1 Original Research Article 2 3 Floristic Inventory and distribution of invasive alien aquatic plants 4 in Kinshasa (Pool Malebo, Kinkole, Kingabwa and the N’sele, FUNA 5 and Lukaya rivers) Comment [PK1]: Authors could mentione this details in the material and method 6 7 8 Abstract 9 10 To make the botanical inventory of invasive alien plants and their distribution in the Kinshasa 11 hydrographic network, to evaluate their impacts in the environment, to know their socio-economic 12 importance and to propose sustainable and effective management measures. Surveys on the use of 13 aquatic exotic invasive plants have been conducted among rural populations in Kinshasa. The 14 identification of the plants was performed by our team in collaboration with the herbarium of the 15 University of Kinshasa to be identified by comparison through the INERA services competition, The 16 physical and physicochemical parameters of water were measured between 8:00 and 11:00 am. The 17 measurements were carried out with the appropriate electronic probe for each parameter. For each 18 parameter, the comparison between the sites was carried out using the ANOVA test, using the 19 XLSTAT 2013 software, and the graphics were obtained using the Origin Lab version 6.1 software. 20 Nineteen alien species were identified and four proved to be the most invasive: Eichhornia crassipes, 21 Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ludwigia peploides, Pistia stratiotes. Three species are multi-purpose, the Comment [PK2]: verify 22 observation of hydrological parameters has shown that there are no significant differences for the 23 temperature in the different sites, for the PH the analysis indicates that the sites are differentiated in a 24 highly significant way, the analysis does not indicate a significant difference between the sites for 25 turbidity, as for the conductivity, indicates that the sites differ in a very highly significant way. 26 the floral inventory of exotic aquatic plants reveals nineteen species and four of which are invasive in 27 the environment, the socio-economic importance of the species are established around two categories 28 of use: livestock feed, green manure, these species pose a serious threat in the erosion of aquatic 29 biodiversity in the removal of native or local species in the formation of floating monospecific dense 30 mats. 31 32 Keywords: Exotic plants, invasive, uses, importance, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 33 34

35 1. INTRODUCTION 36 37 Species and ecosystems constitute the earth's biological diversity, and are so important that their loss 38 and degradation are disabling the nature. Species other than the human species have a right to 39 existence and a place in the world. We are unable to determine which species are essential or 40 redundant to the functioning of a given ecosystem and which ones will flourish in a changing world 41 (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2004). When a new species is being placed in an ecosystem, 42 often the impact is not immediately apparent, it will take a long enough period of time between 5 and 43 10 years in order to realize its environmental impacts (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2004). An 44 exotic species is a plant, an animal, a fish or a micro-organism that has been introduced as a result of 45 human activity, outside of its natural range. They are sometimes called alien species or non-native 46 species (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2004). An invasive alien species is an allochthonous 47 species of which the introduction or spread threatens the environment, the economy or the society, 48 including human health. It generally comes from another continent or region. Comment [PK3]: you could use many other 49 references instead of using only CDB 2004 50 The different pathways through which invasive alien species can be introduced or spread are 51 intentional (deliberate), unintentional (accidental) introductions, and authorized or unauthorized 52 introductions. Among the different pathways are rivers, navigation, aquarium, pet trade, horticultural 53 seed trade, illegal entry of species with goods and by various modes of transport (Convention on 54 Biological Diversity, 2007). The history is rich in information and examples of disasters caused by

