Vulnerability and resilience of rainforests to plant invasions in a tropical island of the South Pacific: a sixteen-year survey
Abstract
Island
biodiversity
is
considered
to
be
particularly
vulnerable
biological
invasions.
However,
the
direct
impacts
of
invasive
alien
plants
on
native
and
endemic
flora
are
often
difficult
assess.
Indeed,
invasion
by
woody
species
a
relatively
slow
process,
natural
or
anthropogenic
disturbances
that
favor
some
plant
invaders,
also
contribute
loss,
might
act
as
confounding
factors.
Hence,
we
conducted
long-term
monitoring
rainforest
composition
structure
in
small
tropical
high
volcanic
island
Moorea
(French
Polynesia,
South
Pacific)
over
16-year
(2006–2022)
period
without
any
major
disturbance.
All
endemic,
with
stem
≥
1
cm
diameter
were
identified
measured
4-year
frequency
ten
20
m
×
plots.
The
variation
richness,
Shannon
diversity,
Pielou
evenness
abundance
time
was
analyzed
using
linear
mixed-effects
models
identities
plots
random
Results
revealed
an
increase
number
stems
(+
50%
16
years),
especially
two
most
common
trees,
Miconia
calvescens
(Melastomataceae)
Spathodea
campanulata
(Bignoniaceae).
In
contrast,
found
decrease
richness
(from
28
19)
(-20%
stems)
species,
higher-elevation
Three
remained
stable
terms
invasions
according
indices,
persisted
time.
Although
continuous
decline
including
extirpation,
observed,
our
results
suggest
relative
resilience
certain
forest
types
associated
communities
Efforts
control
should
therefore
target
habitats.
Research Square (Research Square), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown
Опубликована: Сен. 27, 2024
Язык: Английский