Associations between Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) and common native species in an African savanna
Data files
Aug 12, 2024 version files 26.89 KB
Abstract
Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is recognised as a problematic invasive alien plant species in many parts of the world. To eradicate or control this global invader, we need to understand the drivers of its spread and impacts and the potential for native recovery after the invader has been removed.
Here, we tested for species associations between L. camara and native plant species and large herbivores in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. We inventoried 40 100-m2 nested plots spread over a 1 × 1-km grid cell in the park’s savanna landscape, with 11 plots located in uninvaded areas. Most of the plots (30 of 40) had been affected by fire.
Lantana camara covered 29 (73%) plots, 11 (38%) of which were in open grassland. Of the large herbivores that frequented areas free of L. camara, the Ugandan kob Adenota kob thomasi Sclater tended to avoid the areas invaded. The floristic composition of invaded areas differed significantly from that of noninvaded areas, with several palatable species rare or absent from L. camara-invaded areas.
Practical implication: These observations indicate the presence of potential recovery constraints that will need to be overcome after L. camara has been removed. Sustained efforts will be needed to suppress the invader and subsequently enrich and bolster native recovery.
README: Associations between Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) and common native species in an African savanna
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c59zw3rhm
Description of the data and file structure
We inventoried 40 100-m2 nested plots spread over a 1 × 1-km grid cell in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Each nested plot comprised one 10 × 10-m plot, one 5 × 5-m plot and one 1 × 1-m plot, with the smaller plots located at the centre of the main plot. The invasion of Lantana camara was evaluated in 10 × 10-m plots and classified into two classes using the 75th percentile as a threshold: 'uninvaded' (Lantana density = 0) and 'invaded' (Lantana density ≥ 0.25 stems m-2).
Files and variables
File: Ssali_et_al._Lantana_camara_data_for_archiving_Ecological_Solutions_and_Evidence_August_2024.xlsx
Description: The file contains two spreadsheets: the first shows floristic data (graminoid, for, and woody plant species per plot) while the second displays the presence/absence data for large herbivores recorded in Lantana camara invaded and uninvaded areas.
Variables
- Relative abundance of L. camara versus vegetation type and burning regime
- Occurrence of large herbivores in L. camara invaded and uninvaded areas
Code/software
To determine whether floristic composition varies between invaded and uninvaded areas, we summarised, plotted, and analysed the data using R (R Core Team, 2020). Code is not provided.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
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Data was derived from the following sources:
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