55 intentional introductions, such as the Nile perch, which resulted in the extinction of more than two 56 hundred fish species. Lessons from the past can help us avoid repeating such mistakes. Comment [PK4]: reference 57 Unfortunately, these harmful practices continue such as the continuous implantation of the gambusie, 58 the international trade of the seeds of ornamental plants and pets (Convention on Biological Diversity, 59 2007). 60 61 In this work, the main focus was on the identification and behavior of invasive alien aquatic plants. 62 This study is a contribution to the 10-year Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 to the Aichi 63 Targets (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010). This prompted us to study invasive alien aquatic 64 plants in the Pool Malebo system, which includes exotic plants such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia 65 crassipes Mart, Solms). Originally from South America, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart. Solms), a 66 pantropical hydrophyte belonging to the Pontederiaceae family, is one of the world's weeds. The 67 beautiful purple and purple flowers make it an ornamental plant very popular for ponds. Today, it is 68 present in more than 50 countries on the five continents. The water hyacinth grows very quickly, with 69 populations known to have doubled in less than 12 days (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010). 70 Infestations of watercourses by this weed block access routes and navigation of water thus limiting the 71 maritime traffic, swimming and fishing. Water hyacinth also prevents light and oxygen from entering 72 the water and reaching submerged plants. Its shade encumbers native aquatic plants and severely 73 reduces the biological diversity of aquatic ecosystems. Currently it is ranked among the 100 most 74 invasive alien species in the world. 75 76 Its accidental invasion in the reaches of the Congo River dates back to the years 1954 and led the 77 Belgian colonial administration to promulgate on May 4, 1955 an order prohibiting the possession, 78 cultivation, multiplication, sale and transport of this plant considered, since, as invasive (Kikufi, 2006). 79 Sixty years later, in this current study, we are interested in the botanical inventory and distribution of 80 invasive aquatic exotic plants and others in the Malebo Pool and some rivers in the city of Kinshasa, 81 as well as their spread and distribution and their behavior and socio-economic roles. So, the choice Comment [PK5]: it is better to formulate clearly 82 was made on the Malebo Pool system (Kinkole, Kingabwa), and the following rivers namely N'sele, the objectives of a study 83 Funa and Lukaya. 84 85 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS 86 2.1 Study area 87 The study was conducted in the city of Kinshasa. We investigated on the floristic inventory and the 88 distribution of invasive alien aquatic plants in the Malebo pool system namely Kinkole, Kingabwa, and 89 to N'sele, Funa and Lukaya rivers (Figure 1). Data from this study were collected during the period 90 from March to October 2013. 91 92 93 94 95 96 Carte 2 : Relief et Hydrographie de Kinshasa ngo 97 Co du p. 98 Re 99 100

B 101 a so 102 ko 103 Y le o B e l inz k o 104 a a 105 M

106 u g

i n d a M u h 107 L a b a s n u g u n T a k L u e u t i F l n 108 e i t j

g a d T ' a s M N h 109 en k 110 e

u 111 b m u 112 B 113

114 Plaine Echelle : 1/ 100.000

Cours d'eau N Marais et zones inondables Limite du Pays W E Fleuve Congo Source : Laboratoire de SIG / Sciences de la Terre (2007) S

