Guide to Some Invasive Plants Affecting Lake Tanganyika
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Guide to some invasive plants affecting Lake Tanganyika Esther Abonyo and Geoffrey Howard IUCN Invasive Species Initiative Guide to some invasive plants affecting Lake Tanganyika Esther Abonyo and Geoffrey Howard 2012 The designations of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the participating organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The opinions expressed by the authors in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Lake Tanganyika Authority, UNOPS, GEF, UNDP or IUCN. Published by: IUCN Invasive Species Initiative, Nairobi, Kenya. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Copyright: © 2012 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Citation: IUCN (2012). Guide to some invasive plants affecting Lake Tanganyika. Nairobi, Kenya: IUCN ISI and Lake Tanganyika Authority. 64p. ISBN: 978-2-8317-1527-8 Design and layout: Gordon O. Arara Available from: IUCN - ESARO P. O. Box 68200 - 00200, NAIROBI, Kenya; E-mail: [email protected] and Lake Tanganyika Authority Secretariat BP 4910, Ngagara BUJUMBURA Burundi Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................1 What is biological invasion? ................................................................................................................................................1 How do invasive species affect the environment and biodiversity? ....................................................................................1 What are pathways of introduction and spread? ..................................................................................................................2 How can we control species that have become invasive? ....................................................................................................3 How can we prevent new invasions? ...................................................................................................................................3 Whose responsibility is it to prevent and manage biological invasions? .............................................................................3 A. Floating plants ...............................................................................................................................................................5 Eichhornia crassipes ...........................................................................................................................................................5 Pistia stratiotes ....................................................................................................................................................................8 Azolla sp .............................................................................................................................................................................10 Lemna sp ...........................................................................................................................................................................12 Salvinia molesta .................................................................................................................................................................13 B. Submerged/sometimes emergent plants ....................................................................................................................15 Hydrilla verticillata ...........................................................................................................................................................15 Ceratophyllum demersum ..................................................................................................................................................17 Potamogeton sp ..................................................................................................................................................................19 Filamentous algae and Phytoplankton ..............................................................................................................................21 C. Riparian plants ............................................................................................................................................................22 Mimosa diplotricha ............................................................................................................................................................22 Mimosa pigra .....................................................................................................................................................................25 Mimosa pudica ...................................................................................................................................................................27 D. Terrestrial plants ........................................................................................................................................................29 Pennisetum purpureum ......................................................................................................................................................29 Lantana camara .................................................................................................................................................................31 Ricinus communis .............................................................................................................................................................33 Senna alata .........................................................................................................................................................................35 Senna obtusifolia ...............................................................................................................................................................37 Senna occidentalis .............................................................................................................................................................39 Senna hirsuta .....................................................................................................................................................................41 E. Terrestrial plants distant from the lake .....................................................................................................................43 Leucaena leucocephala .....................................................................................................................................................43 Psidium guajava ................................................................................................................................................................45 Caesalpinia decapetala .....................................................................................................................................................47 Acacia mearnsii .................................................................................................................................................................49 Tithonia diversifolia ...........................................................................................................................................................51 F. Alien trees becoming invasive after many decades ...................................................................................................53 Toona ciliata ......................................................................................................................................................................53 Senna siamea .....................................................................................................................................................................55 G. Native plants that may become invasive ...................................................................................................................57 Phragmites australis ..........................................................................................................................................................57 Cyperus papyrus ................................................................................................................................................................59 Typha domingensis and T. capensis ...................................................................................................................................61 Aeschynomene elaphroxylon ..............................................................................................................................................62 Vossia cuspidata .................................................................................................................................................................63 Bibliography .....................................................................................................................................................................64