Impact of Plant Invasions on Local Vegetation: An Indian Perspective

Waseem Mushtaq¹, Adnan Shakeel², Mohammad Mehdizadeh³_, Sameera A. Alghamdi^4,5  and Khalid Rehman Hakeem^4,5 

¹Alleopathy laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India 202002

²Environmental section, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India 202002

³Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

⁴Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

⁵Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author E-mail: kur.hakeem@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2792

ABSTRACT: Invasive species are key operators of worldwide ecological change causing the loss of biodiversity, modifying structure and functioning of bio-system, and disturbing establishment of ecosystem amenities throughout the world. About 8.6% of the overall flora of India is alien. A considerable rise in worldwide trade and travel is expected to accelerate entry, spreading and eventual establishment of foreign species in India. Whereas the systematic catalogue of non-native species incarnates the primary vital stage, however, more comprehensive investigations on description of alien species in India, study of their potential invasion environments, recognition of possible ways of invasion and their impact on local vegetation are still missing. The present study reports the incidence of 173 species of alien flora in India, their origins from different parts of the globe belonging to a diverse array of families with an emphasis on the adverse effect of important invasive species on the local vegetation so as to generate an understanding of plant invasions and develop policy framework for their management.

KEYWORDS: Ecosystem; Invasive species; Management

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