115 116 117 Figure 1. Hydrography of Kinshasa city Comment [PK6]: Why the ma pis still in french ??? 118 2.2 Physical characteristics 119 Kinshasa City is located on the left bank of the Congo River where the watercourse draws a wide 120 crescent-circular pool: the Malebo Pool. The city lies between 4°17′30′′ and 4°30′00′′ latitude south and 121 15°12′ and 15°30′ longitude east. It is bound north and west by the Congo River, which is also the 122 border with the Popular Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), east and northeast by the Bandundu 123 Province, and south by the Bas Congo Province (Lateef et al. 2010). The city of Kinshasa in a low- 124 altitude climate is characterized by a hot and humid tropical climate of AW4 type according to Köppen's 125 classification (Lateef et al. 2010). There is an alternation of two seasons: a dry season from June to 126 September and a rainy season from September to the end of May. 127 128 2.3 Methods used Comment [PK7]: How the data have been 129 The identification of the plants in the field was performed by our own team of botanists, those species collected ? 130 of which the identification was hardly possible on the field because the samples were either botanically 131 sterile (lack of flower and fruit) or absent from identification keys in our possession- were brought back 132 to the herbarium of INERA of Department of Biology, University of Kinshasa. 133 134 2.4 Chorological study 135 The study of phytogeographic distribution is inspired by the chorological divisions recognized for 136 tropical Africa by the following authors: Lebrun, (1947, 1960 and 1966), Mullenders, (1954); Evrard, 137 (1968); Aubreville, (1962); Whyte, (1979) and Denys, (1980). 138 Comment [PK8]: You could follow this authors 139 2.5 Hydrological parameters but it is very important to update the nomenclature 140 They constitute elements of which manifestation conditions and influences, to varying degrees the 141 wetland macrophytes. From an ecological point of view, the analyzed parameters were the 142 temperature (°C), the pH, the turbidity or TDS, and the electrical conductivity which has been 143 measured (at 25 ° C) in micro-Siemens by cm (μS / cm). These physico-chemical parameters were 144 measured between 8 am and 11 am using HANNA HI98130 electronic probe brand The turbidity or 145 TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) was measured in ppm using a multi-parameter probe coupled to the 146 HANNA HI 98130 turbidimeter. It reflects the quantity of dissolved solids in the water and evolves in 147 the same way meaning that the electrical conductivity of the water. 148 149 2.6 Data analysis 150 For each parameter, the comparison between the sites was performed using the ANOVA test. The 151 threshold of significance chosen was 0.05. With each significant difference, the variance analysis is 152 accompanied by a multiple pairwise comparison (LSD test = Least Significant Difference or Smallest 153 Significant Difference). The data analysis was performed using the XLSTAT 2013 software, and the 154 graphics were obtained using the OriginLab version 6.1 software. 155 156 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Comment [PK9]: To be separates 157 3.1 Floristic inventory of aquatic plants Comment [PK10]: This is not a title for results

158 Table 1 presents the general list of aquatic plants collected in the various sites comprising 35 species Comment [PK11]: You start the result by the 159 divided into 15 families, 12 orders in two groups of clades including Pteridophytes and Angiosperms. comment and recall the illustration, not the 160 illustration first 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 Table 1.

172 Classification of species TF TB TD DP Clade: Angiosperms Real Dicotyledonous Asteridae Campanulidées Comment [PK12]: In english 1. Asterales 1. Asteraceae Micro Thd Pogo Pan 1. Ageratum conyzoidesL Nano Chpr Scleo Pan 2. Eclipta alba L Micro Thp Sclero Aa 3. Struchiums paraganophora (L) .O.Ktze Comment [PK13]: Not s but spara…. Clade: Rosidae Malvidea 2. Myrtales 2. Onagraceae Micro Chd Scléro Am 4. Ludwigia abyssinica A.Rich Micro Chd Scléro Aa 5. Ludwigia leptocarpa (Nutt) Hara Micro Hdfl Scléro Pan 6. Ludwigiapeploides (Kunth) Raven 3. Melastomataceae Micro Chd Sarco At 7. ThollonuDissotis (Cogn) Micro Chpr Scléro At Comment [PK14]: ???? 8. Dissotisrotundifolia (Sm) Triana Clade: Fabidae . Malpighiales 4. Euphorbiaceae Méso Msph Sarco At 9. Alchornea cordifolia (Schum&Thonn) Clade: Lamidae 4. Solanales 5. Convolvulaceae 10. Ipomoea aquaticaForsk Méso Hdfl Ptéro Pan Clade: True dicotyledonous core Formatted: English (United Kingdom)

