Tahiti's native flora endangered by the invasion of Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae)

Meyer, Jean‐Yves; Florence, Jacques

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.1996.tb00038.x

Cited by 195 publications

(109 citation statements)

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“…An understanding of the range of threats to native plant species on oceanic islands is critical because of the shift in plant community dominance from native to non-native species in many natural areas (Meyer and Florence 1996;Mascaro et al 2008;Cordell et al 2009). Achatina fulica and V. cubensis have become widely established on both islands and continents, yet they are just two of 38 non-native gastropod species that have established in Hawaii, which highlights the need to examine more interactions of gastropod species with native and non-native plants in Hawaii.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trait-based plant mortality and preference for native versus non-native seedlings by invasive slug and snail herbivores in Hawaii

2014

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Non-native herbivores may alter plant communities through their preferential consumption of seedlings of different species. We assessed seedling herbivory by two invasive gastropod species in Hawaii, the giant African snail (Achatina fulica) and the Cuban brown slug (Veronicella cubensis). We hypothesized that six native species would suffer greater gastropod herbivory than four non-native species, and that species with short stature, thin leaves, and lacking physical defenses would suffer the greatest mortality from gastropods. Herbivory was measured during 13-day preference trials using enclosures that each contained four different woody species (two native, two non-native) and were assigned to one of three treatments: giant African snail, Cuban brown slug, or control (no gastropod). Discriminant function analysis was used to predict gastropod-induced seedling mortality from a suite of seedling characteristics. Native species did not always experience greater herbivory than non-natives species, and seedling mortality was 0-100 %. Native Pipturus albidus and Clermontia parviflora suffered 100 % mortality from V. cubensis herbivory, and P. albidus, Psychotria hawaiiensis, and Myrsine lessertiana suffered C80 % mortality from A. fulica. Two non-natives (Fraxinus uhdei, Clidemia hirta), and two natives (Metrosideros polymorpha, Diospyros sandwicensis), suffered little damage and no mortality. Non-native Ardisia elliptica suffered 10-30 % gastropod mortality, and non-native Psidium cattleianum mortality was 0-50 %. Leaf thickness best predicted species mortality caused by slugs and snails; some thicker-leaved species suffered most. Invasive snails and slugs threaten some native and non-native seedlings by directly consuming them. Current and future plant community structure in Hawaii may in part reflect the feeding preferences of invasive gastropods.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trait-based plant mortality and preference for native versus non-native seedlings by invasive slug and snail herbivores in Hawaii

2014

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“…Between 40 and 50 endemic plant species are considered directly threatened by the invasion of Miconia calvescens in the island of Tahiti (Meyer and Florence 1996). Most of them are understory shrubs or small trees (Meyer 2001).…”

Section: Endemic Plants Endangered By Invasive Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…368 balanaceae), a shrub known to be higWy invasive in the Seychelles Islands where it was introduced as a reforestation species (Friedmann 1994), has invaded the Temehani plateaus on the island of Raiatea (Society Islands) that support a unique dwarf cloud forest association between 600 and 700 m elevation (Meyer 1998a). Last but not least, the tree Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae), a dominant invader in the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, and Tahaa) and recently accidentally introduced in the Marquesas Islands (Nuku Hiva, Fatu Hiva) and the Austral Islands (Rurutu and Rapa Iti) with contaminated soil, is considered to be by far the worst of all invasive plants in the Pacific Island wet forests (Fosberg 1992, Meyer and Florence 1996, Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998, Whittaker 1998. It forms densely shaded monospecific stands from near sea level up to 1,300 m elevation and occupies the belt between 1,500 and 2,500 mm of rainfall per year, including pristine, undisturbed cloud forest habitats (Meyer 1996).…”

Section: Current Alien Invasive Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threat of Invasive Alien Plants to Native Flora and Forest Vegetation of Eastern Polynesia

Meyer¹

2004

Pacific Science

102

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“…Our work indicates that the impact of IAP on the reproductive output of native trees is more generalized than previously demonstrated [23], since it shows that understory species are also negatively impacted. Many of the most threatened endemic species of the island are understory species [14,18,21], which may also be the case elsewhere [43].…”

Section: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive Alien Plants Elicit Reduced Production of Flowers and Fruits in Various Native Forest Species on the Tropical Island of Mauritius (Mascarenes, Indian Ocean)

Monty

Florens

Baider

2013

Tropical Conservation Science

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Biological invasions constitute a major threat to biodiversity. However, while the impact of invasive alien animals on native biota is often unambiguous, the impacts of invasive alien plants (IAP) appear to be considerably less severe and, at times, more debatable. Invasion by alien plants co-occur with other drivers of habitat change such that assessing impacts of IAP independently of these other factors may be difficult. Generalisations can be misleading, because studies reveal different responses of native plants to the presence of IAP. Therefore, there is a need to understand general trends and exceptions within a particular habitat. In the island of Mauritius, mechanical control of invasive alien plants has been implemented for decades in lowland wet forests. Weeded and non-weeded areas are very similar in all aspects, except for the control of IAP, providing an opportunity to study how IAP are affecting native plants. We monitored the reproductive output of 20-40 individuals each, of nine selected native species from different forest strata, in both weeded and adjacent non-weeded areas in a lowland wet forest, through direct count/estimation of the number of flower buds, flowers and fruits. Flower bud, flower and fruit production were greater in the weeded area. These results are consistent with previous findings that noted greater regeneration of native trees in these areas. This study also provides clues to reported decline of shade tolerant understory vegetation in alien invaded forest and further stresses the importance of removing alien plants to restore biodiversity and function and achieve conservation success. Keywords: Conservation management, Invasive plants, Phenology, Native plants ResumoInvasões biológicas são uma ameaça séria à biodiversidade. Enquanto o impacto dos animais exóticos invasores na biodiversidade é considerado inequívoco, o das plantas exóticas invasoras (PEI) parece ser menos problemático e mais controversos. PEI atuam simultaneamente com outros elementos modificadores do ambiente e discernir os seus impactos únicos é uma tarefa difícil. Como estudos têm mostrado respostas diferentes das plantas nativas quando na presença de PEI, generalizações podem ser enganosas, pois é necessário que entenda-se primeiro as tendências gerais e depois as exceções de cada habitat. Na ilha Maurício, o controle mecânico de PEI têm sido feito nas florestas ombrófilas úmidas perenifólias de baixa altitude já há algumas décadas. Como áreas floristicamente similares onde PEI foram removidas são adjacentes às áreas que continuam invadidas, estudos podem determinar a influência das PEI nas plantas nativas. As fenofases de 20-40 indivíduos, de nove espécies nativas de diferentes estratos, foram inspecionadas em áreas adjacentes com e sem PEI, e quantificadas por meio de contagem direta e/ou estimativa do número de botões florais, flores e frutos. A produção de botões florais, flores e frutos foram maiores nas áreas sem PEI, o que corrobora estudos anteriores que mostraram uma maior regeneração d...

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Tahiti's native flora endangered by the invasion of Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae)

Cited by 195 publications

References 1 publication

Trait-based plant mortality and preference for native versus non-native seedlings by invasive slug and snail herbivores in Hawaii

Trait-based plant mortality and preference for native versus non-native seedlings by invasive slug and snail herbivores in Hawaii

Threat of Invasive Alien Plants to Native Flora and Forest Vegetation of Eastern Polynesia

Invasive Alien Plants Elicit Reduced Production of Flowers and Fruits in Various Native Forest Species on the Tropical Island of Mauritius (Mascarenes, Indian Ocean)

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