Patterns of leaf and inflorescence production of Pinanga coronata (Arecaceae) in a tropical montane rainforest in West Java.

Kimura, Machiko; Simbolon, Herwint

doi:10.3759/tropics.12.179

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 14 publications

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“…), also called ivory cane palm. This species is native to Java and Sumatra rainforests (Kimura & Simbolon 2002) and forms mono‐dominant clusters in the understory (Kimura & Simbolon 2002, 2003). During the 1970s, P. coronata was introduced as an ornamental plant to the Colo‐i‐Suva area in Fiji and has since become invasive in mahogany plantations and native lowland rainforest, where mono‐dominant stands are easily found (Keppel & Watling 2012; Dyer et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A functional trait‐based approach to assess the impact of an alien palm invasion on plant and soil communities on a South Pacific island

et al. 2021

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In island ecosystems, biological invasions are one of the major threats to native biodiversity and to ecosystem functioning. Invasive ornamental plants such as the alien palm tree Pinanga coronata in the Fiji islands can form mono-dominant stands in rainforests and displace native species. Using a functional trait-based approach, we investigated the impact of P. coronata on both above and belowground communities (i.e. plants and Collembola). Within a rainforest reserve on Fiji´s principal island, we sampled a total of 10 invaded and non-invaded plots and recorded five functional traits for plants and six for Collembola. We found that invasion by P. coronata led to a strong and significant decrease of native plants and Collembola taxonomic diversity. Ingress of P. coronata also induced a decrease in the functional diversity of plant communities and to a lesser extent of Collembola communities. P. coronata invasion led to a decrease of leaf carbon-nitrogen ratio (LCN), Leaf nitrogen content (LN), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) of plant communities, suggesting a change in litter properties compared to non-invaded communities. Plots with P. coronata were associated with large Collembola living at the soil surface with more trichobothria and pseudocelli, which are used as defence mechanisms. Using trait-matching, we also found that the strength of plant-soil relationships was higher (i.e. more stable) in non-invaded plots than in P. coronata-invaded plots. Lastly this study suggests that the main mechanism through which P. coronata alters soil communities is a change in plant properties rather than a change in the abiotic environment. Our trait-based approach underlines the negative impact of this alien palm invasion on native rainforest plant and soil fauna in Fiji, and the urgent need for on-the-ground action to conserve terrestrial island biodiversity in Fiji´s rainforests.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A functional trait‐based approach to assess the impact of an alien palm invasion on plant and soil communities on a South Pacific island

et al. 2021

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Invasive alien palm Pinanga coronata threatens native tree ferns in an oceanic island rainforest

et al. 2018

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Invasive ornamental plants are a global problem that can have severe impacts on native biodiversity, especially on islands. To determine whether the invasive, ornamental ivory-cane palm Pinanga coronata could be displacing native biodiversity, we investigated its co-distribution with native tree ferns in a Fijian rainforest. We recorded the abundances of P. coronata and tree ferns and related these to environmental variables using linear models and generalised linear mixed-effect models (GLMMs). Distance to an introduction site was the most significant factor predicting the palm’s distribution and abundance, suggesting that its current distribution is limited by insufficient time for wider dispersal. P. coronata cover was strongly and negatively related with the abundance of native tree ferns and the palm may therefore be displacing native tree ferns. This relationship was strongest with tree fern seedlings and weakest with mature tree ferns, implying that the palm is preventing the establishment of native tree ferns. This study thus provides strong circumstantial evidence that P. coronata is progressively displacing native tree ferns by preventing seedling establishment and poses a severe threat to Fiji’s native biodiversity and ecological processes. Therefore, urgent management is required to control and prevent the further spread of P. coronata and its negative impacts on native plant biodiversity. Management should involve an initial feasibility study to determine the effectiveness of various management strategies, followed by targeted control and/or eradication campaigns and long-term monitoring. Ultimately, well implemented legislation to prevent the spread and introduction of P. coronata and other ornamental plants will be crucial to protect native biodiversity in Fiji and elsewhere.

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Patterns of leaf and inflorescence production of Pinanga coronata (Arecaceae) in a tropical montane rainforest in West Java.

Cited by 2 publications

References 14 publications

A functional trait‐based approach to assess the impact of an alien palm invasion on plant and soil communities on a South Pacific island

A functional trait‐based approach to assess the impact of an alien palm invasion on plant and soil communities on a South Pacific island

Invasive alien palm Pinanga coronata threatens native tree ferns in an oceanic island rainforest

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