5. Caryophyllales Nano Chpr Scléro Pan 6. Amaranthaceae

11. Althernantheratenea L Clade: Angiosperms Macro Hd Pléo Pal 6. Nymphaeale Macro Hd Pléo At 7. Nymphaeaceae 12. Nymphaea lotus L 13. Nymphaea maculateSchum&Thonn Comment [PK15]: ??? Clade: Angiosperms Monocotyledones commelinids Micro Chrp Scléro Pan 7. Commelinales 8. Commelinaceae Méso Hd Scléro Pan 14. Commelina diffusaBurm.F 9. Pontederiaceae 15. Eichhorneacrassipes (Mart) Solms 8. Alismatales Micro Hdfl Pléo Pan 10. Araceae Macro Gt Sarco Pan 16. Pistiastratiotes L 17. Colocasiaesculenta (L) Schott 9. Poales Micro Grh Scléro Pan 11. Cyperaceae Méso Grh Scléro Pal 18. Cyperus alternifolius L Aph Grh Scléro C 19. Cyperus latifoliusPoir Micro Grh Scléro Pan Formatted: French (France) 20. Cyperus papyrus L Micro Grh Pan 21. Rhynchosporacorymbosa (L) Butt

22. FuirenaumbellataRott b Micro Grh Scléro Pan 12. Poaceae Méso Grh Pan 23. Leersiahexandra (Sw) Micro Grh Pan 24. Echinochloapyramidalis (Lam) 25. Echinochloastagnina (Retz) P.Beauv Micro Thc Pléo Pan 26. Echinochloacolona (L) Link Méso Hc At Formatted: English (United Kingdom) Méso Hces Scléro Am 27. Jardineacongoensis (Hack) Franch Méso Grh At Méso Thd Scléro Pan 28. Loudetiaphragmitoides C. Hubb Méso Hc At

29. Vossiacuspidata B Scléro 30. OryzabarsthieA.Chev Comment [PK16]: ??? Méso Gr Scléro Am Formatted: English (United Kingdom) 31. Phragmites mauritianusKunth Phyllum: Pteridophyta Désmo Formatted: English (United Kingdom) Filicopsida 10. Blechnales Micro Grh Scléro 13. Thelypteridaceae 32. Cyclosurusgongylodes (Schkuhr) Link Scléro 11. Selaginellale Micro Hd 14. Selaginellaceae Nano Hdfl Scléro Gc 33. SelaginellamyosorusL Formatted: English (United Kingdom)

12. Hydropteride

15. Salviniaceae Gc 34. SalviniamolestaD.S.Mitchell Gc 35. SalvinianymphellulaL Scléro

Scléro

Pléo Pléo 173 174 The general floristic list of the different visited sites indicated the presence of 35 species including 4 175 Pteridophytes and 31 Angiosperms, distributed into 15 families, 12 orders. The list of species listed on 176 the different sites, classified in clade, order and family according to the phylogenetic classification APG 177 III, and the Pteridophytes determined according to Cronquist (1968). 178 179 The floristic list of the exotic species found among these species, it is included in Table 2, which 180 presents19 species also classified in alphabetical order. 181 182 Table 2. Statistics of large taxonomic units 183 Clade Families Orders Species Angiosperms, Monocotyledones, 5 3 17 Commelinids,

True Angiosperms, Dicotyledons, 1 1 4 Asteridae, campanulidae True Angiosperms, Real Dicotyledons, 2 1 5 Rosids, Malvidea Angiosperms, Real 1 1 1 Dicotyledons, Fabidae, Angiosperms, Real Dicotyledons, Real 1 1 1 Dicotyledonous Nucleus Angiosperms, 1 1 2 Angiosperms, Real 1 1 1 Dicotyledones, Lamidae Pteridophyta 3 3 4 Total 15 12 35 184 185 From the above table, it emerged that there was a predominance of the Angiosperm clade with 186 Commelidae with 17 species grouped into 5 families and 3 orders; followed by the Malvidae clade with 187 5 species in 2 families and 1 order and that of Campanulidae with 4 species grouped into 1 family and 188 1 order. 189 190 Table 3 gives the statistics of the large taxonomic units 191 192 Table 3. Exotic aquatic plants found in the study areas 193 Exotic species PD 1.Ageratum conyzoïdes L Pan 2.Althernanthera tenea L Pan 3.Commelina diffusa Burm.F Pan 4.Colocasia esculenta(L) Schott Pan 5.Cyperus alternifolius L Pan 6.Cyperus latifolius Poir Pal 7.Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam) Hitch & Chase Pan 8.E. stagnina (Retz) P.Beauv Pan 9.E.colona (L) Link Pan 10.Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms Pan 11.Eclipta alba L Pan 12.FuirenaumbellataRott.b Pan 13.Leersia hexandra Sw Pan 14.Pistia stratiotes L Pan 15.Rhynchosporacorymbosa (L) Butt Pan 16.Ipomoea aquatica Forsk Pan 17.Oryza barsthie A.Chev Pan 18.Nymphaea lotus L Pal 19.Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) Raven Pan 194 Legend: PD: Phytogeographic distribution 195 196 From the table above it was given the list of exotic species which gives19 species. Four exotic plants 197 that are invasive in the environment have been identified. 198 199 Table 4 lists the four aquatic invaders found in the study area with invader behavior in the middle of 200 some corners of the study sites and of which the distribution is shown in Figure 2. 201 202 Table 4. List of Invasive Alien Aquatic Plants 203

