8302_xml
20200926100000
assa
nadiag@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
09292020
116
9/10
Lantana camara invasion along road–river interchanges and roadsides in Soutpansberg, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve in South Africa
Sheunesua
Ruwanza
Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4731-0394
Edward S.
Mhlongo
Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
Roads and rivers act as conduits of alien plant invasion; however, little is known regarding the abundance and invasion extent of Lantana camara, an invasive shrub, along road–river interchanges and roadsides in South Africa. We assessed the effects of road–river interchanges and roadsides as invasion corridors that facilitate L. camara invasion. A road survey method was used to measure the invasion extent of L. camara along road–river interchanges and roadsides from national and regional roads covering 446 km in Soutpansberg, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. L. camara occurred along 21 of the 48 surveyed road–river interchanges and its abundance and cover were similar between road–river interchanges and roadsides, although height and diameter of L. camara were greater along road–river interchanges than roadsides. Other alien species that dominated road–river interchanges were Solanum mauritianum, Caesalpinia decapetala and Rubus rigidus. Our results indicate that L. camara dominates both road–river interchanges and roadsides, therefore roads and bridges should be considered important targets for L. camara control.
09292020
1
10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark
sajs.co.za
false
2020-05-11
2020-07-22
2020-09-25
Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001342
National Research Foundation of South Africa
105901
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
10.17159/sajs.2020/8302
20200926100000
https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8302/10478