Status of the Invasion of a Poaceae Species in Tropical Semiarid Reservoirs

Alves, Rafael Machado de Araújo; Albuquerque, Manoel Bandeira de; Barbosa, Luciana Gomes

doi:10.1590/s0100-83582017350100041

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(15 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, the positive effects of increased precipitation on aquatic plant communities were overshadowed by the invasion of U. arrecta . Our findings provide worrying evidence as U. arrecta has expanded its distribution range over the last decades in the Neotropics (Global Biodiversity Information Facility; http://www.gbif.org/), reaching even highly biodiverse ecosystems in the Amazon region (Fares et al, 2020) and in semi‐arid regions (Alves et al, 2017). Our results add to the growing body of evidence that biological invasions are a major driver of freshwater biodiversity homogenisation worldwide (Gallardo et al, 2016; Hensel et al, 2021; Vilà et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Invasion by an exotic grass species homogenizes native freshwater plant communities

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A growing body of evidence has shown that biological invasions cause shifts in species composition of communities in space and time. Although biological invasions are considered a major driver of biotic homogenisation worldwide, most previous studies were conducted at small spatial scales and over short time periods, which may have underestimated the impacts of exotic species on native communities. Using a unique dataset of aquatic plants sampled in 235 sites over 12 years (2007–2010 and 2015–2019) in a large reservoir (Itaipu Reservoir; 1350 km2), we analysed how the invasion of a non‐native grass Urochloa arrecta affects the species richness, ecological uniqueness (i.e. local contribution to beta diversity—LCBD) and temporal β–diversity of native plant communities. From 3934 surveyed plant communities, U. arrecta was recorded in 2888 samples and it was absent from 1046 samples. Overall, species richness and ecological uniqueness of native plant communities were markedly lower in sites invaded than non‐invaded by U. arrecta. From 2007 to 2019, the ecological uniqueness of native plants was 60% lower in the invaded than non‐invaded sites. Whereas in invaded sites species loss was the dominant process driving native communities over time, in non‐invaded sites gain of new native species was the primary process underlying community trajectories. Moreover, comparing native plant communities before and after the invasion of U. arrecta, species richness, ecological uniqueness and species gains of native plant communities decreased, whereas species losses increased after the invasion of U. arrecta. Finally, the positive relationship between native biodiversity and precipitation was stronger in non‐invaded than invaded sites. Synthesis. Our findings provide comprehensive evidence that an invasive plant is decreasing the spatial and temporal β–diversity of native plant communities through declining species richness, rather than simply correlating with them. This suggests that U. arrecta is driving native plants to become less diverse and homogeneous after the invasion, both spatially and temporally. Our findings illustrate that at broad scales, aquatic plant communities may become increasingly homogeneous with the increasing number of biological invasion events taking place worldwide.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Invasion by an exotic grass species homogenizes native freshwater plant communities

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These studies analyzed how invasive macrophytes influence aquatic organisms like other macrophytes, invertebrates and fish. For example, the African Poaceae Urochloa arrecta, which is invading several Brazilian ecosystems (Pott et al 2011, Fernandes et al 2013, Alves et al 2017, Fares et al 2020, seems to have strong negative impacts (through competition) on native macrophytes communities, decreasing their diversity and changing the community composition (Michelan et al 2010, Fernandes et al 2013, Amorim et al 2015. Experiments also show negative impacts of the submerged macrophyte Hydrilla verticillata on the native Egeria najas (Silveira et al 2018).…”

Section: Invasion Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of Aquatic Macrophytes in Brazil: The Legacy of Francisco De Assis Esteves

Thomaz¹,

Carvalho²,

Mormul³

et al. 2022

Oecol. Austr.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this review, we evaluate the contribution of Brazilian limnologists to research outputs on aquatic macrophyte ecology. We found a strong “adviser effect” of Professor F.A. Esteves on the Brazilian scientific production focused on aquatic macrophytes. In general, articles focused on a variety of themes, including, inter alia, the role of aquatic macrophytes on the biodiversity of other groups, the interaction between macrophytes and the environment, the effects of environmental factors on aquatic macrophytes distribution and biodiversity, the effects of invasive species on aquatic biodiversity, aquatic macrophytes control and decomposition. Emerging topics (e.g., metacommunity ecology, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning, and patterns of diversity and their determinants) are being embraced by Brazilian limnologists that use aquatic macrophytes as organism models. Despite the fact there is much to study, we think that directly (e.g., via mentoring) or indirectly (via publications), our current knowledge about macrophytes ecology was inspired by Chico Esteves.

show abstract

The vicinity of reservoirs and type of environment contribute to the occurrence of an exotic cladoceran, Daphnia lumholtzi (Sars, 1885), in a Neotropical drainage basin

Nunes

Mantovano

Pedroso

et al. 2021

Internat Rev Hydrobiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biological invasions are one of the major threats to the integrity of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. We examined the influence of reservoirs, availability of food resources, abiotic resistance, and biotic resistance on the distribution of Daphnia lumholtzi, a non‐native cladoceran that is spreading through habitats in the upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. We sampled 48 sites distributed in four habitat types: reservoirs, lakes, tributaries, and the main river. D. lumholtzi densities were higher in reservoirs than in other habitat types (lentic and lotic). We found a significant correlation between a higher density of D. lumholtzi and the distance from reservoirs to the other sampling points. Additionally, a relationship between D. lumholtzi and types of environments was noted. It is known that cladocerans, including D. lumholtzi, have a reduced swimming ability, which makes it difficult for them to overcome currents and consequently establish or maintain large populations in lotic environments. Further research is needed to identify other factors responsible for the species' occurrence in this system and to determine the possible effects this species may have on the native community.

show abstract

Status of the Invasion of a Poaceae Species in Tropical Semiarid Reservoirs

Cited by 7 publications

References 11 publications

Invasion by an exotic grass species homogenizes native freshwater plant communities

Invasion by an exotic grass species homogenizes native freshwater plant communities

Ecology of Aquatic Macrophytes in Brazil: The Legacy of Francisco De Assis Esteves

The vicinity of reservoirs and type of environment contribute to the occurrence of an exotic cladoceran, Daphnia lumholtzi (Sars, 1885), in a Neotropical drainage basin

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About