The Distribution and Problems of the Invasive Alien Plant, <i>Mimosa diplotricha</i> C. Wright ex Sauvalle (Mimosaceae) in Nigeria

Abstract

Mimosa diplotricha is an invasive perennial, scrambling, thorny, leguminous shrub of neotropical origin widely acknowledged as a major economic, agricultural and ecological burden in its introduced ranges. Although the plant is thought to have been present in Nigeria for well over two decades, its mode and time of introduction is uncertain. In spite of the continuing spread of, and the menace caused by M. diplotricha in Nigeria, no attempt has been made to map the distribution of the plant countrywide. Therefore, we conducted a countrywide survey between 2007 and 2009, sponsored by the Weed Science Society of Nigeria (WSSN) to determine the spread and status of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria. A further objective of this paper was to review literatures on Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria and elsewhere to enable comparison. In this paper, we report on the spread, distribution and problems of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria based on the field monitoring surveys conducted. The distribution of this invasive plant in Nigeria has been mapped and is presented together with its ecology and problems being caused. Since the early 1990s, the weed has started to spread and invade many parts of the country causing significant damage to many natural and semi natural ecosystems. The different control options used by farmers to control Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria are discussed. Based on the successful control of this invasive plant using the biocontrol agent, Heteropsylla spinulosa in countries such as Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), we discussed the biological control prospects for the management of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria. Such control attempts stands to benefit from international collaborations between Nigerian institutions and a host of others in Australia, PNG and/or Brazil. Finally three major causes for the massive and continuing spread of this weed in Nigeria are presented with recommendations for the Nigerian government and institutions to: 1) formulate policies and legislations regarding the control and management of invasive alien plant species which is currently nonexistent; 2) enlighten the general public on the dangers of invasive alien plant species such as Mimosa diplotricha; and 3) initiate actions such as early detection and rapid response (EDRR) and biological control in order to prevent further spread of, and invasion by invasive plant species including Mimosa diplotricha.

Comparative performance of the highly invasive Mimosa invisa and its less invasive subspecies under different nutrient and light conditions

“…Mimosa invisa are native to Brazil and are currently found in most parts of Asia, Africa, and some Pacific island countries (Australia and Papua New Guinea; Ekhator et al ., ). Before 1950, M. invisa was introduced into Taiwan and Guangdong as an ornamental plant and green manure and then introduced into Hainan as a green manure (Xu et al ., ).…”

Mimosa diplotricha (Fabaceae) Recruits Native Pollinators, But Does it Matter?

“…Such a 'flower-generous' invaders, like mimosa, can create a sea of alien flowers that traps native pollinators away from native plants as less energy would be intuitively required to collect floral resources from a focal point of homogenous stands than from widely scattered native ones. The crux here is that in Nigeria, M. diplotricha is gradually becoming a dominant weed (Ekhator et al, 2013), which attracts native pollinators; however, there is paucity of information on the true species composition and diversity of pollinators utilising its floral resource(s). With focus on an invaded plot at the University of Benin, which is situated in one of southern Nigeria's most-impacted areas where the invader is observably proliferating at an alarming rate (see Ekhator et al, 2013), the knowledge gap was addressed.…”

“…The crux here is that in Nigeria, M. diplotricha is gradually becoming a dominant weed (Ekhator et al, 2013), which attracts native pollinators; however, there is paucity of information on the true species composition and diversity of pollinators utilising its floral resource(s). With focus on an invaded plot at the University of Benin, which is situated in one of southern Nigeria's most-impacted areas where the invader is observably proliferating at an alarming rate (see Ekhator et al, 2013), the knowledge gap was addressed. Furthermore, the ecological implications of native pollinators' use of an invasive plant's floristic resources were discussed.…”

“…Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle is a nonnative, thorny flowering leguminous shrub that is native to tropical South America, but introduced to Nigeria and has been listed as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species (Lowe, 2000). It forms a dense impenetrable stems armed with broad-based prickles and it is widely distributed in Nigeria (Ekhator et al, 2013). With its pale purple flowers borne on its subglobose pedunculate head, the flowers of M. diplotricha dominate its invaded habitats provided water availability remains unhindered (Lonsdale, 1988;Ekhator et al, 2013).…”

“…It forms a dense impenetrable stems armed with broad-based prickles and it is widely distributed in Nigeria (Ekhator et al, 2013). With its pale purple flowers borne on its subglobose pedunculate head, the flowers of M. diplotricha dominate its invaded habitats provided water availability remains unhindered (Lonsdale, 1988;Ekhator et al, 2013). Several studies have shown the attractiveness of native pollinators to invasive alien species including mimosa (Ghazoul, 2002;Memmott and Waser, 2002;Chittka and Schurkens, 2001;Moragues and Traveset, 2005;Stout et al, 2006;Lopezaraiza-Mikel et al, 2007;Forester, 2010;Gess and Gess, 2014;Stout and Tiedeken, Mimosa diplotricha (Fabaceae) Recruits Native…..…”