Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Repeated monitoring as an effective early detection means : first records of naturalised Solidago gigantea Aiton (Asteraceae) in southern Africa
Author
Kalwij, J M
Steyn, C
le Roux, P C
Publisher
South African Journal of Botany
Publication Year
2014
Body

Abstract Early detection of emerging invasive plants depends on maximizing the probability of detecting new populations. Repeated surveys along a gradient of environmental conditions or in areas exposed to high propagule pressure provide a potentially efficient strategy for early detection of alien species. The long-term monitoring of such an area resulted in the documentation of the first naturalised Solidago gigantea Aiton (Asteraceae) population for southern Africa. This population consisted of c. 45 individuals growing in two locations on unmanaged grassland in the Drakensberg Mountains at an elevation of 1619 m a.s.l. Solidago gigantea readily invades unmanaged European grasslands, altering biomass and transforming habitats. Moreover, since goldenrods (Solidago spp) are perennial species reproducing through a large number of wind-dispersed seeds and belowground rootstocks, these species appear well pre-adapted to the fire-prone grassland biome of South Africa. We therefore suggest early-stage eradication of S. gigantea before it potentially becomes an unmanageable and costly invasive species in this region. This study supports long-term monitoring programmes as an effective means for early detection of new invasive species.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Journal Volume
93
Journal Number
0
Journal Pages
204-206
Journal Name
South African Journal of Botany
Keywords
Alien invasive species
grasslands
management
Colonisation
Emerging invaders
Goldenrod
management
non-native species
Weed risk assessment
Europe