Intensive Agricultural Practices as Enhancers of the Dispersion of Invasive Species: Notification of the Observation of a Case with Robinia pseudoacacia L. in Alentejo (Southern Portugal)

Authors

  • Mauro Raposo Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora (Portugal),Rua Romão Ramalho, no.59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal; MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Pólo da Mitra, Universidade deÉvora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
  • Carlos Pinto-Gomes Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora (Portugal),Rua Romão Ramalho, no.59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal; MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Pólo da Mitra, Universidade deÉvora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
  • Leonel Nunes ProMetheus - Unidade de Investigação em Materiais, Energia e Ambiente para a Sustentabilidade, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua da Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Alvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v2i3.2399

Abstract

Invasive forest species are a recurring problem, which in Portugal assume a somewhat mediatic role, both because of the impacts they cause on biodiversity, but also because they enhance the accumulation of high amounts of fuel load, increasing the risk of forest fires. However, in some areas of the country, such as the Alentejo (South of Portugal), the scarcity of water did not allow, until now, the dispersion and rapid growth of some of these species, namely Robinia pseudoacacia, which has always remained under control, and it was never a real problem. However, with the growth of intensive farming practices, associated with vineyards, olive groves and almond trees, water and nutrients became available, enabling this species to grow and disperse. This communication presents an observation of several sets of R. pseudoacacia specimens growing with different agricultural holdings, raising the hypothesis that intensive farming practices may, in the short term, contribute to the dispersion of invasive species in regions where they were not a problem, if the situations reported are not followed up and studies are carried out to confirm the observations described.

Keywords:

Robinia pseudoacacia, Invasive species, Intensive agriculture

References

[1] D. M. Richardson et al. Human-mediated introductions of Australian Acacias-a global experiment in biogeography. Diversity and Distributions, 2011, 17(5): 771-787.

[2] F. T. Ledig. Human impacts on genetic diversity in forest ecosystems. Oikos, 1992: 87-108.

[3] I. Abbott. Mammalian faunal collapse in Western Australia, 1875-1925: the hypothesised role of epizootic disease and a conceptual model of its origin, introduction, transmission, and spread. Australian Zoologist, 2006, 33(4): 530-561.

[4] J. A. Crooks. Characterizing ecosystem-level consequences of biological invasions: the role of ecosystem engineers. Oikos, 2002, 97(2): 153-166.

[5] P. Moura, L. L. Garaulet, P. Vasconcelos, P. Chainho, J. L. Costa, M. Gaspar. Age and growth of a highly successful invasive species: the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve, 1850) in the Tagus Estuary (Portugal). Aquatic Invasions, 2017, 12(2): 133-146.

[6] P. Amaral, R. Rebelo. Diet of invasive clawed frog Xenopus laevis at Lage stream (Oeiras, W Portugal). The Herpetological Journal, 2012, 22(3): 187-190.

[7] F. Baduy, P. M. Guerreiro, A. V. Canário, J. L. Saraiva. Social organization and endocrine profiles of Australoheros facetus, an exotic freshwater fish in southern Portugal. acta ethologica, 2017, 20(3): 263- 277.

[8] C. Schreck Reis, H. Marchante, H. Freitas, E. Marchante. Public Perception of Invasive Plant Species: Assessing the impact of workshop activities to promote young students’ awareness. International Journal of Science Education, 2013, 35(4): 690-712.

[9] S. Rodríguez-Echeverría, J. A. Crisóstomo, C. Nabais, H. Freitas. Belowground mutualists and the invasive ability of Acacia longifolia in coastal dunes of Portugal. Biological invasions, 2009, 11(3): 651- 661.

[10] P. Fernandes, C. Antunes, O. Correia, C. Máguas. Do climatic and habitat conditions affect the reproductive success of an invasive tree species? An assessment of the phenology of Acacia longifolia in Portugal. Plant ecology, 2015, 216(2): 343-355.

[11] D. C. Le Maitre et al. Impacts of invasive Australian Acacias: implications for management and restoration. Diversity and Distributions, 2011, 17(5): 1015-1029.

[12] E. Marchante, A. Kjøller, S. Struwe, H. Freitas. Invasive Acacia longifolia induce changes in the microbial catabolic diversity of sand dunes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2008, 40(10): 2563-2568.

[13] E. Marchante, H. Marchante. Engaging society to fight invasive alien plants in Portugal-One of the main threats to biodiversity. In Biodiversity and Education for Sustainable Development: Springer, 2016: 107-122.

[14] E. Marchante, A. Kjøller, S. Struwe, H. Freitas. Soil recovery after removal of the N 2-fixing invasive Acacia longifolia: consequences for ecosystem restoration. Biological Invasions, 2009, 11(4): 813-823.

[15] N. C. de Sá, H. Marchante, E. Marchante, J. A. Cabral, J. P. Honrado, J. R. Vicente. Can citizen science data guide the surveillance of invasive plants? A model-based test with Acacia trees in Portugal. Biological Invasions, 2019, 21(6): 2127-2141.

