Impact of Invasive Plants on the Structure and Composition of Natural Vegetation of Timli Range, Dehradun.

Aabid Rasool Zargar

Silviculture Division. Forest Research Institute. Abstract: Invasive species are a major component of changing patterns of biodiversity around the world. Although it may be possible to predict how particular species will respond to modification in temperature, precipitation and habitat disturbance, generalizations are unlikely to be feasible. Invasive plant species that modify the habitat in a major way by preventing the establishment of other species over the long term will themselves generate major shifts in biodiversity. If not checked at this juncture, will affect not only the biodiversity alone but the whole ecosystem. Shiwaliks, the well known mountain ranges passing through many sovereign states/ cities of country are the store houses of plant diversity. Dehradun represents one such area. It is one of the richest repositories of plant diversity in India. However, during the past three decades, because of increasing disturbances, tourism, pollution level, rapid development, urbanization and human interference through introduction of invasive exotics, the ecology of the area has changed tremendously. Ragweed (Parthenium hysterophorus), goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides) and lantana (Lantana camara) - the three exotics from South America have caused much harm in the area, because of their invasive potential. A study conducted to assess the changes in the structural composition and dynamics of the vegetation shows that density and diversity of the native flora were adversely affected because of invasion by these exotics. As all the three exotic weeds are known to exhibit allelopathy, it might be one of the major non resource based hypothesis for the successful invasion by these exotic species. Nomenclature: goat weed: Ageratum conyzoides, Ragweed; Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana: Lantana camara Key words: Diversity, Dominance, Importance Value Index (IVI), Invasive weeds, Species richness, Vegetative analysis. Introduction:
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Invasive plants are known to exert significant impact on the native communities, resulting in their displacement and hence an imbalance in natural and agricultural ecosystems (Pimentel et al. 2001; Sakai et al. 2001) which results in the formation of large monocultures of invasive plants in the alien environment. In fact, invasive species are an important component of global change (Virtuosic et al. 1996). Invasion may be accidental or deliberate, and success of these species in the alien and new environment may be attributed to several reasons. Many theories have been proposed in this direction. Possession of a set of traits by the invasive species as proposed by Baker (1974) in case of ideal weeds may not be always true because some species possessing only a subset of traits may be very invasive in nature (Williamson et al 1989). Among the theories proposed for the success of invasive species, absence of natural enemies (pathogens, predators, or pests) known as Natural Enemies Hypothesis or alternatively allelopathy (through the release of chemicals into the environment) has been proposed (Heirro & Callaway 2003). Besides, invasive species also have an ability to undergo genetic changes due to selection pressure imposed by the alien environment and exhibit quick response to anthropogenic disturbances (Sakai et al. 2001). It is thus essential to study the mechanism of invasiveness in alien environment especially regarding their colonization, expansion, establishment, and ecological impact so as to take timely action for their management. India, one of the 12 mega centers of origin of cultivated plants, is also one of the richest centers of biodiversity. Its rich diversity is attributed to varied climatic conditions and its geography. Himalayas, the well-known mountain ranges in India, passing through many sovereign states / cities of the country, are the storehouses of plant diversity. Dehradun is one such valley in the northwestern India. Unfortunately, increasing anthropogenic disturbances, tourism, pollution levels, rapid industrialization, and urbanization, besides introduction of exotics, have put a great stress on the native vegetation. Invasive plant species are a cause of concern, causing a serious threat to the structure and dynamics of the natural plant communities. (Yadav et al 1983 & Wiser et al 1998). A number of exotic species introduced either deliberately or accidentally have been encountered in this area. Of these, three weedy species, viz., Ageratum, lantana, and Parthenium, all
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native to tropical America, are the most abundant (Dhawan et al 1995, Kushwaha et al 1981, 2006, Joshi et al 1999). These are rapidly invading the forest areas, grassland, agricultural lands, and pastures at the cost of the native species, thereby causing a serious impact on the structure and dynamics of the native vegetation. A study was therefore conducted to evaluate the incidence of these three exotic invasive weeds at different blocks of Timli Range of Kalsi Division to study their impact on the ecological structure and composition of the native vegetation. Study Area: The Doon valley in the foothills of the Himalayas, bounded by lesser Himalayan rocks in the north and Shiwaliks in the south and transversely bordered by the Ganga in the South East and Yamuna in the North West forms an inter-montane valley ecosystem. Timli range covers a part of south west of Doon valley under the Kalsi soil conservation Division of Shiwalik Circle. The territory of the range lies between 300 -19 to 300 -25 north latitude and 770 -34 to 770-58 east longitude falling in the Dehradun Tehsil of the Dehradun District. The total gross area of the range is 9907.30 ha and out of which 9821.2 ha