Environmental impacts of micrantha, an invasive weed, in the Western Ghats,

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 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

-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 - spegazzinii (Rust fungus) • Basidiospora montana • 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 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-and- burn 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