An inventory of native-alien populations in South Africa

Abstract

Species can be both native and alien to a given administrative region. Here we present the first consolidated inventory of these ‘native-alien populations’ for South Africa, and provide an overview of the data it contains. To gather data, literature searches were performed and experts were consulted both directly and via an on-line survey. Putative native-alien populations were then scored based on a newly developed protocol. The final inventory contains information on 77 native species from 49 families across nine classes that have formed 132 native-alien populations across the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. The phenomenon is rare when compared to the prevalence of related phenomena, such as alien species introduced from other countries (2033 alien species in South Africa), but is under-reported. However, they pose a specific problem for regulators and managers and their importance will likely increase with global change. These data will be integrated with an existing alien species list and, we hope, will provide a useful foundation to address the issue. We encourage those working on biodiversity to contribute more records.

Assessing Alien Plant Invasions in Urban Environments: A Case Study of Tshwane University of Technology and Implications for Biodiversity Conservation

“…The widespread distribution of Pueraria montana, L. camara, and A. donax highlights the gap between the local authorities (local municipalities and government institutions) and institutions in managing invasive alien species in the urban area (Figure 6d-f). Seven newly reported native-alien populations recorded in this study will add to the list of native-alien populations in South Africa reported by Nelufule et al [47]. Two of these species were shared between the two sampling sites, namely, Aptenia cordifolia and Tephrosia grandiflora, while five other species were recorded only within the university campus.…”

“…Seven newly reported native-alien populations recorded in this study will add to the list of native-alien populations in South Africa reported by Nelufule et al [ 47 ]. Two of these species were shared between the two sampling sites, namely, Aptenia cordifolia and Tephrosia grandiflora , while five other species were recorded only within the university campus.…”

“…We encourage the landscaping services at different institutions to use native plant species from the same biogeographical region for ornamental or landscaping purposes, as native species pose risks of forming native-alien populations in different countries and have been reported to threaten biodiversity [49,50]. Seven newly reported native-alien populations recorded in this study will add to the list of native-alien populations in South Africa reported by Nelufule et al [47]. Two of these species were shared between the two sampling sites, namely, Aptenia cordifolia and Tephrosia grandiflora, while five other species were recorded only within the university campus.…”

“…We recorded the presence of all alien plant species visible within the transect outside the university fence, taking a GPS waypoint every 10 m [ 75 , 91 ]. We also recorded native-alien populations (i.e., South African native species occurring outside their geographical barriers, as indicated by Nelufule et al [ 47 ]) and classified them using a protocol for identifying native-alien populations [ 92 ].…”

Evaluating the Status of Lost, Found and Sighted Non-Native Pet Bird Species in South Africa

“…Although in this study there were few lost reports for Common mynas and Common starlings, their population may likely integrate with those already outside captivity and establish further populations, given their potential distribution patterns in South Africa and elsewhere [15,36,56,72,73]. Furthermore, the identification of the native-alien populations in South Africa [74] indicates a rise in the within-country dispersal of native bird species facilitated by the pet trade. For example, there have been reports of pet escapees of Rosyfaced and Fischer's lovebirds in South Africa, particularly in the Gauteng region [34,36,75].…”