is reserved Forest. Floristically, the area has a very diverse biodiversity, the major portion of forests comprise of Sal which can be broadly classified into Doon Valley Sal and Shiwalik Sal. The forest soils of the range mainly belong to the orders Inceptisol, Mollisol and Alfisol, as could be determined by their diagonastic and other properties. Timli Range is surrounded on the northern side by Choharpur Range and the southern side by Shiwalik Forest Division. The western and eastern boundary is shared with Sirmur district of Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun Forest Division respectively. Methods: Geographically, Timli range is divided into 2 distinct regions lower Shiwalik part and the upper plain part of the Doon valley. For the study, the range was divided into blocks as per the range block demarcation. There are seven blocks in the range namely, Majri, Dharmawala, Dararit, Aduwala, Kulhal, Dhaula and Timli Block. For our study purpose, we have taken 4 Block namely Majri, Timli, Dhaula and Dararit having varied habitats and forests. In each Block 25 quadrats were laid down of 2 m x 2 m on random basis so as to
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cover the whole area of the block. In each quadrat vegetation analysis was done, and all the plants appearing were sampled, identified and their importance value index value (IVI) was calculated as per Mishra 1968. Furthermore the vegetation was analyzed for species richness, evenness, diversity and dominance through ecological indices to reduce complexity of data (Whittaker 1956). Through a great variety of indices are available, to avoid conceptual and technical problems and to get precision, only a few such as Margalefs richness, Hills evenness, Shannons diversity and Simpsons index of Dominance are applicable. These indices were computed using the statistical package of Ludwig and Reynolds 1988. Besides, the IVI values of the species in the different study areas were analyzed using lognormal distribution to describe abundance patterns. For this species were arranged in order of their abundance and plotted against log 10 of IVI values, there by indicating abundance pattern of vegetation. Results and Discussions: As per the 2002-03 survey study, 11.4% of total species in the state Uttarakhand were found to be exotic (Uttarakhand Forest Department), where as the rest 88.6% were native ones. It was in sharp contrast to just 6% exotic species were reported in the survey conducted during 1987-88 (UP Forest Department). In other words, the number of exotic species has almost doubled over a period of 15 years or so. Because most of the exotics have the tendency to be invasive, the IVI and abundance data of three most invasive weeds were calculated from all the 4 Blocks of the range. As regards to Ageratum conyzoides (goat weed), the reason for its greater importance value index (IVI) than Parthenium hysterophorus is attributed to the climatic conditions, because the weed grows luxuriantly in the agricultural fields during winters. Timli block with most of the agricultural area proved the highest IVI for Ageratum conyzoides. Parthenium was found mostly in the Majri Block. Lantana camara was found almost everywhere in the Blocks with maximum in the areas where habituation is close. Surprisingly Parthenium hysterophorus which has played havoc in the northern plains of India (Bennet et al 1978) is somewhat still in the process of colonization in the hilly areas of the range. The data indicates that the process of invasion by

these three species is continues and expanding in the plain parts of the range but is still in building phase in lower Shiwalik areas. Further studies on the three selected species were undertaken in the infested areas of each block so as to determine the impact on the structural composition of the vegetation of the area. In the presence of Lantana camara and Ageratum conyzoides a total of 22 plant species were encountered, where as in case of Parthenium hysterophorus infested areas 20 and 24 species respectively were counted in comparison to 35 in un-infested areas. (Fig.1). As already discussed that Ageratum conyzoides in the Timli block is mainly due to large number of agricultural fields and is increasing in dominance due to high availability of resources in the area with regard to water availability and nutrient content (fertilizers and manures). Ageratum conyzoides has decreased the species encountered rate probably due to allopathic effect. The other reason may also be changes of land use of the people around the area infested by Ageratum conyzoides. Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus has also decreased the species encountered rate by huge percentage. For Lantana, the reason may be due to creeping and bushy nature of the plant with profuse reproductive rate. Parthenium hysterophorus has decreased the species encountered rate mainly due to allelopathic interaction, because species encountered rate for Parthenium was least in natural forest areas of Majri Block. Density and biomass in the respective blocks infested with these species were significantly less compared with native vegetation (Fig: 2). The density was reduced by nearly 64.4% in case of Ageratum conyzoides. 82.5% and 67.6% reduction was seen in case of Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus respectively. Biomass of the infested areas was reduced by 52.7% incase of Ageratum conyzoides, 72.4% incase of Lantana Camara and 59.6% for Parthenium hysterophorus (Fig: 3). Richness index, a measure of numerical strength of the vegetation was significantly less in the invasive weed infested areas than in the un-infested areas. It was nearly 2.2 times more in the un-infested areas compared with areas infested by Ageratum conyzoides and 2.6 times more in case of Lantana camara. For Parthenium hysterophorus it was 1.8 times in the un-infested areas than in areas invaded by it (Fig: 4).
