A popular way to remove invasive Acacia trees in South Africa is to fell, stack and burn them. But this can also lead to an increase in the abundance of non-targeted alien species (or secondary invaders) – even three years after a specific area has been cleared of acacias, researchers at Stellenbosch University (SU) and Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences in Germany found. The findings of their study were published in the South African Journal of Botany recently.
Lead researcher Dr Mlungele Nsikani from the Centre for Invasion Biology at SU, says that, as part of their study, they focused on a specific group of invasive Acacia trees namely Acacia saligna, also known as Port Jacksons, in the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and Mountain Sandstone Fynbos in the Western Cape where these trees are commonly found. They selected Blaauwberg Nature Reserve for the former and Glencairn for the latter as both areas were cleared of Port Jacksons and had been left to recover naturally.
The researchers tried to find out which species were secondary invaders after these areas had been cleared of invasive Port Jacksons and whether, after clearing, there was a difference in the number of species and cover by secondary invaders between areas that experienced low and high severity fires and no fires, and whether these differences changed in the years after clearing. They also wanted to determine if the number of species and cover of secondary invaders after clearing differed in and between lowland and mountain fynbos, and if these differences changed in the years after clearing.
Nsikani says secondary invasion happens when primary invaders, in this case acacias, have been removed from an area through clearing and other alien species (regardless of the acacias) take advantage and occupy that area.
“Secondary invasive species can flourish in previously invaded areas because clearing primary invaders often creates a 'space' for their recruitment from banks of seed in the soil that accumulated prior to primary invasion and/or from seeds that migrated from surrounding areas by reducing competition."
Regarding their major findings, Nsikani says they documented 32 secondary invader species in the abovementioned areas that have been cleared of invasive Port Jacksons. He adds that the number of secondary invader species they documented is significantly larger than those recorded by previous studies.
“These species were grasses (22%), herbs (72%) and shrubs (6%). We found that 50% of the secondary invader species occurred in both fynbos types, while 9% were only found in the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and 41% were only found in Mountain Sandstone Fynbos.
“From the secondary invader species we identified, 91% occurred in areas that experienced high severity fires, 91% were found where there were low severity fires and 88% were found where there were no fires.
“In the first year after clearing, 78% of the secondary invader species were present while 72% occurred in the second year after clearing and 84% in the third year after clearing."
Nsikani says the number of secondary invader species significantly increased by 64% in the second year after clearing in the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos but did not change significantly thereafter. In Mountain Sandstone Fynbos, secondary invader richness did not significantly change in all years after clearing.
“As far secondary invader cover, that is the area covered by these invasive species, was concerned, it significantly increased by 388% in the second year after clearing in Cape Flats Sand Fynbos but significantly decreased by 65% in the third year to a level similar to that in the first year. In mountain fynbos, it significantly increased by 90% in the second year after clearing but did not significantly change in the third year."
He adds that native species cover in Cape Flats Sand Fynbos increased by 81% in the third year after clearing, while the mountain fynbos study area only experienced a 28% increase.
Given the number of secondary invasive species documented in their study, Nsikani says restoration ecologists need to be aware of the range of these species that may be dominant and persistent after clearing invasive acacias. They should also look at alternative ways to manage them.
“As far as the removal of invasive acacias is concerned, we found that wood debris should be spread throughout a restoration area instead of being stacked and then burnt to reduce banks of Acacia seeds that are stored in the soil. To avoid the growth of a second generation of invasive acacias, the seedlings that germinate when it rains can be controlled through manual weeding, mowing and the use of herbicides.
“We urge practicing restoration ecologists to manage secondary invasions through actions such as herbicide, grazing, manual weeding, mowing, prescribed burning, soil nitrogen management, using the sun's power to control weeds and weed mats."
While they encourage restoration ecologists to use these methods, Nsikani and his co-researcher do, however, acknowledge that mowing, grazing and the use of herbicides could lead to the loss of native species in the area.
- SOURCE: Nsikani MM, Gaertner M, Kritzinger-Klopper S, Ngubane NP, Esler, KJ 2019. Secondary invasion after clearing invasive Acacia saligna in the South African fynbos. South African Journal of Botany 125: 280–289.
Main photo: Port Jackson trees: Credit: Wikimedia. Photo 1: Dr Mlungele Nsikani
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY
Dr Mlungele Nsikani
Centre for Invasion Biology
Stellenbosch University
Tel: 021 808 3403
Email: mlungele@sun.ac.za
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Martin Viljoen
Manager: Media
Corporate Communication
Stellenbosch University
Tel: 021 808 4921
Email: viljoenm@sun.ac.za
