Community science can inform invasive species management: Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) in South Africa

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985939%3A_____%2F24%3A00600306" target="_blank" >RIV/67985939:_____/24:00600306 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12391" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12391</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12391" target="_blank" >10.1002/2688-8319.12391</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Community science can inform invasive species management: Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) in South Africa

Original language description

Community science initiatives are revolutionising our ability to detect and respond to biological invasions. Non-native trees and shrubs are among the world's most damaging invasive species and community science data can be used to inform protocols for managing these invasions. This study explores the utility of iNaturalist in informing management practices for the widely cultivated and naturalised genus Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae, here including the genus Callistemon) in South Africa. We applied data from iNaturalist to assess the distribution and invasion ecology of Melaleuca species in South Africa. Melaleucas, first recorded in South Africa in 1882, have been widely used as garden ornamentals and street trees in the country for over 50 years. Naturalisation of melaleucas in South Africa was first reported in 1998 and the first records of naturalisation/invasiveness for other species are accumulating rapidly. Data on all Melaleuca species in South Africa were downloaded from iNaturalist and analysed using Geographic Information System software. In September 2023, iNaturalist had 3221 records of melaleucas across the country. After checking and filtering, and applying criteria to increase reliability, 2815 records remained, with confirmed identifications of 26 species. These species were recorded in a total of 138 quarter-degree cells (QDCs) in South Africa (7% of the country), Research Grade (RG, wild-growing) records occurred in 21 QDCs, records of cultivated plants in 75 QDCs, and 42 QDCs had records of both cultivated and wild-growing plants. An Invasiveness Index was calculated for each species in the country, provinces, and municipalities, to show which species are already invasive or have substantial invasion debt. Thirty-two percent of the filtered records were RG (naturalised). The municipality with the highest number of records is the City of Cape Town, with 43% RG records. iNaturalist provided useful information on the occurrence of five Melaleuca species for which no information was available before this study was undertaken. Case studies of invaded habitats highlight that melaleucas have the potential to alter ecosystems incurring substantial control costs. Practical implications: Our study highlights the value of community science data in the detection, monitoring, and management of invasive plant species.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10618 - Ecology

Project

<a href="/en/project/EF18_053%2F0017850" target="_blank" >EF18_053/0017850: Mobility 2020</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Ecological Solutions and Evidence

ISSN

2688-8319

e-ISSN

2688-8319

Volume of the periodical

5

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

15

Pages from-to

e12391

UT code for WoS article

001337917600001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85206696101