Invasive alien species 1. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms 2. Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam) Hitch & Clase 3. Pistia stratiotes L 4. Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) Raven 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 Figure 2. Spatial distribution of invasive alien plants in study areas. Comment [PK17]: Map in french ??? 241 242 Uses of aquatic invasive exotic species in Kinshasa 243 244 Table (5) gives information on the uses of aquatic invasive alien plants 245 Species Uses Eichhornia crassipes Pig food, green manure in market gardening. Echinochloa pyramidalis Cowfood (forage) Ludwigia peploïdes Porkfeed (forage) Pistia stratiotes No information 246 247 3.2 Hydrological parameter 248 249 The figures below show the means and standard deviations of various parameters taken from the sites Comment [PK18]: All illustration should have a 250 surveyed in the environment where the invasive alien species are found. The means represented by number

251 the same letter do not differ significantly between them (critical F for ddl1 = 4 and ddl2 = 20 is 2,866). 252 Figure 3 shows the pace of temperature in the different sites. 253

35

30 a a a a a 25

20

15

10 Température (°C) Température

5

0 Funa Lukaya N'sele Kingambwa Kinkole Sites 254

255 Figure 3: Water temperature

256 At the 5% probability level, the analysis of the variance did not reveal a significant difference between 257 the different sites (F = 1.162, p = 0.357). 258 259 Figure (4) shows the situation of pH in the different sites. 260

9

8 ab a c bc 7 c

6

5

pH 4

3

2

1

0 Funa Lukaya N'sele Kingambwa Kinkole Sites 261 262 Figure 4: Variation of pH

263 With respect to pH, the analysis indicates that the sites are highly differentiated (F = 7.442, p = 0.001, 264 LSD = 0.58) . 265 266 Figure (5) gives the turbidity status (ppm). 267 268

30 a 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 ab 14 ab ab 12 10 ab Turbidité (ppm) Turbidité 8 6 4 2 0 Funa Lukaya N'sele Kingambwa Kinkole Sites 269 270 Figure 5: Variation of Turbidity

271 The analysis does not indicate a significant difference between the sites in terms of turbidity (F = 272 2.560, p = 0.070). 273 274 Figure (6) shows the conductivity situation (μS / cm). 275

35 a a 30 b

25

20

15 b 10

Conductivité (µS/cm) Conductivité 5 c 0

Funa Lukaya N'sele Kingambwa Kinkole Sites 276 277 Figure 6: Variation in conductivity 278 279 With respect to conductivity, the analysis indicates that the sites differentiate very highly (F = 17.785, p 280 <0.0001, LSD = 7.99). 281 282 DISCUSSION 283 The study on the identification of aquatic invasive exotic plants in the Kinshasa Province watershed, at 284 Pool Malebo, Kinkole and Kingabwa, as well as in the N'sele, Funa, and Lukaya rivers, lists 19 285 species. Exotic aquatic plants including four invasive species in the environment. According to 286 N'guessa Pedia, focal point of the Convention on Biological Diversity of Côte d'Ivoire reported that the 287 inventory of flora in Côte d'Ivoire gives 3853 plant species including 240 species (6.2%) introduced or 288 exotic and 20 species (8.3%) of invasive species. (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2013). For 289 invasive alien plant species, their works count 10 species in the Côte d'Ivoire network, including: 290 Eichhornia crassipes, Echinochloa Pyramidalis, Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia molesta, Nelumbo nucifera, 291 Typha australis, Polygonum lanigenum varafricanum, Bacopa crenata, Hydrolea glabra, Paspalum 292 vaginatum (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2013). In DRC, studies on inventories of invasive flora

