Download Environmental impacts of Mikania micrantha, an invasive weed, in

Environmental impacts of Mikania
micrantha, an invasive weed, in the
Western Ghats, India
Alin Y. Badillo Carrillo, Barbara J. Bender, Jackson E. Clarendon,
with Ramesh Sivanpillai PhD
Invasive species
- Introduced to a new land intentionally or
unintentionally
- Often invasive species obtain resources
quickly and out-compete native fauna and
flora
Impact
-Loss
of biodiversity
-Alters ecosystem function
-Economic impact
-Our study focused on
M. micrantha widely known
as Mile-A-Minute Weed
http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/environmental.htm
http://www.forestrynepal.org/article/1549/4534
M. micrantha
-Native to Latin America
-First spread after 1910 in Southeastern China
•
•
Earliest specimen was from Hong-Kong (1919)
Currently it is found in Hawaii, Guam, American
Samoa, The Marshal Islands, Palau, Hong Kong
and Queensland Australia
-Rated one of the top ten worst invasive weeds
of the world
Characteristics of M. micrantha
http://www.wettropics.gov.au/weed-control
http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/FNW/FNW%20seeds/html/large%20image%20pages/Mikania%20micrantha%20li.htm
http://sura.ots.ac.cr/local/florula4/find_sp3.php?key_species_code=LS000809&key_kingdom=&key_phylum=&key_class=&key_order=&key_family=&key_genus=&specie_name=micrantha
M. micrantha in India
-Introduced during World War II for
camouflage airfields
• Prefers climate below 200 meters
• Impacts forests, wildlife, croplands and
livestock
India
-India is the 2nd most populated country in
the world at 1.2 billion people
-mostly rural country
-38% of population below poverty line
The Western Ghats
-Mountain Range along the
Western Coast of India
-Biodiversity hotspot
-Home to abundant wildlife,
endangered species and
agriculture
http://www.insectscience.org/7.56/ref/i1536-2442-2007-56-f01w.jpg
Why is this plant a problem?
Spreads throughout:
Wildlands
Forests
Riparian areas
and
Croplands
scientificearthconscientious6.wordpress.com
Impact on other species
-Produces seeds extremely fast
-Photosynthesizes faster than native plants
-Creates thick mats with its own leaves, leaving
no light for other plants to grow below
Sal tree and ground covered by Mikania in Chautari CF,
Nawalparasi
http://www.forestrynepal.org/article/1549/4534
Croplands in India
-Croplands are declining due to land
conversion and abandonment
• Lack of resources
-Enchroachment of invasive species can
lead to further loss
M. Micrantha in croplands
-Major threat to tea
plantations
-Tea farmers lose at
least 30% of yeild
due to M. micrantha
http://www.issg.org/database/image.asp?ii=1303&ic=e
Slash and burn agriculture
• Clear a part of an area to either cultivate or introduce diversity
• M. micrantha is one of the dominant species to first establish
• North-east India Study of Micrantha after slash and burn First four
years it contributed up to 69% canopy cover and 82-100% litter cover
(Swamy, 1987)
What are possible solutions?
-Mechanical removal
-Grazing
-Biocontrols
-Could be harvested as a biofuel
Mechanical abatement
-Mostly ineffective
-Extremely labor intensive
-M. micrantha reproduces from nodes so
mechanical removal results in further
stimulation
Grazing
-A possible solution with sheep and goats
-In high amounts can cause liver damage in
cattle
-M. micrantha is not preferred by most
animals
Biocontrols
-Puccinia spegazzinii (Rust fungus)
• Basidiospora montana
• Liothrips mikaniae
• Trachypithecus pileatus (Capped
Langur)
(Barreto and Michael)
http://taxondiversity.fieldofscience.com/2013/02/liothrips.html
Possible source of biofuel
- M. micrantha char has a highest fixed
carbon rate of 45.92% (compared to
maize stalk at 17.02%)
- a good source for biomass briquetting
- Reduce emissions of harmful gases
- More research needs to be done
Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 14, No. 1 (2013) 115-120
Analysis and Test of Biomass Briquette and Stoves
Conclusion
-M. micrantha poses a serious threat to
India’s crop lands
-Causes adverse impacts other ecosystems
-Further studies are required for Biofuel
-Unintended effects are a concern with Bio
Controls
-Removal through grazing and mechanical
methods are temporary solutions
References
Aregheore, E. M., et al. "Studies on grazing behavior of goats in the cook islands: The animal-plant complex in forage
preference/palatability phenomena." Journal of Agriculture & Biology 8 (2006): 147-153.
Barreto, Robert W., and Michael W. DICK. "Monograph of Basidiophora (Oomycetes) with the description of a new
species." Botanical journal of the Linnean Society 107.4 (1991): 313-332.
Lahkar, Bibhuti P., Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, and Pranjit Sarma. "Invasive species in grassland habitat: an ecological
threat to greater one horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)." Pachyderm 49 (2011): 33-39.
Hua Y, Yu Fh, Miao SL, Dong M (2008) Holoparasitic Cuscuta campestris suppresses invasive Mikania micrantha
and contributes to native community recovery. Biological Conservation 141:10, 2653–2661
Kuar R, Malhtor S, Inderjit (2012) Effects of invasion of M. micrantha on germination of rice seedlings, plant
richness, chemical properties and respiration of soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils 48:4, 481-488.
PRABU NR, STALIN N, SWAMY PS (2014) Ecophysiological attributes of Mikania micrantha, an exotic invasive
weed, at two different elevations in the tropical forest regions of the Western Ghats, South India. Weed Biology
and Management 14:1, 59-67
Shen S, Xu G, Zhang F, Jin G, Liu S, Liu M, Chen A, Zhang A (2013) Harmful effects and chemical control study of
Mikania micrantha H.B.K in Yunnan, Southwest China. African Journal of Agricultural Research 8:44, 5554-5561
Swamy, P.S. Ramakrishnan, Contribution of Mikania micrantha during secondary succession following slash-andburn agriculture (Jhum) in North-East India I. Biomass, litterfall and productivity, Forest Ecology and
Management, Volume 22, Issues 3–4, December 1987,
Thank You!
Acknowledgements
• Ramesh Sivanpillai
• Jackson Clarendon