Factors contributing invasion of Alien Invasive Species prosopis juliflora in Bundala National Park in Sri Lanka
Abstract
Bundala National Park (BNP) is a thorny shrub forest with a total extent of 6210 ha, consist of
13 habitat types; seven terrestrial types and six wetland types. Because of its precious
biodiversity, Ramsar Convention considered the park as the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka
declared in 1990, and a Man and Biosphere reserve declared by UNESCO in 2005.
Considering the threats, which have BNP faced, spreading of alien invasive species inside the
park is considered as the most serious. Among them, Prosopis juliflorais considered as the most
dangerous which has almost covered over 60% of the entire park. The study was conducted to
evaluate the factors contributing to invasion of invasive Prosopis juliflora in Bundala National
Park by understanding the factors enhancing invasiveness and suppressing native
vegetation, allelopathic effects and mode of dispersion of P. juliflora. Our results strongly
inferred that spreading of invasive P. juliflora has been imposed a significant ecological
damage by suppressing native vegetation. The environmental and soil factors (salinity)
enhance the P. juliflora growth while low sunlight and salinity are key external factors
suppressing native vegetation in BNP. In addition, P. juliflora has allelopathic effects on native
vegetation but impact is species dependent. Asian elephants and other ruminants fed on P.
juliflora have great impact on P. juliflora seed dispersion throughout the BNP. The saline soil
and high temperature regimes with other microclimatic conditions enhance the germination
of dispersed P. juliflora seeds. Therefore, above factors should be taken into consideration for
implementing effective management programs of P. juliflora.
References
REFERENCES
Bambaradeniya, CNB, Ekanayake, SP, Fernando, RHSS, Perera, WPN and Somaweera, R. 2001. A biodiversity status profile of Bundala National Park - A Ramsar wetland in Sri Lanka. IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Colombo
Donlan, CJ, Tershy, BR, Cambell, K and Cruz, F 2003. Research for requiems: The need for more collaborative action in eradication of invasive species. Conservation Biology 17: 1850-1851.
DWC 1997. Bundala National Park Resource Inventory and Management Plan. The Global Environment FacilityProject, UNDP and Department of Wildlife Conservation, Colombo.
DWC 2008. Biodiversity Baseline Survey: Bundala National Park. Consultancy Services Report prepared by Green, MJB (ed.), De Alwis, SMDAU, Dayawansa, PN, How, R, Padmalal, UKGK, Singhakumara,B.M.P., Weerakoon, D and Wijesinghe, MR Infotechs IDEAS in association with GREEN TECH Consultants. Sri Lanka Protected Areas Management and Wildlife Conservation Project (PAM&WCP/CONSULT/02/BDBS), Department of Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Colombo. 46 pp.
Elton, CS 1958. The ecology of invasions by animals and plants. Metheum, London, UK.
El-Keblawy, A and Al-Rawai, A 2005. Effects of salinity, temperature and light on germination of invasive Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C. Journal of Arid Environments 61: 555–565.
Green, MJB and Gunawardena, ERN 1997. Designing an optimum protected areas system for Sri Lanka's natural forests. 2 volumes. Environmental Management in Forestry Developments Project, Forest Department, Government of Sri Lanka, Colombo. 399 pp.
Marambe, B, Bambaradeniya, C, Pushpakumara, DK and Pallewatta, N 2001. Human dimensions of invasive alien species in Sri Lanka. In: J.A. McNeely (Ed.). The Great Reshuffling; Human Dimensions of Invasive Alien Species, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Pp. 135-142
Miranda, RQ, Correia, RM, Almeida-cortez JS and Pompelli, MF 2013. Germination of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C. seeds at different osmotic potentials and temperatures Plant Species Biology, doi: 10.1111/1442-1984.12025
MENR 2005. Habitat maps for selected areas in Sri Lanka: Bundala National Park. Final Report. Prepared by EML Consultants. Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources. Colombo. 104 pp.
Veitch, CR and Clout, MN 2002. Turning the Tide: the Eradication of Invasive Species. Proceedings of the International conference on the eradication of island invasives. IUCN Species Specialist Group. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