293 are poorly documented and fragmented. In this work, the focus was on the inventory and distribution of 294 aquatic invasive alien plants to contribute to the Aichi Targets of the Nagoya Protocol on the 295 Preservation of Biodiversity. The findings of this study showed that out of the 35 plant species 296 harvested in general, 19 species are exotic, only 4 of which exhibit invasive behavior. As in Côte 297 d'Ivoire, we also harvested Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Echinochloa pyramidalis. 298 However, the Ludwigia peploid species found in Kinshasa has not been reported in Côte d'Ivoire. In a 299 study on the vegetation of La Funa in Kinshasa, the Eichhornia crassipes and Ludwigia peploid 300 species were not harvested (Kikufi, 2000) i.e. these species were absent in the Funa basin. 301 302 In Benin, the water hyacinth was discovered in 1977 on the Sô river. Ten years later, she became the 303 worst aquatic plant. The population calls it "Togble" which means "the country is in ruins" .Two exotic 304 aquatic invasive plants have been reported in Benin, namely Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes 305 (CAB International, 2004). Actions are being taken to control the invasion of water hyacinth in Benin, 306 including biological control conducted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and 307 the Directorate of Fisheries from the release of biological agents: Neochetina Eichhorniae, Neochetina 308 bruchi, Niphograpta albiguttalis, Eccritotarsus catarinensis. 309 Among the socio-economic impacts of the water hyacinth in Benin, we can pinpoint: the construction 310 of water hyacinth parks for the release of biological agents, the death of the water hyacinth in Lake 311 Nokoné (plan in the dry season, the drop in yield in the fish-growing farms called "Acadja", the 312 blocking of fishing activities, as the use of fishing gear becomes difficult. In Burkina Faso, the analysis 313 of the water bodies sampled at the level of aquatic ecosystems made it possible to classify them in two 314 groups, from the point of view of their colonization by macro-phytocenosis: the plans for water free of 315 vegetation macrophytes or very weakly colonized by vegetation. These can be subdivided into three 316 subgroups: (i) Colonization by graminaceous species of forage, sedges, legumes and various 317 Nymphaeaceae; (ii) Colonization by prolific species, in particular Ceratophyllum and (iii) The 318 colonization by Eichhornia crassipes, Typha australis, Azolla africana, interests plans and 319 watercourses prospected (7%). 320 321 The study of the impacts of invasive or exotic invasive plants also refers to the concept of 322 "disturbance" classically defined as a change in the conditions of a population or a community, 323 generated by an external agent, often man. The authors clarify this definition by equating a 324 disturbance with a change in an environmental factor of a biological system that interferes with its 325 normal state (Van Andel and Van der Bergh, 1997). 326

