Naturalization and Potential Impact of the Exotic Tree D Marcelo Freire Moro 1, *, Christian A.Juss
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Check List 9(1): 153–156, 2013 © 2013 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution N Azadirachta indica ISTRIBUTIO Naturalization and potential impact of the exotic tree D Marcelo Freire Moro 1, *, Christian A.Juss. Westerkamp in 2Northeastern and Fernando Roberto Brazil Martins 1 RAPHIC G EO 1 Plant Biology Program, Institute of Biology, P.O. Box 6109, State University of Campinas –UNICAMP - CEP 13083-970 - Campinas, SP, Brazil. G N *2- Corresponding Agronomy, Campus author: do [email protected] Cariri, Federal University of Ceará - UFC - Avenida Tenente Raimundo Rocha, s/n, Universitário, CEP 63040-360 - Juazeiro O do Norte, CE, Brazil. OTES Invasive species are among the leading causes of biodiversity loss on the planet, and some species that N Abstract: have become invasive were intentionally introduced for ornamental or commercial purposes. Azadirachta indica A.Juss. as an ornamental or shade tree, where it has reached reproductive phase in recent years. In order to assess its level of (Indian neem) is an exotic species that is widely cultivated in the northeastern region of Brazil, bothA. in indica plantations specimens and naturalization and the geographic range where this species has reproductive capacity, we observed cultivated in Fortaleza (Ceará) since 2006 and performed field observations in several other localities in Ceará, Rio Grande becomedo Norte, invasive Paraíba in and the Piauí near states. future. Currently, the species reproduces near the coast as well as in the semiarid interior of the Northeast, and is able to establish regenerating populations. Thus, the species is naturalized in Brazil with the potential to Invasion by exotic species is one the major causes for seedlings establishment have also stimulated commercial the loss of biodiversity (Vitousek et al. 1997; Richardson et al. 2000). Most of the intentionally or accidentally A. indica for commercial plantations introduced species by humans do not cause any damage gardeners, EMBRAPA, NGOs and citizens of Northeastern to the native species or ecosystems. However, some of currentlyBrazil to propagateone of the most common species cultivated the exotics can reproduce in the new regions after being forand urbanfor ornamental and rural purposes.afforestation This in makesmany townsIndian ofneem the introduced and may turn into a problem, competing with the native species and changing the structure and composition of local ecosystems (Richardson 1998; manyBrazilian seeds, Northeast however, (e.g. are Moro indicative and Westerkamp of invasiveness 2011). and Richardson et al. 2000). possibleThe capacityenvironmental of rapid problems. growth In aand growth production experiment of Plants used for economic (timber, forage, pulp production, etc.) or ornamental purposes, can spread state, A. indica as invasive plants beyond their cultivation area and performed in field conditions in Rio Grande do Norteet become environmental pests (Richardson 1998; Reichard al reached 2.4 m in height only one yearA. and White 2001; Zipperer 2002; Harrington et al. indicaafter being has been sown, ignored and 3.7 by thosem in theadvocating second itsyear cultivation, (Silva 2003; Andrade et al. 2009). Azadirachta indica A. Juss. 2007). Nevertheless, the potentialProsopis invasiveness juliflora of (Meliaceae), the Indian neem, is a tree native to Asia which similar to the case of mesquite ( (Sw.) DC. (Pegado- Fabaceae), et al which, despite its etmany al. 2009). uses, hasA. indica become was a was officially introduced to Brazil in 1986 (Neves and serious environmental problem in Northeastern Brazil Carpanezzi 2008; 2009). Since the 1990’s the species has about the potential. 2006; Andradeenvironmental problems it could been growncultivated in urban commercially and rural in areas the Southeast,as an ornamental Midwest, or generate.introduced We to have Brazil here without investigated enough the risk-assessments current level of shadeNorth tree,and Northeastas a windbreak, of Brazil. in hedges,In the latter or for region, commercial it has A. indica biopesticide production (personal observations; Moro to draw attention to its bioinvasive potential and potential and Westerkamp 2011). Due to its insecticidal properties harmnaturalization to natural of ecosystems, in Northeastern if this species Brazil reach and invasive wish and commercial value (e.g. status. has received much support Schmutterer and advertising 1990; byAscher the A. indica 1993; Neves and Carpanezzi 2008; 2009), this species The process of dissemination and cultivation of trees in both urban and rural zones of many Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Empresa towns in