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<p>North-East (N.E.) Indian Himalayan Region encompasses rich native biodiversity, offers valued ecosystem services, and endowed with age-old traditional knowledge. N.E. India is an integral part of the Indo-Burma global biodiversity hotspot region with potential conservation priorities. However, the native or endemic vegetation of this pristine ecological landscapes are now susceptible to mixing of flora with invasive alien plants (IAPs), driven by multiple anthropogenic stressors such as forest fire. The disturbances, specifically shifting cultivation<i>/jhum</i> mediated IAPs success can potentially influence the biotic (native plant diversity) and abiotic (soil physico-chemical characteristics) environmental factors which are inadequately studied in certain landscapes of N.E. India. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of IAPs on floristic diversity and soil attributes at Katlicherra (invaded) and Kanchiwala (non-invaded) sites of Hailakandi, Assam, N.E. India to elucidate their holistic impact on environment and ecosystem functioning. Present vegetation analysis recorded a total of 102 species (herbs-39, shrubs-30, and tree-33), wherein the phytosociological composition in the herbs layer was the most dominant when compared with shrubs and trees. Phytosociological studies revealed that <i>Ageratum conyzoides</i> L., <i>Mikania micrantha</i> Kunth, <i>Chromolaena odorata</i> (L.) King and Robinson, and <i>Lantana camara</i> L. were common to both the selected sites with high values of Importance Value Index (IVI). The diversity indices of IAPs dominated communities revealed their profound impacts on floristic composition. Further, IAPs have remarkably modulated the soil physico-chemical characteristics which can also be linked with their invasive spread at selected sites. The study concluded that the ‘IAPs-plant-soil’ interactions with disturbances influenced the floristic composition and physico-chemical parameters of soil with distinct seasonal variations. Further assessment on the spread of the IAPs due to human mediated disturbances need to be prioritized in N.E. India to help mitigate adverse effects on the soil attributes and native biodiversity. To this end, study on the role of chemical ecology and IAP-soil-microbe interactions in facilitating landscape spread and long-term ecological research on IAPs need to be prioritized in future for biodiversity conservation and to help achieve environmental sustainability of this biodiversity hotspot.</p>

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Effects of invasive alien plants on floristic diversity and soil physico-chemical characteristics in Hailakandi district, Assam, an Indo Burma hotspot region

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月8日

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  • Zingthoi Khuppi Sakachep,
  • Prabhat Kumar Rai

摘要

North-East (N.E.) Indian Himalayan Region encompasses rich native biodiversity, offers valued ecosystem services, and endowed with age-old traditional knowledge. N.E. India is an integral part of the Indo-Burma global biodiversity hotspot region with potential conservation priorities. However, the native or endemic vegetation of this pristine ecological landscapes are now susceptible to mixing of flora with invasive alien plants (IAPs), driven by multiple anthropogenic stressors such as forest fire. The disturbances, specifically shifting cultivation/jhum mediated IAPs success can potentially influence the biotic (native plant diversity) and abiotic (soil physico-chemical characteristics) environmental factors which are inadequately studied in certain landscapes of N.E. India. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of IAPs on floristic diversity and soil attributes at Katlicherra (invaded) and Kanchiwala (non-invaded) sites of Hailakandi, Assam, N.E. India to elucidate their holistic impact on environment and ecosystem functioning. Present vegetation analysis recorded a total of 102 species (herbs-39, shrubs-30, and tree-33), wherein the phytosociological composition in the herbs layer was the most dominant when compared with shrubs and trees. Phytosociological studies revealed that Ageratum conyzoides L., Mikania micrantha Kunth, Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and Robinson, and Lantana camara L. were common to both the selected sites with high values of Importance Value Index (IVI). The diversity indices of IAPs dominated communities revealed their profound impacts on floristic composition. Further, IAPs have remarkably modulated the soil physico-chemical characteristics which can also be linked with their invasive spread at selected sites. The study concluded that the ‘IAPs-plant-soil’ interactions with disturbances influenced the floristic composition and physico-chemical parameters of soil with distinct seasonal variations. Further assessment on the spread of the IAPs due to human mediated disturbances need to be prioritized in N.E. India to help mitigate adverse effects on the soil attributes and native biodiversity. To this end, study on the role of chemical ecology and IAP-soil-microbe interactions in facilitating landscape spread and long-term ecological research on IAPs need to be prioritized in future for biodiversity conservation and to help achieve environmental sustainability of this biodiversity hotspot.