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Likewise, the evenness index ( as per Hill,1973) was comparatively more in the un-infested areas indicating that the species are evenly distributed, where as lesser values in the invasion infested areas indicate patchiness in species distribution. Ageratum conyzoides infested areas were found to be patchier in species distribution followed by lantana camara and Parthenium respectively (Fig: 5). The Shannons index of diversity (as per Shannon & Weiner, 1963) also indicated greater diversity in the un-invaded areas of the range. The index was reduced by 36-51% in the areas invaded by the invasive species. As per this diversity Ageratum conyzoides invaded areas were having much less diversity (1.36) followed by lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus. The higher values of the index of diversity indicate the variability in the type of species and the heterogeneity in the communities, where as the lesser value point to the homogeneity in the community (Fig: 6). On the contrary, the index of dominance (as per Simpson 1969) was minimum in the un-infested areas of the range compared to the areas invaded by the above species. Index of dominance was maximum in the areas invaded by Ageratum conyzoides followed by lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus respectively. The higher value of dominance index, the greater is the homogenous nature of the community and vice versa. In other words, such communities are dominated by the single species (Fig: 7). Furthermore, more the homogenous nature of the community, lesser is the diversity and hence stability i.e., such habitats are subjected to renewed disturbances and are occupied by more opportunistic and environmentally flexible species with wider ecological amplitude. In the study, where higher values of index of dominance vis-a vis the lesser diversity was observed in the invasive species invaded areas, indicating the greater instability in such areas. Such a pattern is also clear when the IVI values in all; the weed infested areas were plotted with species rank using a log normal distribution pattern. In all the three species invaded areas, an abrupt decrease in vegetation compared to un-infested areas was noticed. The log normal distribution for the uninvaded areas indicates a normal curve of vegetation. The changed structure of vegetation in the invaded areas may be due to allelopathic influence of these invaded species, because this has been reported to be an alternative hypothesis among non resource interactions besides several other factors.
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Reasons for the depletion of vegetation were not explored in this investigation; however, it is certain that these three invasive species are affecting the structure and composition in the whole range and the areas with close habitation mostly. Conclusion: Invasive species are a major component of changing patterns of biodiversity around the world. Although it may be possible to predict how particular species will respond to modifications in temperature, precipitation, and habitat disturbance associated with climate change, generalizations are unlikely to be feasible. Invasive plant species that modify the habitat in a major way, such as by changing nitrogen levels or by preventing the establishment of other species over the long term, will themselves generate major shifts in biodiversity. If it is not checked at this juncture it will affect not only the biodiversity alone but whole ecosystem. Timli Range situated in the lap of Shiwaliks and North western Himalayas is one of the richest repositories of plant diversity in Uttarakhand. However, during the past decade, because of the increased pace of development and interference of humans through introduction of invasive exotics, the ecology of the area has changed tremendously. Parthenium, Ageratum, and Lantana - the three exotics from South America have caused much harm in the area because of their invasive potential. A study conducted to assess the changes in the structural composition and dynamics of vegetation shows that density and diversity of native flora were adversely affected because of invasion by these three exotics. Because all the three exotic weeds are known to exhibit allelopathy, it might be one of the major non resourcebased hypothesis for the successful invasion by these exotic species.

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