PJB-2019-362
THE RATE OF RECOLONIZATION BY NATIVE PLANT SPECIES AFTER THE ERADICATION OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES (Acacia decurrens Willd.) IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
Melford Mbedzi
Abstract
Riparian invasive alien plants are known to compete with native plant species for resources such as; water, space, daylight, and different other resources, by decreasing structural diversity of native vegetation, subsequently changing the functioning of the ecosystem. This thusly impacts the number and type of organisms that can be supported by that vegetation. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of native plant species recolonization after the eradication of the invasive alien plant species. The high competitive ability of the invasive alien species has additionally been specified as a key factor in advancing successful invasive potential. The investigation was done in the Waterberg district municipality, Limpopo Province in the farm which is highly infested with the alien invasive plant species. 24 Permanents plots of 10 m2 were constructed and the invasive alien plants in the plots were removed and the area was monitored for a period of 2 years. The decision for the size of quadrats was chosen looking at the size and distribution of the invasive alien plants which develop in an aggregated form and have exceptionally small canopies. The recolonization by native species or other species in the sites which were previously only home to the invasive alien plants was recorded in the area. It is possible for the regions previously infested with invasive alien plant species to be colonized by indigenous plant species, continued monitoring of disturbed areas needs to be done after the removal of the invasive alien plant species.
To Cite this article:
Download
