtschneider and February 2013). The occurrence of P. juliflora stands in the Dead Sea region of Jordan is restricted to wadi beds with permanent water flow and irrigated fields. Most of the Prosopis species were planted since the 1960s in the arid and the semi-arid regions of Israel, mainly in the Negev desert and in the central and southern Jordan valley.

Results

Conclusion