[16] H. Marchante, E. Marchante, H. Freitas, J. H. Hoffmann. Temporal changes in the impacts on plant communities of an invasive alien tree, Acacia longifolia. Plant Ecology, 2015, 216(11): 1481-1498.

[17] N. C. de Sá, P. Castro, S. Carvalho, E. Marchante, F. A. López-Núñez, H. Marchante, Mapping the flowering of an invasive plant using unmanned aerial vehicles: is there potential for biocontrol monitoring? Frontiers in plant science, 2018, 9: 293.

[18] H. Marchante, E. Marchante, H. Freitas. Invasive plant species in Portugal: an overview. In International workshop on invasive plants in Mediterranean type regions of the world: Council of Europe Publishing Monpellier, France, 2005: 25-27.

[19] R. T. Shackleton et al. Explaining people’s perceptions of invasive alien species: a conceptual framework. Journal of Environmental Management, 2019, 229: 10-26.

[20] A. S. Vaz et al. An indicator-based approach to analyse the effects of non-native tree species on multiple cultural ecosystem services. Ecological Indicators, 2018, 85: 48-56.

[21] H. Marchante, H. Freitas, J. Hoffmann. Assessing the suitability and safety of a well-known bud-galling wasp, Trichilogaster Acaciaelongifoliae, for biological control of Acacia longifolia in Portugal. Biological control, 2011, 56(2): 193-201.

[22] B. Cordeiro, H. Marchante, P. Castro, E. Marchante. Does public awareness about invasive plants pays off? An analysis of knowledge and perceptions of environmentally aware citizens in Portugal. Biological Invasions, 2020, 22(7): 2267-2281.

[23] E. Marchante, H. Marchante, M. Morais, H. Freitas. Combining methodologies to increase public awareness about invasive alien plants in Portugal. In 2nd International Workshop on Invasive Plants in the Mediterranean Type Regions of the World, European Environment Agency, Trabzon, 2010: 227-239.

[24] M. R. Gibson et al. Reproductive biology of Australian Acacias: important mediator of invasiveness? Diversity and Distributions, 2011, 17(5): 911-933.

[25] D. Isely, F. Peabody. Robinia (Leguminosae: Papilionoidea). Castanea, 1984: 187-202.

[26] G. Martin. Addressing geographical bias: A review of Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) in the Southern Hemisphere. South African Journal of Botany, 2019, 125: 481-492.

[27] L. Boring, W. Swank. The role of black locust (Robinia pseudo-Acacia) in forest succession. The Journal of Ecology, 1984: 749-766.

[28] K. J. NIKLAS. Mechanical Properties of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) Wood. Size-and Age-dependent Variations in Sap-and Heartwood. Annals of botany, 1997, 79(3): 265-272.

[29] C. Orwa, A. Mutua, R. Kindt, R. Jamnadass, S. Anthony. Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya, 2009, 15.

[30] G. Li, G. Xu, K. Guo, S. Du. Mapping the global potential geographical distribution of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) using herbarium data and a maximum entropy model. Forests, 2014, 5(11): 2773-2792.

[31] L. Gederaas, T. Loennechen Moen, S. Skjelseth, L. Larsen. Alien species in Norway-with the Norwegian Black List 2012. Alien species in Norway-with the Norwegian Black List 2012, 2012.

[32] J. Pergl et al. Black, Grey and Watch Lists of alien species in the Czech Republic based on environmental impacts and management strategy. NeoBiota, 2016, 28: 1.

[33] I. Kowarik, U. Starfinger, Biologische Invasionen. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, 2010.

[34] D. Ubaldi. Le vegetazioni erbacee e gli arbusteti italiani. Aracne, Roma (2008), 2011.

[35] F. M. Fernandes, L. Carvalho. Árboles ornamentales en la ciudad de Beja, Portugal. Botanica Complutensis, 2004, 28: 85-91.

[36] S. Soares, J. S. Amaral, M. B. P. Oliveira, I. Mafra. A comprehensive review on the main honey authentication issues: Production and origin. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2017, 16(5): 1072-1100.

[37] M. Vítková et al. Robinia pseudoacacia -dominated vegetation types of Southern Europe: Species composition, history, distribution and management. Science of the Total Environment, 2020, 707: 134857.

[38] P. R. Mourao, V. D. Martinho. Forest fire legislation: Reactive or proactive?. Ecological Indicators, 2019, 104: 137-144.

[39] E. Compés et al. Hypersensitivity to black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ) pollen: “allergy mirages”. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2006, 96(4): 586-592.

[40] G. R. Marshall, M. J. Coleman, B. M. Sindel, I. J. Reeve, P. J. Berney. Collective action in invasive species control, and prospects for community-based governance: The case of serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) in New South Wales, Australia. Land use policy, 2016, 56: 100-111.

Downloads

How to Cite

Raposo, M., Pinto-Gomes, C., & Nunes, L. (2020). Intensive Agricultural Practices as Enhancers of the Dispersion of Invasive Species: Notification of the Observation of a Case with Robinia pseudoacacia L. in Alentejo (Southern Portugal). Research in Ecology, 2(3), 42–49. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v2i3.2399

Issue

Vol. 2 , Iss. 3 (September 2020)

Article Type

Articles
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC