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Forest canopy resists plant invasions: a case study of Chromolaena odorata in sub-tropical Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Nepal

LN Sharma, B Adhikari, MF Watson, B Karna, E Paudel, BB Shrestha, DP Rijal
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/747287
LN Sharma
1ForestAction, Nepal, Bagdol Ringroad, Lalitpur, Nepal
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  • For correspondence: lilanathsharma@gmail.com
B Adhikari
2Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), 20a Inverleith Row, Scotland, UK, EH3 5LR
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MF Watson
2Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), 20a Inverleith Row, Scotland, UK, EH3 5LR
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B Karna
1ForestAction, Nepal, Bagdol Ringroad, Lalitpur, Nepal
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E Paudel
3Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
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BB Shrestha
4Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
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DP Rijal
5Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT: The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Abstract

Invasive Alien Species cause tremendous ecological and economic damage in agriculture, forestry, aquatic ecosystems, and pastoral resources. They are one of the major threats to biodiversity conservation. Understanding the spatial pattern of invasive species and disentangling the biophysical drivers of invasion at forest stand level is essential for managing invasive species in forest ecosystems and the wider landscape. However, forest-level and species-specific information on invasive species abundance and area of extent is largely lacking. In this context, we analysed the cover of one of the world’s worst invasive plant species Chromolaena odorata in Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) forest in central Nepal. Vegetation was sampled in four community-managed forests using 0.01 ha square quadrats, covering forest edge to the interior. Chromolaena cover, floral richness, tree density, forest canopy cover, shrub cover, and tree basal area were measured in each plot. We also estimated the level of disturbance in plots, and calculated distance from the plot to the nearest road. We also explored forest and invasive species management practices in community forests.

Chromolaena cover was found to be negatively correlated with forest canopy cover, distance to the nearest road, angle of slope and shrub cover. Canopy cover had the greatest effect on the Chromolaena cover. Chromolaena cover did not show any pattern along native species richness gradients. In conclusion, forest canopy cover is the overriding biotic covariate affecting Chromolaena cover in Sal forests. The practical application of our results in managing Chromolaena in forest ecosystems is discussed.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
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Posted August 28, 2019.
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Forest canopy resists plant invasions: a case study of Chromolaena odorata in sub-tropical Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Nepal
LN Sharma, B Adhikari, MF Watson, B Karna, E Paudel, BB Shrestha, DP Rijal
bioRxiv 747287; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/747287
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Forest canopy resists plant invasions: a case study of Chromolaena odorata in sub-tropical Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Nepal
LN Sharma, B Adhikari, MF Watson, B Karna, E Paudel, BB Shrestha, DP Rijal
bioRxiv 747287; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/747287

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