Northeastern Brazil has been monitored by the considerBrasileira that de Pesquisaits use in Agropecuária organic agriculture - EMBRAPA) and forestry and by authors since 2006. Additionally, some specimens used non-governmental organization (NGOs) in Brazil. They as ornamental trees have been observed since 2006 in two locations in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará. One unnecessary).would be beneficial for the production of both timber and theof them Pici wasCampus the Cocó(Campus Ecological Park (Parque Ecológico bio-insecticidesRapid plant growth, (making abundant the use seed of syntheticproduction pesticides and easy de Cocó, 3°44’44.94” S 38°29’01.48” W), the other was do Pici: Biology Department, 3°44’43.57” S 38°34’28.45” W; and University’s Plant153 Moro et al. | Naturalization of Azadirachta indica in Brazil been planted as ornamental trees in the surroundings of the park. In 2009, we recorded that seedlings began to Nursery, 3°44’22.64” S 38°34’35.10” W) of the Federal environmentalUniversity of Ceará importance (Universidade as a biodiversity Federal do conservation Ceará, UFC). edges. area,The Cocóand the Ecological Pici Campus Park for was accessibility, selected becausea precondition of its grow inside theCampus park, although, the adult these A. indica were trees confined monitored to the for long term observations. produced fruits and seedlings in a similar manner to that On the Pici The CocóCampus Ecological Park in Fortaleza is a protected observed at Cocó Park. The specimens cultivatedst generation) near the area completely surrounded by heavily urbanized areas. andBiology produced Department, spontaneous which seedlings were juveniles (2nd generation) in 2006, grewfrom The Pici is an urbanized area, but contains a into reproductive adults in 2009 (founders - 1 asmall large fragment proportion of nativeof unpaved semi-deciduous open areas, forest all of (“matawhich arede tabuleiro” potential sitesforest), for experimentalA. indica agricultural areas and 2009 onward. These seedlings were observed both under specimens of Azadirachta indica were seen growing on (secondthe canopy generation) of parental reached trees and reproductive up to 47 mmaturity away from in the Pici Campus invasion. In 2005, the first Januarythem. Spontaneous 2011, setting seedlings their own that fruits, germinated which in turnin 2009gave was planted here as an ornamental and shade tree with rise to seedlings (3rd increasing intensity.(Marques, 2005); since then, this species this species to produce three generations: beginning with We began our monitoring at Pici campus cultivated saplings in generation). an ornamental It took garden only fiveresulted years toin four saplings (less than 2 m high) of A. indica were planted nd generation in 2006, when reproductive adults, 3rd generation seedlings and hundreds located in the same year two adult individuals planted as anof seeds area withfrom 47both m 1 ofst and radius 2nd where we find 2 shadeby the trees university and seed in source the Biology for seedling Department. production We in also the in the long term A. indica may have the capacity to become a generations. This suggests that whether these cultivated trees had reached reproductive maturityplant nursery. and Fromwhether 2006 spontaneous to 2011 we seedlingsmade observations could be widespread invasivest species generation) that is had difficult also tospontaneously control. found around them. In 2007 we begin our observations producedIn the a largeUniversity’s number Plantof seedlings Nursery, (2 nd thegeneration) cultivated in Februarytrees (founders 2007, some- 1 of which were growing at a distance bearing fruits and also spontaneous seedlings at the edge at theCocó park. Park. There we observed many cultivated trees A A. indicaFortaleza could is reproducea coastal city, both where in coastal the climate areas and is milder in the and more humid than in the interior. To investigate whether drier interior of Northeastern Brazil, we made excursions andto municipalities 2011, where inwe the observed interior whether and coast cultivated of Ceará, plants Rio wereGrande reproducing. do Norte, Paraíba and Piauí states between 2009 A. indica we followed the terminology proposed by Richardson et al. (2000)To define and the Pyšek degree et alof naturalization of species is a species brought by human action to an area beyond the natural distribution. (2004). ofIn whichthe species; 1) an exotic2) a the area to which it was introduced and is able to establish B andnaturalized sustain speciesa population is an exoticin the newspecies range that without reproduces human in aid; and 3) an invasive plant is a species that is able not only to maintain a viable population, but also to spread from the site of introduction to new sites, establishing further populations.