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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Impacts of invasive Australian acacias: Implications for management and restoration
Diversity and Distributions, Volume 17, No. 5, Year 2011
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Description
Aim The biophysical impacts of invasive Australian acacias and their effects on ecosystem services are explored and used to develop a framework for improved restoration practices. Location South Africa, Portugal and Chile. Methods A conceptual model of ecosystem responses to the increasing severity (density and duration) of invasions was developed from the literature and our knowledge of how these impacts affect options for restoration. Case studies are used to identify similarities and differences between three regions severely affected by invasions of Australian acacias: Acacia dealbata in Chile, Acacia longifolia in Portugal and Acacia saligna in South Africa. Results Australian acacias have a wide range of impacts on ecosystems that increase with time and disturbance, transform ecosystems and alter and reduce ecosystem service delivery. A shared trait is the accumulation of massive seed banks, which enables them to become dominant after disturbances. Ecosystem trajectories and recovery potential suggest that there are important thresholds in ecosystem state and resilience. When these are crossed, options for restoration are radically altered; in many cases, autogenic (self-driven and self-sustaining) recovery to a pre-invasion condition is inhibited, necessitating active intervention to restore composition and function. Main conclusions The conceptual model demonstrates the degree, nature and reversibility of ecosystem degradation and identifies key actions needed to restore ecosystems to desired states. Control and restoration operations, particularly active restoration, require substantial short- to medium-term investments, which can reduce losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and the costs to society in the long term. Increasing restoration effectiveness will require further research into linkages between impacts and restoration. This research should involve scientists, practitioners and managers engaged in invasive plant control and restoration programmes, together with society as both the investors in, and beneficiaries of, more effective restoration. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Le Maitre, David C.
South Africa, Pretoria
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Gaertner, Mirijam
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Marchante, Elizabete M.D.C.
Portugal, Coimbra
University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology
Ens, Emilie Jane
Australia, Canberra
The Australian National University
Holmes, Patricia M.
South Africa, Cape Town
Environmental Resource Management
Pauchard, Aníbal
Chile, Biobio
Universidad de Concepcion
Chile, Biobío
Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity Ieb
O'Farrell, Patrick J.
South Africa, Pretoria
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Rogers, Andrew M.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Blanchard, Ryan
South Africa, Pretoria
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Blignaut, James N.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Richardson, David M.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Statistics
Citations: 363
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00816.x
ISSN:
13669516
e-ISSN:
14724642
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Locations
South Africa