New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Invasive Plants Found On Isabela Island, Galapagos

Date:
October 19, 2007
Source:
Public Library of Science
Summary:
Charles Darwin Foundation botanists have published a list of all the introduced plants growing in Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, the third largest town in Galapagos. 261 species were recorded, 39 of which were found growing wild. Despite 95 percent of the archipelago falling under the Galapagos National Park, invasive plants spreading from the inhabited areas are having large impacts on the native flora and fauna.
Share:
FULL STORY

Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) botanists have published a list of all the introduced plants growing in Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, the third largest town in Galapagos. 261 species were recorded, 39 of which were found growing wild.

Despite 95% of the archipelago falling under the Galapagos National Park, invasive plants spreading from the inhabited areas are having large impacts on the native flora and fauna.

Anne Guezou, one of the botanists of CDF, says: "Thanks to the cooperation of residents we were able to visit every property in Puerto Villamil and obtain the first complete baseline of introduced species."

Five species were identified as potentially serious weeds that should be completely eradicated from the island, including the "lead tree" Leucaena leucacephela, regarded as one of the worst tropical weeds.

"By identifying invaders before they become widespread, and investing in their eradication or control we can protect this World Heritage site from their impacts." says Guezou. She adds, "Early detection must go hand in hand with preventing the arrival of more non-native plants into Galapagos".

Staff at the Charles Darwin Research Station are working with the Galapagos National Park and SESA (Ecuadorian Agricultural Health Service) to prevent importation of plants from mainland Ecuador.

This work was accomplished with the support of Project "Control of Invasive Species in the Galapagos Archipelago", a donation from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the Ecuadorian Government, represented by the Ministry of Environment.

The study is published on October 17 in the online, open-access journal PLoS One.

Citation: Guézou A, Pozo P, Buddenhagen C (2007) Preventing Establishment: An Inventory of Introduced Plants in Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos. PLoS ONE 2(10): e1042. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001042


Story Source:

Materials provided by Public Library of Science. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

Public Library of Science. "Invasive Plants Found On Isabela Island, Galapagos." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 October 2007. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016205904.htm>.
Public Library of Science. (2007, October 19). Invasive Plants Found On Isabela Island, Galapagos. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 10, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016205904.htm
Public Library of Science. "Invasive Plants Found On Isabela Island, Galapagos." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016205904.htm (accessed October 10, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES