International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 2016; 1(3): 107-114 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijnrem doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.16 Assessment of the Invasive Alien Plant Species Argemone ochroleuca in North Gondar and West Gojam Zones, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Amare Seifu Assefa *, Nigussie Seboka Tadesse, Taye Birhanu Belay, Ashenafi Ayenew Hailu, Edeget Merawi Betsiha, Girum Faris Beyene, Tesfaye Bekele Hordofa, Yibrehu Emshaw Ketema Genetic Resources Access and Benefit Sharing Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Email address: [email protected] (A. S. Assefa) *Corresponding author To cite this article: Amare Seifu Assefa, Nigussie Seboka Tadesse, Taye Birhanu Belay, Ashenafi Ayenew Hailu, Edeget Merawi Betsiha, Girum Faris Beyene, Tesfaye Bekele Hordofa, Yibrehu Emshaw Ketema. Assessment of the Invasive Alien Plant Species Argemone ochroleuca in North Gondar and West Gojam Zones, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management . Vol. 1, No. 3, 2016, pp. 107-114. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.16 Received : July 13, 2016; Accepted : July 22, 2016; Published : August 12, 2016 Abstract: Biological invasions are attracting far reaching attention from ecologists because of their significant ecological impacts and economic costs worldwide. They are more and more recognized as a key problem of conservation of biological diversity. Argemone ochroleuca is one of invasive worldwide plant. In Ethiopia its distribution is increasing from time to time. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the impacts, mode of entry, trends, status, distribution and management practices of Argemone ochroleuca in selected districts of North Gondar and West Gojam Zones. Accordingly, an assessment was carried out in Dembiya, Gondar and Bahir Dar Zuria and Yilmana Densa districts, in 80 randomly selected households from eight different Kebeles (the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia). Based on the interview and field observation, the level of Argemone ochroleuca invasion was very high and it was the most dominant IAS on disturbed land, range land, roadside, main field, home garden and near river in the study areas. From the total respondents, 97.6% reported that Argemone ochroleuca had caused a high level of damaging impacts on native biodiversity in the past and most of them (98.7%) worried about its negative impacts on biodiversity in the future. Based on the respondents report, Argemone ochroleuca was introduced to the study area by different mechanisms such as flood, animal’s body, along with improved seed varieties and transport materials. Majority of the respondents (87.5%) recommended that to control the spread of Argemone ochroleuca in the future additional investigation is needed by concerned body. Therefore, Governmental and Nongovernmental Organizations should find a mechanism to eliminate this Invasive Alien plant and save the farm and grazing lands before becoming out of control. Keywords: Argemone ochroleuca , Biodiversity, Biological Invasions, Invasive Alien Species introduction by chance (unintentionally) and introduction 1. Introduction by hand (intentional introduction of horticultural, Biological invasion is a form of biological pollution that medicinal, silvi cultural or agricultural plants for economic is probably more disastrous than the chemical pollution purpose) [6, 21, 25]. which is considered as the second greatest global threat to Biological invasions are attracting far-reaching attention biodiversity after habitat destruction [5, 25]. Invasive Alien from ecologists because of their significant ecological Species’ refers to a species subspecies or lower taxon, impacts and economic costs. They are more and more introduced outside its natural past or present distributions recognized as a key problem of conservation of biological which are widely distributed in all kinds of ecosystems diversity, Reichard and White (2003) cited in [11, 26]. throughout the world including all categories of living Particularly, Invasion by plant species poses a major threat to organisms [4, 10]. The main invasion routes are: native plant communities and alters fundamental structures and functions of ecosystems [7, 12, 21, 25, 30]. 108 Amare Seifu Assefa et al. : Assessment of the Invasive Alien Plant Species Argemone ochroleuca in North Gondar and West Gojam Zones, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Argemone ochroleuca is invasive worldwide that is native Argemone ochroleuca is one those IAS commonly found to Mexico and naturalized in most warm countries of the in Amhara, Oromiya and SNNPR, Ethiopia. Its distribution is world in sub-humid as well as semiarid regions. It is now a increasing from time to time. The farm and grazing lands are principal invasive common weed of many vegetable and crop highly invaded by this plant. The number of pods produced fields in various countries. It is found in a wide range of per a single plant and number of seeds produced per single environments. However; it is most common in semi-arid, pod