Ecological impact of alien plant invasion in national parks of an Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot in India

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the ecological impact of invasion in two protected areas and provides the first authentic inventory of alien plants with their invasion status. Random sampling technique was followed along with nested quadrats to investigate the phytosociological status of invasion by the alien plants. The ecological studies revealed the occurrence of 207 alien plant species 193 genera under 59 families. The family Asteraceae exhibited the highest species diversity with 38 plant species followed by families like Fabaceae (20 species), Euphorbiaceae (8 species), Convolvulaceae (8 species) and Amaranthaceae (7 species). Most of the alien plants (31%) belonged to American origin followed by 9.18 % from Mexican, 9.17 % from African and 5.31% from European origin. Out of the total species recorded, it was observed that 60.38% herbs, 12.56% trees and 11.11% were shrubs. Phytosociological investigation showed that the lowest reading of Shannon diversity index (H’=1.897) was found in the herb layer of disturbed habitats in the middle altitude of Murlen national park in comparison to the disturbed habitats in the middle altitude of Phawngpui national park (H’=2.198). Ageratina adenophora, Mikania micrantha, Ageratina riparia and Chromolaena odorata were observed as the most noxious invasive alien plants. This database may be utilized to prepare the area's conservation or forest management plans.