Ticking time bombs  -  current and potential future impacts of four invasive plant species on the biodiversity of lowland tropical rainforests in south-east Viti Levu, Fiji

Keppel, Gunnar; Watling, Dick

doi:10.1071/sp11009

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The octopus tree or Queensland umbrella tree Schefflera actinophylla is another good example, commonly planted in the main cities of many Pacific islands (J.-Y. Meyer, personal observation), as well as in villages in American Samoa, Palau, and in urban areas and along roadsides on Viti Levu, Fiji (Keppel and Watling 2011). In Tahiti, the fleshy fruits of S. actinophylla are dispersed by both native and alien frugivorous birds and is rapidly spreading in mesic and rain forests up to 1 000 m elevation, threatening remnant populations of the rare endangered endemic tree Erythrina tahitensis (J.-Y.…”

Section: The Next Invadersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical issues and new challenges for research and management of invasive plants in the Pacific Islands

Meyer¹

2014

Pac. Conserv. Biol.

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Invasive alien species are recognized as a major threat to island biodiversity and ecosystem functions worldwide, with well-documented, detrimental impacts on the native biota of Oceania. Despite their high number and rapid increase in the Pacific Islands, invasive alien plants (IAP) have received less attention by researchers, managers, and the general public compared to invasive animals (e.g., predatory mammals). Indeed, although lists of IAP in natural and agroecosystems have been set up in most island countries and territories, their ecological and socio-economical impacts are still not well documented and/or popularized. Very few IAP eradication successes have been reported, and postcontrol monitoring and cost-benefit analysis are often missing. Moreover, most of the published studies have been conducted in the Hawaiian and the Galápagos islands. This essay is a call for more research and management efforts on IAP in Oceania, especially in the small tropical Pacific Islands. Focal areas should not only include species bioecology, control strategies and methods and prioritization systems (including risk assessments), but also better understanding of island ecosystems functioning (e.g. forest dynamics and resilience), with the integration of past and present anthropogenic and natural disturbances. The importance of "novel" ecosystems, where natural habitats have been partially or totally modified by humans, and the potential effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems should be addressed, and new conservation and management strategies defined in the Pacific Islands, in order to try to halt biodiversity erosion in highly vulnerable island ecosystems.

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Section: The Next Invadersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical issues and new challenges for research and management of invasive plants in the Pacific Islands

Meyer¹

2014

Pac. Conserv. Biol.

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“…Interest in the spread and impacts of non-native trees and shrubs on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is accelerating (e.g., Holland-Clift et al, 2011;Keppel & Watling, 2011;Aslan et al, 2012;Brand et al, 2012;Meinhardt & Gehring, 2012;Rascher et al, 2012;Rodewald, 2012;Saure et al, 2013). This note reports on the update of our database of invasive trees and shrubs that was originally used as online supporting information for our global review of alien trees and shrubs (Richardson & Rejm anek, 2011).…”

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confidence: 99%

Trees and shrubs as invasive alien species – 2013 update of the global database

Rejmánek

Richardson

2013

Diversity and Distributions

304

175

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The global database of invasive trees and shrubs (Richardson & Rejm anek, 2011; Diversity Distrib. 17, 788-809) has been updated, resulting in a total of 751 species (434 trees and 317 shrubs) from 90 families. Ten originally listed species were deleted (synonyms, inconclusive identification, etc.) and 139 additional invasive species (86 trees and 53 shrubs) are now included in the database. For many species, new records on their adventive distributions are added. The updated database also includes the native ranges for all listed species.

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“…Whilst this demonstrates the potential for re-establishing native lowland rainforest, the scenario would primarily depend on the ability of the majority of native species to thrive under the closed mahogany canopy and the ability of the matured native cohort to outcompete mahogany in a secondary forest system. Saplings of mahogany have been observed in the understory of primary forests along the peripherals of mahogany plantations throughout south-east Viti Levu (Keppel et al, 2005;Keppel and Watling, 2011). Whilst this is also evident in the outskirts of the plantation it is suggestive that mahogany could persist in its current location however likely at a lower density that it presently does.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Species diversity, composition and the regeneration potential of native plants at the Wainiveiota Mahogany Plantation, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

Tuiwawa¹,

Keppel²

2012

S. Pac. J. Nat. App. Sci.

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Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) plantations cover a considerable area on the south-eastern parts of Viti Levu, Fiji. The understorey of these plantations often comprise a diverse, but undocumented, assemblage of native plant species. This study investigates the diversity, composition and regeneration potential of native plant species in the Wainiveiota mahogany plantation 40-50 years after establishment. Ten 10 m x 10 m plots were alternately placed at 10 m intervals perpendicular to a 200 m line transect. A total of 491 individual plants with dbh ≥ 1 cm, comprising 69 species, 51 genera and 34 families, were sampled. In addition to the exotic mahogany, there were 68 native (39 endemic, 24 indigenous and 5 identified to genus only) species recorded. Girronniera celtidifolia Gaud., Dillenia biflora (A.Gray) Martelli ex Dur. & Jacks and Barringtonia edulis Seem. had the highest recruitment and Endospermum macrophyllum (Muell.Arg.) Pax & Hoffm. was the dominant native species. Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) was the most diverse genus and Myrtaceae the most diverse family. With 98% of the sapling recruitment consisting of native species, there is potential for re-establishment of a lowland rainforest dominated by native species over time.

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Ticking time bombs - current and potential future impacts of four invasive plant species on the biodiversity of lowland tropical rainforests in south-east Viti Levu, Fiji

Cited by 16 publications

References 15 publications

Critical issues and new challenges for research and management of invasive plants in the Pacific Islands

Critical issues and new challenges for research and management of invasive plants in the Pacific Islands

Trees and shrubs as invasive alien species – 2013 update of the global database

Species diversity, composition and the regeneration potential of native plants at the Wainiveiota Mahogany Plantation, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

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