is too much to create devastating effects to native plant sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions [9, 12, 28]. It species when germinate [14, 16, 20, 23, 24, 28]. However, no reproduces by producing a large number of seed which may adequate recent information exists about the impacts, fall naturally to the ground [22, 23]. The majority of seeds distribution pattern, trend, status and controlling mechanisms are dispersed by floodwaters. It is also possible for the whole of this species. Therefore, this research aims at assessing the plant to break off at the base which can be blown by the wind impacts, distribution pattern, trend, management practices in to new areas. It can grow and persist in disturbed areas and and statuses of Argemone ochroleuca in selected districts of farmland where it can compete and potentially displace North Gondar and West Gojam Zones, Amhara region, native biodiversity [9, 22, 24]. The formation of dense Ethiopia. stands, as seeds fall locally, also affects wildlife and decreases biodiversity which is commonly found as a weed 2. Materials and Methods of road sides, mining dumps, rabbit warrens, recently cultivated paddocks, waste places, and overgrazed pastures 2.1. Description of the Study Area [8, 14, 20, 23, 24]. Argemone ochroleuca is an invasive medicinal plant with economic potentialities [1, 3, 15, 22, 27]. However, these uses cannot compensate its overall negative impacts. It is extremely poisonous to livestock and humans. The main danger to livestock, horses and poultry usually comes from fodder and other stock feeds that have become contaminated with its leaves or seeds [16, 20, 24, 28, 31]. Its prickly nature also causes injury to humans and livestock. It also reduces the yield of many cereals, native biodiversity and causes damage to animal/plant products [12, 19, 24, 28]. Consequently, effective management practices are a must to control the impacts of Argemone ochroleuca. The best form of invasive species management is prevention [23]. As Argemone ochroleuca is so widespread, this is unlikely to be possible in many instances. If prevention is no longer possible, it is best to treat the weed infestations when they are small to prevent them from establishing. Controlling the weed before it seeds will reduce future problems [13, 31] and Fig. 1. Administrative Map of the study area (A: Dembiya, B: GondarZuria, generally best applied to the least infested areas before dense C: Bahir Dar Zuria, D: Yilmana-Densa [Adet]). infestations are tackled. Consistent follow-up work is required for sustainable management. Control of young North Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. plants of Argemone ochroleuca can be achieved by hand This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of th pulling and repeated slashing prior to seed set. However, due Ethiopia until the mid-19 century, which has often been th to thorns, hand pulling may be painful. The matured plant used as a name for the 20 century province of Begemder. can be grubbed or cut before fruits ripen. The seedlings can North Gondar is bordered on the south by Lake Tana, West be mowed; however, mowing and slashing are often Gojjam, AgewAwi and the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on unsuccessful due to re growth [12, 20, 26]. the west by Sudan, on the north by the Tigray Region, on the The impact of invasive weeds on environment, article 8 (h) east by Wag Hemra and on the southeast by Debub Gondar of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signed by [29]. Based on 2007 Census conducted by the Central 161 countries at the Earth Summit in 1992; urges the parties Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total to "prevent the introduction of, control, or eradicate those population of 2,929,628, of whom 1,486,040 are men and alien species which threaten ecosystem, habitat or species 1,443,588 women [2]. “and Ethiopia being a member of (CBD) has to play its role West Gojjam is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. judiciously. As in many other countries in the tropics West Gojjam is named after the former province of Gojjam. hundreds of alien species have been introduced to Ethiopia, West Gojjam is bordered on the south by the Abay River intentionally and/ or unintentionally [5, 10, 11] but little is which separates it from the Oromia and Benishangul- Gumuz known about their impacts, distribution patterns, Regions, on the west by AgewAwi, on the north west by management practices and status . North Gondar, on the north by Lake Tana, and the Abay International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 2016; 1(3): 107-114 109 River which separates it from the Debub Gondar, and on the respondents, most of them were males (83.8%) and only a east by East Gojjam [29]. Based on the 2007 Census few of them were females (16.3%). Concerning to the conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia education status of the respondents, 21.3% of them were (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 2,106,596, of uneducated, 30.0% of them studied informal education while whom 1,058,272 are men and 1,048,324 women [2].