PJB-2024-349
INVASIVENESS IMPACT OF MESOSPHAERUM SUAVEOLENS (L.) KUNTZE ON THE KOLDA’S FLORA IN THE SUBTROPICAL FOREST OF SOUTHERN SENEGAL
Samba Laha KA
Abstract
Invasive alien plants are a global problem and are becoming ubiquitous components of most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These plants can trigger profound and irreversible ecosystem changes through floral composition and diversity alteration. However, there is still a knowledge gap on such effects on native species under Sudanian conditions of West Africa. In an attempt to narrow this knowledge gap, a study was conducted aiming at assessing the changes in the native flora’s diversity and composition following M. suaveolens (Pignut) invasion in the Kolda district, in the Sudanian zone of southern Senegal. Using a comparative approach, native vegetation diversity, cover and composition were compared in fallows, croplands and rangelands during two years of investigation. The present study revealed the presence of a total of 83 species belonging to 52 genera and 15 families. During the first year of survey, the number of species were 28, 33 and 34 in the Rangelands, Croplands and Fallows, respectively while 40, 46 and 50 species were recorded in Rangelands, Fallows and Field crops respectively in second year. Pignut had the greatest average Importance Value Index (IVI) in Fallows and Rangelands regardless of the year, while it was reported as the fifth (year 1) and second (year 2) most important species in Croplands. Results also showed that vegetation diversity (Margalef, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou index) decreased significantly with each increase in pignut density and dry matter. This preliminary study offers a baseline for further research to determine the effect of pignut on native vegetation under Sudanian environmental conditions as well as the related mechanisms involved in native vegetation changes.
Keywords: Invasive alien plant, Mesosphaerum suaveolens, species diversity, species composition, Importance Value Index, Sudanian zone
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