327 CONCLUSION 328 The study on the floristic inventory and distribution of aquatic invasive alien plants in Kinshasa is part 329 of the work on wetland vegetation in general, and that of the city of Kinshasa in particular. The present 330 study is a research of interest to a territory of which vegetal cover is more and more affected by the 331 hydrological and anthropic parameters also by the introduction of exotic species. The inventory of the 332 flora surveyed reported the presence of 35 species, including 4 Pteridophyte and 31 Angiosperms, 333 divided into 15 families, 12 orders and 15 classes. The inventory of exotic plants reveals 19 species of 334 which 4 are invasive in environments: Eichhornia crassipes, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ludwigia 335 peploid, Pistia stratiotes. 336 337 The ecological analysis revealed that this floret is predominantly dominated by geophytes (34.28%), 338 microphyll (48.57%), and a fairly high proportion of sclerocors (65.71%). The ecological examination of 339 the species recorded in Kinshasa shows the existence of a disturbed flora dominated by the very 340 broad distribution species (88,54%) which over time have supplanted those of the Guinean base 341 element (11.42%) of which the disappearance in the prospected perimeter explicitly dedicates the 342 anthropogenic regressive evolution. 343 344 Observation of the hydrological parameters showed that there are no significant differences for the 345 temperature in the different sites. For the pH, the analysis indicates that the sites are differentiated in a 346 highly significant way, the analysis does not indicate a significant difference between the sites for 347 turbidity, as for the conductivity, indicates that the sites differ in a very highly significant way. As can 348 be seen, the present study has just shown that knowledge of ecological factors is essential for wetland 349 development, the fight against alien species that threaten native or local species, the consequences of

350 which are either the disappearance of native species, the modification of the environment, or by 351 various socio-economic impacts. 352 353 354 COMPETING INTERESTS 355 356 Authors have declared that no competing interests exist. 357 358 359 REFERENCES Formatted: French (France) 360 Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (2004): Prévention et Gestion des espèces 361 étrangères envahissantes: Mise en oeuvre de la cooperation en Afrique de l’Ouest: Compte 362 rendu d’un atelier regional du 9 au 11 mars 2004, Accra, Ghana, 117 pp. 363 APG III (2009): An update of the Angiosperm phylogeny Group Classification for the Orders and 364 Families of Flowering Plants in the Botanical Journal of the Society, 161, 105 - 121. 365 Convention on Biological Diversity (2004): National Strategy on Invasive Alien Species. Canada, 366 38p. 367 Convention on Biological Diversity (2007): LOWE, S., Browne, M., Boudjelas, S., Poorter, M. 100 368 Invasive Exotic Species among the most harmful in the world a selection of the global Invasive 369 speciesDatabase.Canada. 370 Convention on Biological Diversity, (2010): Report of the Conference on Strategic Plan for 371 Biodiversity 2011-2020, Japan.50p. 372 Convention on Biological Diversity, (2013): GTI Capacity Building Workshop for Aichi Targets 9 and 373 19 in West and Central Africa. Dakar, Senegal problematic of invasive alien species. 374 Cronquist, A. (1968): Evolution and classification of flowering plants Houghton Misslin Company, 375 Boston. 376 Dutartre, A. (2001): Ludwigiasp. The jussies.In The biological invasions caused by exotic plants on 377 the French metropolitan territory.State of knowledge and proposals for action. Ministry of Spatial 378 Planning and Environment, Directorate of Nature and Landscapes, pp. 93-98. 379 Lacoste, A. & Salanon, R. (1999): Elements of biogeography and ecology. 2nd ed. Nathan, Paris 380 300 p. 381 Lebrun, J. (1947): The vegetation of the alluvial plain south of Lake Edward. Expl. Park nat.Albert 382 Tomes I and II. Brussels, 800p. 383 Lebrun, J. (1960): Study on the flora and vegetation of the lava fields north of Lake Kivu. Nat. 384 Albert Brussels, 352p. 385 Lebrun.J. (1966): Biological forms in the tropics. Same. Sc. Bot. Fr. 45: pp. 164-175. 386 Saint Moulin, L & Kalombo, T. 2005 - Atlas of the administrative organization of R.D.Congo. 387 CEPAS, Kinshasa. 235p. 388 IUCN (1997): IUCN and Invasive Alien Species: A Framework for Action. Ed. UICN, World 389 Conservation Congress, Ottawa, Canada. 390 Lateef ASA, Fernandez-Alonso M, Tack L, and Delvaux D (2010). Geological constraints on urban 391 sustainability, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of Congo. Environmental Sciences, 17(1):17- 392 35. 393

394

395

396

397