Hi, Though research studies are needed at large on the impacts of invasive species on local/ native flora but here you could find few examples to carry out work on this aspect.
First, Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India We all know about the world heritage site wher Prosopis juliflora was dominant invasive species along with Water Hyacinth. In 2007, KNP Forest Department started uprooting of this invasive species. The earlier species are well documented in the work of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai. Today one could see the revival of native flora specially Salvadora & Acacia spp. You can compare the flora before invasion of Prosopis juliflora, at the time of P. juliflora and after its removal. Research work could be referenced in your work which is readily available with KNP Forest Department &/or BNHS. Second, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirohi, Rajasthan, India Here you could find the well documented literature on plantation of exotic species specially Eucalyptus and Lantana. Though studies on impact of plantation of these species are lacking but on the basis of the availability of the herbs (which are mainly collected by local people from very past) could be assessed. Will give you one example of the impact - Species of Carrissa, Rosa and many aquatic species of medicinal value were now no more to see on the table land of the Abu Hills which were once common on this part of hills. Human settlements are mainly on this table land. Further, expansion of the Lantana is taking place through out the hills. Seeds of Lantana are dispersed by the droppings of Bulbul (very common bird) and Sloth Bear (common mammal) in core areas of hills. The aquatic bodies (pictures from archives) which were once full of local vegetation are now either dried or even lost their existence. One could easily see monoculture Eucalyptus in those aquatic bodies. Regards Satya Prakash Mehra Advisor - RSNH & Manger - Project Boond Rajasthan, India --- On Sun, 1/8/10, Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com> Subject: [efloraofindia:43083] Any research on this among the group? To: "indiantreepix" <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com> Date: Sunday, 1 August, 2010, 5:18 PM Dear all, "Invasive plants can affect community structure and ecosystem processes in various ways. One of the ways in which an invasive plant can impact ecosystem functioning is by disrupting native plant-pollinator interactions,." says a researcher from Bangalore. Recently I have seen a massive growth of an invasive plant Lantana camara in Hoskote on the outskirts of Bangalore. Does any one in the group have any research findings that can bind this explosion of the Lantana to Climate Change. I am interested in working a story on this but I do not have scientific proof to support this phenomenon. regds, Marianne -- Fellow with UNFCCC, UNEP & Robert Bosch Stiftung Former Asst Editor- The Deccan Herald Freelance Journalist Adjunct faculty St. Joseph's College & COMMITS http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/
