A New Method for Post-introduction Risk Assessment of Biological Invasions Among Introduced Shrubs in Developing Countries
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Environmental management
Abstract
Risk-assessment methods are useful in collecting
data that can help decision making to prevent the
introduction of new species that have the potential of
invading as well as in management of established taxa. Not
only the complexity and unaffordability of available preintroduction
risk-assessment models make them rarely or
inconsistently applied in the least-developed countries, but
also there is lack of tools to assess the status of already
introduced plant species. In this study, an affordable and
rapid method of assessment of invasiveness among introduced
plant species was developed and tested in Rwanda.
This method defines three invasion stages (potential,
effective, and suppressive invaders) and four levels of risk
assessment: post-introduction assessment of species
inherent invasive potential (Level 1), post-establishment
assessment of species capacity of regeneration (Level 2),
post-naturalization assessment of species range of occurrence
and ability for long-distance dispersal (Level 3), and
post-naturalization assessment of species ability to outcompete
other plants in the community and transform the
landscape (Level 4). A review of invasive species in
Rwanda was developed through desk review, examination
of herbarium records, and vegetation surveys. This method
should be applicable in other countries that lack the means
for a more conventional scientific investigation or under
any circumstance where a quick and inexpensive assessment
is needed. The method could be useful to environmental
managers for timely intervention with strategies
specific to different stages of invasion (post-introduction,
post-establishment, or post-naturalization) and allocate
resources accordingly.
Description
Keywords
Alien, Shrubs, Invasive, Suppressive
Citation
Seburanga, J. L., Bizuru, E., Mwavu, E. N., Kampungu, K. G., Gatesire, T., & Kaplin, B. A. (2016). A new method for post-introduction risk assessment of biological invasions among introduced shrubs in developing countries. Environmental management, 57(3), 572-584. DOI 10.1007/s00267-015-0639-1