New tool to help fight war against alien invaders

Abstract

Alien invasive species Invasion biology has become a hugely important scientific field worldwide as invasive species increasingly threaten to decrease biodiversity and modify ecosystems. The same is true in South Africa, where plants establishing outside of their natural distribution ranges represent one of the major threats to ecosystems and their functions. For these reasons, the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) considers alien organisms – both plant and animal – to be among the most important agents of anthropogenic change. Areas dedicated to the protection and conservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity, such as the Kruger National Park, are particularly threatened by alien plants which establish along water courses, ‘escape’ into the protected area from adjacent gardens and are inadvertently introduced through road hardening. It is therefore imperative that more be done to recognise and prevent the spread of alien plants in this, and other national parks.

Authors

Categories